Here’s the previous post with the background on this. Adding now to this with the Sep 19 GRISD meeting (Special Session) and Commissioners Court Sep 23 2024 meeting.
Sep 19- GRISD holds a special session in which they vote to approve Overbo’s letter to Danny Chambers of Somervell County Commissioners Court. Also mentioned is forming a committee to go over financials, etc. First, interlocal agreement re: the expo from 1994. (District originally conveyed a tract of land to the County for the purpose of constructing a livestock show facility and exhibition hall in 1983)
The relevant part is under items 4 and 5. .. in part, “Should the County decide to sell the property and facilities, District shall be given first option to purchase them under the same terms and conditions of the new buyer’s offer…. District shall pick up its option to purchase within thirty days of being given written notice of same.
2nd, letter from Dr Overbo of GRISD to Chambers of Somervell County “Please be advised that the Glen Rose Independent School District will exercise its option to purchase the Somervell County Expo Center under the same terms and conditions as stated in the August 19, 2024 Commercial Contract- Improved Property between Somervell County as Seller and AJ Real Estate Investments, LLC as Buyer
Here’s the full package received by the county. Note that there is a document in the Somervell records that says the commissioners received the letter on 9/17 BUT the meeting at GRISD to ratify the letter was dated the 18th and ratified on the 19th.
Some items of note when you listen to the audio. First, Chambers called up Overbo when the idea of first putting the Expo out for bids was considered because of the interlocal agreement from 1994
Rough Transcript (listen for exact wording)
Chambers: Wednesday letter to exercise option to buy Expo. Motion to accept contract
Busch: .. when Expo sent up for sale, judge called Overbo to ask him if he wanted facility as was at no expense and he said no. Evans was also asked and they both turned it down. That’s before we put it out for sale. Here we are now. School’s involved now.
Chambers: If they’d moved forward in April, all this would have been averted.
? Are you saying that ya’ll offered it to them for free and they didn’t want it?
chambers: The exact phone call that I made in April to Trig was, we’re getting ready to have it appraised, go out for bids, list realtor of record, are you interested? And he said they were not interested. .. Bill Vineyard also reached out to school board president, Jason Evans, same thing, both said they had their hands full right now .. We got the appraisal, we listed w realtor of record, we get a bonified offer, we think, never know till you get the money in the bank, and then everything started coming back, wait a minute
Harris: And the agreement we had that we worked as a court for with [A J } was to keep the days that the school had for the kids .. we worked very hard for that, that was in writing. [Also on phone] I don’t want the perception that it was to save the youth fair and the days for the school.
West: Did they make the deadline?
Chambers: They made the deadline, they haven’t deposited their $10,000, they have till 5 o’clock this evening [Again, that would have been on Sept 23] They had to make the contract by 5:00 Wed evening which is the 30 days and they have 3 business days after that to deposit the earnest money. 90 days feasibility study.
Busch: We can’t stop now and say we’re going to give it to the school, doesn’t work that way.
Ann: So if the school should exercise their right and comes up with the money, this does not go back on the tax roll and we are still going to pay for all the maintenance .. current contract with AJ would have put it on tax roll and continue with all events with the school system
chambers: Even included the original 94 contract in there with their offer. A J even went to the school board on Monday, we met with them again on Wed morning when we got this letter, I don’t know what to say
? Do you know how many days are blocked off for the school
Harris: 99 percent sure it’s 10
Ray: You’re saying that could have done this for free?
Chambers: Well, they probably would have had to pay the survey, things like that but we wouldn’t be here discussing a million and a half dollars. Taxing entities can deal with taxing entities .. They have to rent the RV park at 3 years for $18,000. … contract with [AJ]Macias actually put that in their offer.
Ann: Could have been private and the school would still have the 10 days.
? Commissioners Court didnt know about this in April? More than one knew about it, and Trey knew about it and Bill Vineyard
Ray: I did know about it but putting it on the record.
chambers: Why do 2 taxing entities have to pay for the same property twice.
Ann: Where are they planning on getting the money? We just gave em a bond election, will there be another bond election?
Chambers: That[s their board there .. School would get free days, not have to pay rent, blocked
(Not sure if GRISD blocked out their days
My 2 cents. I remember this back from Feb 12, 2024 about water bill due to City of Glen Rose regarding issues regarding pipes. I have heard a lot about wanting to diversity the businesses in Somervell County to increase the tax base and was all for A J Enterprises getting the Expo. Since it appears, if GRISD does indeed follow through to get this, that it’s a non-taxable swap that will not help us get additional revenue for the taxpayer. It is also not clear to me how GRISD will address this at their board meetings and how they would pay for the Expo (which would include some substantive repairs). The bond election in 2023 did not include spending additional money for the Expo but surely if any part of the projects in consideration, which did NOT include the Expo, now do, and are considered part of the bond, that should be rigorous school board meetings to alert the public so they can decide whether they wish to possibly divert money from one project to go to another, IF that is possible with the bond.
