E.O. Foundation, School System Still Debating Lease

The Stephens County school system is still at the negotiating table with the Evan Oglesby Foundation regarding a proposed lease agreement for property around Toccoa Elementary School.

Last July, the Stephens County Board of Education approved a 30-year lease agreement for the old Toccoa High School gym on Pond Street and surrounding fields, including Boyd Field at the cost of $1 per year.

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.

However, Oglesby and his foundation never signed the lease.

On Tuesday, Oglesby presented proposed changes to the lease approved by the school board.

The one that sparked discussion between the board and Oglesby was a proposal to change the termination clause in the lease to require the consent of both parties before the lease is terminated, instead of a simple 90-day notice to terminate the lease that is in what the Board approved.

Oglesby said he needs that in the lease to protect the money he has already put into improving the property and also guarantee stability.

“Right now as you draw it up, that is a 90-day lease,” said Oglesby. “You could give me a 90-day notice and tell me to get out.”

Multiple Board of Education members expressed concern over Oglesby’s proposal.

School Board Member Jim Ledford said he will not support leasing the fields.

“I’ll let him have the gym on any type of lease he wants, but these fields should never be up for lease no matter what,” said Ledford. “Whoever knows when this school will have to expand. 30 years is a long time.”

Also, board member David Fricks noted that Oglesby’s current lease also contains a termination clause that does not require both parties to agree.

However, board member Jim Bellamy said he understands where Oglesby is coming from.

“Evan already has a tremendous investment in that building and he is trying to protect the investment he has in it,” said Bellamy, noting that if a future board kicks him out, he has lost tens of thousands of dollars in improvements he made.

Oglesby said he has plans to improve Boyd Field for use by not just his program, but potentially athletic teams at the high school as well.

According to Oglesby, he has also made an offer to purchase all of the property, but that offer was rejected by the school system.

He said he would also be willing to pay much more for a lease if the school system took over making improvements to the property.

The Board of Education took no action on Oglesby’s proposed changes to the leases.

Oglesby’s current, original lease for the gym and property runs through December 31 of this year.