School site drops out of the running

COLUMBIA — One of the six properties under consideration for the new high school is no longer in the running as of Tuesday after the property’s co-owner expressed no intention of selling the land, Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Phyllis Chase said.

The 63-acre property submitted by Robert Kinkead is co-owned by Nancy Rosson, who currently lives on the land. The Kinkead property is located 63 acres west of Olivet Church Road just north of Olivet at Route WW. It is valued at $1.26 million.

Rosson said Kinkead had offered to sell the land for $1.26 million without consulting her. She had received a letter from Kinkead but had not opened it assuming it was a bill. So she didn’t know her property was for sale until a friend told her on Monday, she said.

Rosson said she has no intention of selling the property.

Kinkead contacted the school district’s attorney, David Walker, Tuesday after talking with Rosson on Monday night. Kinkead and Walker have not been available for comment.

The 21 committee members reviewing the potential properties have all received a memo from the school district notifying them that the Kinkead property is no longer available, Chase said.

Engineering Surveys & Services of Columbia surveyed the six properties but did not speak to Rosson, vice president of engineering Dave Bennett said. Bennet said he visited the Kinkead property personally.