News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Overton County Board of Education has given the go ahead to pursue a 23 acre land purchase expanding the Livingston Academy property.
Director of Schools Donnie Holman and School Board Member Mike Hayes will lead negotiations. Hayes said the land gives the school road access to Allred Street and options for future projects.
“It has nothing to do with the stadium at this moment,” Hayes said. “That project is totally separate from this land purchase. We’re looking at the land purchase for a possible future track in the future. I can’t tell you a time. It could be two years, three years, whatever.”
Hayes said from initial meetings, Land Owner Dr. Larry Mason and family are open to offers from the school system. Hayes said the next step is to schedule a meeting to discuss prices.
Two options were discussed by the board during a recent work session, a 21 acre purchase and a 23.23 acre purchase. The latter was agreed upon to pursue, which Hayes said gives the school the road access.
“It’s not a deal breaker, but I think if we are going to go purchase land, I think while we got the option to have a road access from the backside why not look at that option instead of locking it in, so you can access your land only from the front side one way,” Hayes said.
Hayes said either purchase would split a pond on the property used by livestock. Hayes said a decision will have to be made to either cut the water out of the acreage or build a fence around it.
