The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners and the Seaside School District approved the swap of tax lots on the site of the former high school. The deal brings the sale of the former Seaside High School to HTA Properties LLC one step closer.

At the county meeting Wednesday, commissioners agreed to exchange reversionary interest of four tax lots on the south end of the former high school for acquisition of tax lot 4900.

“It was good to hear the approval in the meeting last night,” Susan Penrod, school district superintendent said Thursday.

Tax lot 4900, a small parcel to the north of the old high school track, was deeded by a private party to the school district in 1956.

The county foreclosed on the property in 1961. The circumstances around the property tax owed and the foreclosure are not clearly defined because of the lack of clarifying records, Penrod said.

When the former high school received a $3.2 million bid in mid-July from HTA Properties LLC, the school district asked the county for a resolution.

The county will be given ownership of lot 4900, along with four more tax lots on the northern portion of the property for clean title purposes. In exchange, parcels on the south end of the high school property will be deeded to the district. These tax lots are properties for which the county holds reversionary rights after a potential sale by the school district.

The buyer remains under contract and working through his due diligence, Penrod said. “The parcel exchange with the county will benefit both parties. We cannot discuss the specifics of the purchase agreement, so we can allow the buyer to complete his investigations.”