The Oconto Falls School Board has deeded two Jefferson School lots to a local historical preservation association.
With a 6-1 vote Monday, the board agreed to use a quit claim deed to transfer ownership of the lots to the Oconto Falls Area Heritage Center, which plans to develop a historical attraction at the site.
The School Board in November unanimously agreed to the transfer, contingent upon the documents being drawn up by the Oconto Falls Area Heritage Center and approved by the district’s legal counsel.
On Monday, School Board member Charles O’Harrow cast the only vote opposing the transfer. He declined to comment on his decision after the meeting.
The School Board, for over a year, discussed what should be done with the property. The title to one lot required the parcel to revert to the original owners, the Volk family, or its heirs, once the land was no longer used for education. The other parcel had no restrictions for its use or sale.
The quit claim deed approved Monday was written in a way to release the district of ownership.
“The grantor, which is us, makes no warranty the property is owned by the grantor or is free from adverse claims,” Superintendent Dave Polashek said.
Dale Seelig, of the heritage center, told the board in November the center could handle any legal entanglements that might occur.
Seelig did not attend Monday’s meeting, but in a phone interview Tuesday morning said the School Board’s decision allows the heritage center to “go ahead in earnest” to raise funds to develop a historical park.
“I think the School Board did a fantastic thing for the city of Oconto Falls in approving that,” he said. “I hope the faith that they have in the heritage center will come to fruition.”
The heritage center leaders envision purchasing the former Spruce School from the school district and opening the two-room school house as the centerpiece of the park.
“We’d like to have enough there to be rewarding for school kids to take a field trip to learn more about the history of Oconto Falls,” Seelig said.
The quit claim deed required no reimbursement from the heritage center for the two lots, valued at about $13,000, according to an estimate by a local real estate agent.
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