School System Agrees to Length of Proposed Lease For Old Toccoa H.S. Gym

The Stephens County Board of Education settles on a number of years for a requested lease extension by Evan Oglesby for the use of the old Toccoa High School gym.

Tuesday, the school board voted 5 to 2 to base a lease extension on a 30-year term.

Oglesby, a Toccoa native and former NFL player, currently leases the old gym on Pond Street and uses it for his E.O. Foundation Center.

He said he wants a long-term lease in order to help in his effort to apply for grants in order to make further upgrades to the facility.

Also, Oglesby said a longer lease term will protect his investment in the facility through the upgrades he has already made and plans to make in the future.

Board of Education Chair Dr. Elizabeth Pinkerton said this motion will allow the school system to move forward in getting a proposed lease drawn up.

“What we are trying to get to tonight is not an agreement on the lease, but an agreement on the number of years,” said Dr. Pinkerton. “If we get that agreement, we can draw up the lease.”

The motion approved by the school board also calls for the final lease contract to be brought back for its approval before it can be made official and entered into.

Jim Ledford and Tony Crunkleton voted against the motion.

Crunkleton said it has nothing to do with what Oglesby is doing with the gym.

“I am not against Mr. Oglesby or his foundation,” said Crunkleton. “It is just the number of years, I think it is too long.”

Meanwhile, Ledford said he could not vote to approve something when he has not seen a contract.

Other terms of the proposed lease, such as price or any other stipulations, still have to be negotiated and drawn up.