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Sullivan County waives rights to buy back old Lynn View school

Published May 18th, 2009 | 0 Comments

BLOUNTVILLE — The Sullivan County Commission voted Monday to waive the county’s first right of refusal on the former Lynn View Middle School — in favor of the city of Kingsport buying the property.

The vote, unanimous among commissioners who were present, clears the way for the city to buy the school from Tri-Cities Christian Schools (TCCS).

The Kingsport Board of Mayor and Aldermen has agreed to pay TCCS $190,000 for the former Lynn View Middle School property.

The city plans to use the facility for recreation, athletic and community purposes.

TCCS officials notified the county Feb. 5 that the private school system intended to sell the property, which it purchased from the county in 2005.

The contract between the county and TCCS for that property transfer gave the county first right of refusal on buying the old school if TCCS ever decided to sell it.

The commission’s vote Monday essentially passes that right to the city of Kingsport.

The city also wants to obtain athletic fields across the street, which have been owned by the Sullivan County Board of Education and leased to the Lynn Garden Optimist Club for community use. The BOE voted earlier this month to transfer ownership of those fields to the county’s general government.

County Commissioner Wayne McConnell said the disposition of those fields will be a separate issue, and he’ll probably introduce a resolution within the next month to deal with it.

County Mayor Steve Godsey said the commission will have to decide whether to give, sell or lease the fields to Kingsport.

Godsey said he thinks the city’s plans for the properties will greatly benefit the Lynn Garden community.

“This should be a real improvement for that area,” Godsey said. “They’re going to make a lot of improvements, and we look forward to seeing those improvements made.”

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