Halifax County Board of Commissioners Monday night fulfilled their part of an agreement between Roanoke Rapids City Council and the school system to bring new tennis courts to T.J. Davis.

County Attorney Glynn Rollins told the board, by state statute, they were required to consider a resolution for the lease of property for use as a school facility.

The school system is entering a lease agreement with the city for use of tennis courts at T.J. for practices, competition and other school-related activities. 

The proposed lease is for 15 years at $1 per year.

According to state law, operational leases for terms of three years or longer are permitted as long as they are approved by a resolution adopted by commissioners, which the board unanimously did Monday.

The total estimated cost of the project is $200,000 with a 20 percent contingency and the city over the next two fiscal years would repay the school system for half of the cost — up to $100,000.

Earlier this month the city and school system agreed to enter into a joint agreement to demolish and construct four new courts behind T.J. Davis.

Before that agreement last week, the school system had looked at several options, including building at Manning school and the Patterson property behind the high school. Those options, the school system said, would have cost more than $400,000, while the T.J. Davis option would be less than half since lighting is already there.

Commissioner Patrick Qualls said the school system has always had a good relationship with the city. He said applauded the efforts of the school system and city to come up with a solution. “If they didn’t, they wouldn’t have a place to play tennis.”

School board Chair Jay Carlisle told commissioners Halifax Horizons has donated $25,000 to help reduce the cost while other organizations have expressed an interest in donating to the cause.

At its meeting last week, Roanoke Rapids City Council Tuesday voted to conditionally approve the contract pending the completion of the paperwork involved.