The USD 480 School Board unanimously approved the purchase of 1500 W. General Welch Blvd. for $1,200,000 pending legal review. They authorize district staff to issue a payment of $30,000.00 as earnest money paid out of existing capital outlay funds.
The purchase is 9.93 acres and includes a 45,100 square foot building with office space, a large conference room, and a 38,000 square foot warehouse with a fenced yard. The current appraised value of the property is $2,133,000.
“The purchase of this property fills a vast need we’ve had for years,” said Stewart Cauble, Board President. “This was recognized at the initial bond meetings and was tabled for many years to make sure the school buildings were put in place and the students were kept the main priority.”
This site will replace and consolidate five different buildings the district currently uses at various locations across Liberal. The bus barn, maintenance shed, warehouse and two district storage buildings will all be moved to the new location.
“This facility gives the operations group a functional warehouse, activity bus storage, and a fleet maintenance shop,” said Chad Mease, Director of Operations. “It also allows us room to grow as we continue to support the needs and activities of the students across the district.”
The district buses and fleet will be moved to the new site as well and will now be in a secure and well-lit location with space for activity buses inside the warehouse and out of the elements.
Currently, the more expensive buses are unable to fit inside the bus barn and the fleet of small vehicles sit outside and require routine exterior maintenance due to prolonged exposure to the elements. The fleet includes six activity buses, 19 yellow buses, and 52 small vehicles.
“It is becoming obvious at this point the current warehouse building and garage don't meet the needs of the district,” said Cauble. “We have vehicles sitting outside and the building is in disrepair. The cost of repairs exceeds the value of the building.”
This site will also be the new home of the district’s warehouse and will handle all of the shipping and receiving needs for the district. The current warehouse building (624 N. Grant) was sold February 22 of this year and the district has to be out by May 31.
“For me this property checks the most boxes for our district’s needs. We not only get a functioning bus barn, but it also solved our warehouse, storage, and maintenance needs,” said Cauble.
With the sale of Central Office (401 N. Kansas), on Monday, April 19, USD 480 has added five properties back to the tax roll in the last two years.
Property recently added back to the tax roll:
Washington Elementary School (829 N. Kansas) - $422,500
910 N. Washington - $10,000
Garfield Elementary School (516 W. 1st) - $28,100
Education Service Center (624 N. Grant) - $150,000
Central Office (401 N. Kansas) - $80,000
TOTAL: $690,600
Currently listed property:
McDermott (425 Pennsylvania Ave.) - (LISTED $325,000)
Current Bus Barn
Activity Buses
Small Vehicle Fleet
Maintenance Shed
Current Warehouse