Moscow is one step closer to developing property into playfields
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MOSCOW, ID - The City of Moscow is one step closer to developing a property into playfields for area children.
On Monday night, the council discussed the school district's proposal of the Joseph Street property, requiring the city to cover all of the costs necessary to build and maintain the playfields, and allow the two parties to have joint usage of the fields.
Council members expressed their various concerns about the proposal, but generally agreed it's important to move forward with the development.
"They are the same children, these are the same voting constituents, it is the same city, and we have always worked together, partnering with the school district in the past," said Moscow City Council member Wayne Krauss.
The school district wants to maintain ownership of the property in case they decide to build a new school there. Some council members don't think that would be in the best interest of the taxpayers, partly because there isn't a foreseeable need for another school anytime soon.
The city staff came up with recommendations for how the council should move forward, and the council accepted most of them. Now, the direct city staff will negotiate a joint use agreement with the school board and discuss the possibility of the city purchasing the fields from the school.
On Monday night, the council discussed the school district's proposal of the Joseph Street property, requiring the city to cover all of the costs necessary to build and maintain the playfields, and allow the two parties to have joint usage of the fields.
Council members expressed their various concerns about the proposal, but generally agreed it's important to move forward with the development.
"They are the same children, these are the same voting constituents, it is the same city, and we have always worked together, partnering with the school district in the past," said Moscow City Council member Wayne Krauss.
The school district wants to maintain ownership of the property in case they decide to build a new school there. Some council members don't think that would be in the best interest of the taxpayers, partly because there isn't a foreseeable need for another school anytime soon.
The city staff came up with recommendations for how the council should move forward, and the council accepted most of them. Now, the direct city staff will negotiate a joint use agreement with the school board and discuss the possibility of the city purchasing the fields from the school.
And is the City going to compensate the School District for the value of the land? That land was bought by the School District many years ago with the objective of building a school on it. If it is used for playing fields the School District will have to purchase another property in or near Moscow to build a school. Our high school was built in 1939 and is decrepit. there is no room for expansion and the parking is very limited. We need a new high school. We need a new grade school. Where will the land for those projects come from if the District gifts the City with new playing fields on this property for no compensation or a land trade-off? It sounds like a sucker deal to me, for both the School District and its patrons. Not a bad deal for Moscow though...