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
16523