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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend April 27, 2006 School property sale talks stymied By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune JACKSONVILLE — Cascade Christian officials say they will pursue other offers after negotiations with the City Council ended in an impasse Tuesday over the sale of the school property located in the cultural and historic heart of Jacksonville. Cascade is asking $5 million for the 7.57-acre parcel, which includes six tax lots and 44,642 square feet of aging structures that have been assessed by Jackson County at $1.25 million. The main building is the century-old Jacksonville School, which was remodeled to house Cascade Christian High School in 1994. A city official who asked not to be identified said Jacksonville has offered $3 million for the property. The city's offer includes several contingencies which protect the city's interests but could affect the final purchase price of the property by as much as $500,000. School Superintendent Ray Johnson said Cascade Christian needs top value for the property because it wants to build a new school in Medford, which is estimated to cost $4.5 million. The figure does not include purchasing the land, Johnson said Wednesday. "The whole project is a $9.5 million project," said Johnson. Advertisement Johnson said Cascade has repeatedly indicated it would welcome a second offer. But the city's many contingencies would undoubtedly affect the sale price at escrow — making it impossible for Cascade Christian to know the true dollar value of the city's offer, he said. "We and the council have different expectations about what negotiations should be like," said Johnson. "We both have our constituencies. The council must represent the citizens of Jacksonville and we must represent our parents and supporters." All seven members of the City Council were present at Tuesday's 7:30 p.m. meeting, which was intended to be a closed executive session. But because neither the media nor the public were notified of the meeting as required by Oregon Revised Statutes, the contents became public record. The Mail Tribune obtained a tape recording of it Wednesday. Cascade Christian's negotiating team was prepared to discuss three things — the city's willingness to make another offer, the city's willingness to work with developers and the removal of zoning added to the property since 1993. But City Administrator Paul Wyntergreen told the teams that land-use issues were not allowable topics for discussion under the executive session statutes. The single issue of purchase was the only one on the negotiation table, he said. Reid Murphy of R.A. Murphy Construction acted as spokesman for Cascade's seven-member team. Murphy told the council Cascade would not counter the city's original offer. He said the city's price and many contingencies were unacceptable. City officials said they would not make another offer without direction from Cascade. Councilwoman Donna Schatz encouraged the Cascade team members to discuss the particulars of their rejection. The city's contingencies and purchase price offer were "not fair," said Murphy. "I don't know what else to do to offer Jacksonville the opportunity on the last large piece of property in this town," said Murphy. "We will move on with our other options." Councilman Bill Leep expressed frustration with Cascade's refusal to make a statement beyond a flat rejection. "I don't hear any negotiation," said Leep. "I hear, 'Our way or the highway.' I don't hear anything that says 'we want to make some concessions.' You guys have got to behave in some capacity that resembles a deal." Councilman Dick Ames said the city's contingencies — which include language pertaining to seismic retrofitting and other structural concerns — are necessary to protect the city from unknown costs. "For you to say they're unacceptable, that leaves me cold," said Ames. Tuesday's meeting ended after Murphy reiterated Cascade's rejection. "We have rejected your offer," said Murphy. "We have another offer on the table. So we'll be pursuing that offer." Murphy did not return calls from the Mail Tribune seeking comment on Wednesday. The two sides set a deadline of May 1 to come up with an agreement. The matter is scheduled for discussion at Tuesday's City Council meeting, said Wyntergreen. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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