NOTICE OF PUBLIC LEASE AUCTION
NOTICE is hereby given to all whom it may concern that
pursuant to the terms of W. Va. Code § 1857, the
BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE COUNTY OF
WETZEL (“Board of Education”), acting by its duly
authorized agent(s), will lease at public auction the real
property described below to the highest responsible
bidder whose bid meets or exceeds the minimum
advertised price herein. NOTE: This lease auction is
subject those certain Surplus Property Public Lease
Auction Rules issued by the Superintendent of Wetzel
County Schools as duly authorized agent of
the Board of Education.
It has been ascertained that the real property described
below is no longer needed for school purposes.
REAL PROPERTY TO BE LEASED:
Subsurface of all Board-owned property beneath the
surface of the property located
1) Center District of Wetzel County, West Virginia,
parcel numbers 12-20-28 approximately 0.50 net acres,
which has just recently been declared surplus school
property no longer needed for school usage, for the
purposes of drilling and/or extraction of the oil, natural
gas, and other minerals therein.
NOTICE: THE BOARD WILL NOT WARRANT
GENERALLY THE PROPERTY TO BE LEASED and
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MAKES NO
WARRANTY WHATSOEVER REGARDING ANY
MINERAL RIGHTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS
PROPERTY.
DATE/TIME OF LEASE AUCTION: January 7, 2026 at
10:00 A.M. *
*Note: The date, time and/or place of lease auction are
subject to change by the Board of Education.
PLACE OF LEASE AUCTION:
Wetzel County Board of Education
333 Foundry Street
New Martinsville, WV 26155
MINIMUM LEASE BID: $5000 up-front cash bonus per acre leased and a 20%
royalty to the Board of Education
TERMS OF LEASE: The final lease agreement
between the highest responsible bidder and the Board
of Education must comply with the form lease
agreement on file at the central office of the Board of
Education located at 333 Foundry Street, New
Martinsville, WV 26155. This form lease agreement
restricts the kinds of activities that may be conducted on
the leased land by the lessee. Interested bidders
should review this form lease agreement carefully
before deciding whether to bid at the lease auction.
The property is being leased AS IS, WHERE IS.
RULES OF LEASE AUCTION: The lease auction
described herein shall be conducted in accordance with
and subject to those certain Surplus Property Public
Lease Auction Rules issued by the Superintendent of
Wetzel County Schools. A copy of such rules may be
obtained from the contact identified below. All bidders
are strongly advised to obtain and read a copy of these
rules prior to the lease auction.
INSPECTION: Bidders should thoroughly inspect the
property and/or circumstances of the property prior to
the date of the lease auction. Bidder should check with
the appropriate governmental agencies to investigate
and verify approved uses for the property. The Board of
Education does not warrant the property as to condition
and/or the fitness of the property for a particular purpose
or any purpose. Bidders are solely responsible for
judging and evaluating the suitability of the property for
their own protection and purposes.
FINAL APPROVAL: The highest responsible bidder
and his/her bid is at all times subject to final approval by
the county Superintendent of schools who is the duly
authorized agent of the Board of Education.
RIGHT TO REJECT: The Board of Education reserves
the right to reject any and all bids. The Board of
Education also reserves the right to cancel or postpone
the lease auction without further notice other than by
oral proclamation at the time and place set for the
auction.
APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION:
December 16, 2025.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE
COUNTY OF WETZEL
Contact: Matt Duke
333 Foundry Street
New Martinsville, WV 26155
(304) 455-2441 ext. 129
16521