B & S Property Information
Before the November 8th, 2022, Referendum vote, the School District of Monroe placed the 77+ acre B & S property on 31st Avenue near Northside Elementary School under contract. The site was publicly announced on Monday, September 12, 2022, three days after an agreement was reached between the district and property owners. The sale was contingent upon the passage of the referendum and approval at the Meeting of Electors. The property was voted down at the December 12th, 2022, Meeting of Electors.
At the May 22nd, 2023, Board of Education meeting, the Board instructed the District to re-engage the B&S property owners to see if the property was available for consideration.
As discussed at the June 12, 2023, Board of Education meeting, the forward-thinking B & S property owners understand the importance of this building project for our community and the importance of providing modern educational spaces for our students. In an effort to lower project costs, they have offered a parcel swap - the School District of Monroe will receive the 70-acre B & S property on 31st Avenue in exchange for the existing site and high school facility "as is". The land will cost $0. This will also save the District $1,925,176 in demolition costs for the existing building. The District will maintain the old high school property until the new high school is completed and the B & S property owners assume ownership. All needed District outdoor assets and personal property will be relocated to the new high school.
In addition, the owners are providing a 66-foot-wide easement on their property connecting to County KK; this will become the main entrance to the high school site. B & S will also furnish a $100,000 credit to help offset the road construction costs.
Once the land contract is fully executed, the District will begin work on the road connecting to County KK, allowing us to route construction traffic away from the 31st Avenue neighborhood. When the new high school is completed, we will use the County KK road as the main entrance to the campus and will be able to limit vehicle access from the 31st Avenue entrance. Students who walk or ride a bike to school will also be able to access the high school site from 31st Avenue.
You can view the June 12th, 2023 Board of Education meeting by clicking here. All Board of Education meetings are livestreamed and available for viewing by visiting the School District of Monroe YouTube Channel here.
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Executive Summary - B & S Property near Northside Elementary School
At the June 12, 2023, Board of Education meeting, CG Schmidt presented an Executive Summary outlining the estimated costs to build a new high school on the 70-acre B & S property. It is important to note that this site would be 25 acres more than the current approximately 45-acre high school location. The additional acreage would provide space for future needs, should they arise, and would allow us to have all of our outdoor athletic teams practice and play on-site. |
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Total Project Cost Comparison
At the June 12, 2023 Board of Education meeting, CG Schmidt provided a Total Project Cost Comparison which compares the cost to build a new high school on the B & S site, the existing site, and the previously considered County Hwy DR (Donny) site. Building on the 70-acre B & S property has the lowest total cost at $93,374,231. $226,209 less than the cost to build at the current high school location.
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Long-Term Bonding
The School District of Monroe issued its bonds for the new high school on May 31, 2023. The bonds will be paid off over the next 20 years. The District maintained its A+ rating and issued the bonds as AA insured bonds. The all-in total interest cost, inclusive of issuance costs, had a yield of 4.16%. The estimated cost at the time of the referendum was 4.48%. This means the District will pay $3,136,638 less in debt costs over the life of the bonds than what was projected.
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Conceptual Design - B & S Property near Northside Elementary School
Below is a conceptual drawing of how a new school and facilities might be placed on the B&S property located off 31st Avenue near Northside Elementary School. This is only a concept. The actual design phase can not begin until a land purchase is approved at a Meeting of Electors. |
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Where would the road easement potentially be on the B & S Property?
Below is a parcel map from MLS (Multiple Listing Service) with the 70-acre property for the new high school indicated in red. Additional property owned by B & S is indicated in yellow. County Road KK is highlighted in green. As indicated in the MLS image, the City of Monroe has previously surveyed the continuation of 8 1/2 Street to County Road KK. A portion of this potential road is indicated in blue. This is an example of where the road to the new high school campus may potentially be. This is only a concept as several contingencies need to be met, including approval of the land at the Meeting of Electors, before the design phase can begin and the actual location of the road can be determined. |
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What are the benefits of the B & S property located near Northside Elementary School?
There are several benefits that make the B & S property currently the most viable and affordable property available to build a new high school.
- B & S has offered a parcel exchange; the District will receive the 70-acre property near Northside Elementary School in exchange for the approximately 45-acre existing high school facilities and property. The land cost will be $0.
- B & S will assume ownership of the existing high school "as is" once the new high school is complete, without contingencies. The District will be responsible for maintaining the current building until the property transfer.
- With the parcel exchange, the District will no longer need to demolish the existing facilities and return the area to green space. This will save the District $1,925,176. These savings can be applied to construction costs.
- Location to city water, sewer, utilities, and technology infrastructure
- Close to an existing elementary school (Northside Elementary School)
- It does not cross any major roads
- 70%-75% of the property has an elevation change of 20’ feet or less
- Large enough to plan for on-site traffic flow during morning, afternoon, and for events
- Large enough to have most of our school-sponsored activities at the high school site
- Large enough to accommodate future needs in the event there is growth or needed space for other district facilities
- Road access to the new high school campus from County KK
- Closer access to HWY 59, HWY 11, and County KK
Several actions can not be taken without land purchase approval from the Meeting of Electors, which will take place on July 17th, 2023, at 6:30pm in the Monroe High School gymnasium:
- Within 10 days of approval by the Board of Electors, the land surveyor will identify the north and south boundaries. Within 30 days, the surveyor will deliver the report.
- Utility services and infrastructure improvements must meet the intended use
- Traffic studies (vehicular and pedestrian) to access the property
- Environmental inspections, soil sampling, testing, and engineering studies
- Pending all government approvals and permits
- Title insurance commitment to be provided
This is the standard applied to any property in any location.
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