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Tuesday, August 28, 2001

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City briefs: Council purchases land

By Chris Foster

Tribune staff writer

The city council Monday approved the purchase of 10 acres of land directly west of the city garage at 414 Commercial Street between Lincoln Avenue and the railroad tracks. The city will use the property for storm water runoff from the city garage.

City Manager Paul Sparks said the city is getting the property, owned by the Ruth Palmer Trust, for a bargain price of $25,000. A recent appraisal valued the property at more than $75,000.

In other council news:

— The council approved the sale of $2.8 million in public improvement bonds. Proceeds from the sale, scheduled for Sept. 24, will go into the city’s assessment fund to cover the cost of major capital projects.

— The council approved a $1.5 million improvement project involving road construction and utility extension along Southeast Marshall Street and Township Road 105. The project is part of the Home Depot development. A sanitary sewer line is also planned.

— Sparks distributed copies of the 2002 budget for the council to review. A public hearing is scheduled for the first council meeting in September. A final version of the budget won’t be passed until late October.

Though the state just released the city’s levy limit for the coming year, Sparks said he does not plan to revise the budget. The state-imposed levy limit was almost $200,000 higher than expected, he said.

— The council voted to annex the property of Darwin Haroldson, located at 2016 Southeast Marshall Street. Haroldson requested the annexation so he could access the city’s utilities, which are being extended into the area for the Home Depot development.

— The council tabled a budget for the Convention and Visitors Bureau, deciding to wait until after a workshop to act on the matter.