<body><div>Ormond Beach still intends to purchase the former Osceola Elementary property. But, with the impacts of Amendment 3 looming, officials have decided to hold off on executing the contract for the next few weeks or so.The contract to purchase the 11.6-acre school site from the Volusia County School Board for $2.5 million was pulled from the consent agenda from the Ormond Beach City Commission meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 4. Deputy Mayor and Mayor-elect Lori Tolland, who pulled the item, asked staff to request an extension from the School Board in light of Amendment 3. She also asked that different funding opportunities be evaluated, as the purchase was originally slated to be funded using recreation impact fee funds, with the possibility of an advance from the city's pooled cash."I do want to put on the record that I do think Osceola is potentially a very valuable asset for us in the city," Tolland said. "You have to look at the vision for the future, and so looking at the future, I think it's a huge asset, but I also do want some additional funding information prior to us making decisions."Options for alternate funding could include a county ECHO grant or funds from the Daytona Beach Racing and Recreational Facilities District, Tolland said.Assistant City Manager Shawn Finley said he has spoken with the School Board and that they were amenable to an extension and that staff is having conversations about different funding sources. He also noted that what was before the commission to approve was a contract to offer to purchase; closing would likely take anywhere from six to nine months, as one of the contract stipulations is that the School Board demolish the existing school buildings.Commissioner Harold Briley said he'd also like for the city to speak with the Hillside Cemetery Association. The historic cemetery at 215 Seton Trail abuts the Osceola Elementary property. Briley said the cemetery may be interested in acquiring some of the school property to be able to sell new plots."So it can be beneficial for the cemetery," Briley said. "It can be beneficial for the city by selling off just a portion of that property."Tolland said that is something she's heard the community may be interested in as well and that city staff should begin talks with the cemetery to see if there's interest. One previously discussed funding option is for the city to sell Nova Field 1 on Nova Road. Finley said staff are working on getting the property appraised. With a new commission being sworn in on Nov. 17, Commissioner Travis Sargent said he felt they should be the ones to vote on the contract. Mayor Jason Leslie agreed."This is going to be something that's going to probably be going on for several months, and should be some decision-making on the commission coming in," Leslie said.The contract was tabled in a unanimous vote.</div></body>

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Ormond Beach still intends to purchase the former Osceola Elementary property. But, with the impacts of Amendment 3 looming, officials have decided to hold off on executing the contract for the next few weeks or so. The contract to purchase the 11.6-acre school site from the Volusia County School Board...

Ormond Beach tables Osceola Elementary purchase contract after Amendment 3 passage

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Ormond Beach still intends to purchase the former Osceola Elementary property. But, with the impacts of Amendment 3 looming, officials have decided to hold

Ormond Beach tables Osceola Elementary purchase contract after Amendment 3 passage

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