Plans for a new elementary school in Wallins have been delayed while the Harlan County School Board works to purchase the property it needs to go forward with the project.

Britt Craig came to the board Monday on behalf of the Wallins Elementary School site-based council to ask why there has been no progress.

"We have a lot of questions," said Craig.

Board attorney Johnnie Turner, who has been the lead man in negotiating the purchase of the rest of the property needed to start the school, said he is very close to closing the deal.

"All we're waiting for is a yes or a no," he said.

One property owner, whom he declined to name in the meeting, has not yet made up her mind about whether she is willing to sell her property. The property would be used for the entrance to the school, and without it, no plans can move forward and other property purchases for the site are also on hold.

If she decides not to sell, he said, the board can seek to condemn the property.

Turner also said that the delay in purchasing the property is not really holding back progress on construction because the board has to wait for the state to pass a budget before they can build.

Board chairman Gary Farmer said that he has been approached many times by citizens afraid that the new school isn't going to happen. He said he's heard concerns that money for the Wallins school has been diverted to the high school.

"Rumors are all over the place," said Farmer. "Basically people are waiting for a good faith effort. We don't know why the property is not purchased."

Farmer, who asked at the last board meeting to be included in the negotiations for the purchase of the property, said he is "positive" that the property owner holding up the process was contacted only last month.

"I don't know where the ball's been dropped," he said. "We have got to get this thing straightened out."

Turner said that he has asked the property owner's attorney to respond to the board's purchase offer by the end of this week.

"They are thinking seriously about the sale," he said. "It will be sooner rather than later."

Superintendent Tim Saylor commented on the slow pace of the process, saying that the board is working with the property owners on the purchase, trying to keep from having to condemn the land.

"It takes some time," he said.

The school board also responded to a question from local attorney Otis Doan at the Monday meeting.

Doan asked the board if there had been any progress on an investigation he had asked the board to make into carpet bids "several months back."

"There was never a report made," said Doan. "The board continued to buy carpet from the company that overcharged."

There is an ongoing lawsuit against the district by Tri-State Rug over carpet purchases. The company alleges a breach of contract.

Turner said that Doan was "mischaracterizing" for political reasons an issue with another local carpet company in which there was an $1,100 mistake made.

"That's harsh, to say a good, honest businessman was overcharging the school."

The company refunded the school the money when the mistake was discovered, Turner said.

Doan said that the Kentucky State Police is investigating the school board as a result of individual complaints about the carpet discrepancy.

Turner said he was not aware of any investigation by the KSP, and no one at the KSP could confirm an investigation at press time.