Saline City Council approves $100,000 purchase of land on Monroe Street; use yet to be determined
The Saline City Council Monday night approved the $100,000 purchase of a 3.5 acre parcel near Curtiss Park and the city water treatment plant.
City officials have no specific plan for use of the property at 207 Monroe St. but several council members said it will give the city flexibility and could prove valuable in the future.
Council member Brian Marl voted against the purchase and objected strongly during debate that preceded the vote.
“I don’t understand why at this time in 2010 with the economy being the way it is why we would want to purchase the property,” he said. “There has never been a narrative articulated to me or anyone else as to why we would be purchasing this property.”
He said the city should not be working to transfer the property from private to public ownership. “At this time we would want to be encouraging any kind of private ownership we can,” Marl said. Other council members said they approved the purchase because it could benefit the city in a variety of ways.
Alicia Ping
“Through hard work and careful negotiation we were able to lower the price,” Ping said. “The future use of it will fit the needs of the city or be sold in a better market and under our terms.”
“Although we have no specific purpose for it now, it provides several options for later,” council member David Rhoads said. “It will provide flexibility in a portion of town where we don’t have any.”
Council member Glenn Law added, “I think its worthwhile because you want to put the destiny of the land in our hands and not someone else’s.”
Mayor Gretchen Driskell said the property’s location near the city-owned park and water treatment plant give Saline plenty of possibilities for future use.
City Manager Todd Campbell said the city would close on the purchase of the property before May 2011. Campbell said the city plans to remove a home and a three-story barn from the property after the purchase is final.
Comments
salinesal
Fri, Sep 24, 2010 : 8:25 a.m.
I love the comment by the council member that said - "you want to put the destiny of the land in our hands (City of Saline) and not someone elses. This only proves how arrogant the City Council is. The citizens are just idiotic minions, needing the wise counsel of our government overlords to tell us what to do and how to do it. Does anyone really believe that the Government knows better than the private sector? Get a clue...All wealth is created in the private sector. Government doesn't produce wealth, it destroys it. Every thing it does costs more, takes longer and is usually subject to corruption, kick backs and political favors. The only thing it does well, is use it's monopoly power to take money away from it's citizens. Cheers to Brian Marl who got it right on this issue!! Oh by the way...can this sale be used as a comp to reduce property taxes in Saline? From $400,000 down to $100,000 in value, WOW. I see my property taxes going down by at least 75%.
Jay Allen
Thu, Sep 23, 2010 : 2:31 p.m.
@forever21: Still waiting for the information!!!
Mr. Big Donut
Wed, Sep 22, 2010 : 12:34 p.m.
Great move by the City of Saline. This is the perfect market to purchase land for future use. Low prices and good terms for financing (not that they had to). Better to pick it up now, rather than when they have to have it and are forced to pay a premium. As a resident, I like to see forward thinking and future planning by our city leaders.
tlb1201
Wed, Sep 22, 2010 : 9:44 a.m.
How about a map instead of a photo of Ms. Ping? The information conveyed would be much better. I have nothing against Ms. Ping, but the story is not about her and her photo adds nothing to the story. It is about a piece of property that is pretty much unidentified and lacks description, other that its size and address. A simple map would turn this into a useful story rather than an empty headline. It would help the readers tremendously to understand what the city is buying and how it fits with together with the existing park land. IF it is the land I think it is, it will be a nice addition to People's Park. The park is very oddly shaped and has little street frontage. I believe that most of the parking area used for the tennis courts and ball diamond belongs to the adjacent daycare or preschool business and that the lawn of the property being purchased gets used also.
Robert
Wed, Sep 22, 2010 : 9:05 a.m.
I am very close to the people who owned that property. such a shame they had to sell it for such a low price.
David
Wed, Sep 22, 2010 : 7:42 a.m.
I know that not everyone will agree with this purchase but the majority of City Council felt that this was a below market opportunity to provide multiple options for future use of this property. I was elected to lead and to work to maintain the quality of life in our great community and that is why I and most of Council, voted for this purchase.
4x4Saline
Tue, Sep 21, 2010 : 6:27 p.m.
@ Tracyann, that property on Michigan Ave is privately owned and the City is doing everything they can to get William Concannon to step up and finish what he started. It is a process, just like everything else. Attend bi-weekly Council meetings and get involved if you want your voice to be heard.
the leprachaun
Tue, Sep 21, 2010 : 3:46 p.m.
bulid a public pool because there is nothin to do here in the summer
tracyann
Tue, Sep 21, 2010 : 2:05 p.m.
I, for one, am still waiting for something to be done with the area along Michigan Ave. that was dug out and now sits an empty, ugly eyesore.
Pat Ivey
Tue, Sep 21, 2010 : 11:49 a.m.
Just to clarify, yes the property is less than.2 of a mile from Curtiss Park, but it is actually adjacent to Peoples Park. Also, Mayor Driskell noted that the property is directly across from the Oakwood Cemetery - which has just about reached its capacity. Additional park land or cemetery space are possible future uses.
Corey
Tue, Sep 21, 2010 : 9:20 a.m.
It takes good leadership and forward thinking to make a decision like this. If we sit and wait with fear, like councilman Marl is doing, then nothing will ever progress for a better future.
Jay Allen
Tue, Sep 21, 2010 : 8:24 a.m.
@forever21: Please show us ALL just ONE article where Saline said that it could not pay for public services. And, do you live here in Saline?
Forever27
Tue, Sep 21, 2010 : 7:54 a.m.
no money to pay for public services but, hey, lets spend $100,000 on land we have no idea what to do with.