Thursday, April 10, 2014
Council Agrees To Sell City-Owned Lots
After listening to objections of one local business owner Lawrenceburg leaders voted Thursday to move ahead with a proposal to sell four city-owned lots, three of which are currently being used for public parking.
At their March 27 meeting, members of the Lawrenceburg Board of Mayor and Council had opted to delay action on four resolutions regarding the sale of lots in the East Gaines/Columbia Avenue/Fain Court area to Darrell Valentine (Rondar Investments).
Valentine proposed purchasing the smallest parcel for $2,000 and had offered $8,000 apiece for the remaining three, at $26,000 total.
Joel Hale, who owns property adjacent to one of the parking lots, voiced objections to the sale Thursday as well as during the council’s previous meeting. He told members that he felt they “shouldn’t allow someone to cherry pick property.”
Hale urged council members to retain the properties for use as public parking then stated, “However, if the city needs cash then accept my check for $35,000.”
Valentine, who recently purchased several downtown properties now under renovation, addressed the council as well. He explained that he needed to obtain the properties in order to meet the city’s parking space requirements for businesses that are planning to move into the long-vacant buildings.
Valentine told council members that he had no objection to allowing the spaces to be open for parking by the general public. He said that he plans to invest between $60,000 and $80,000 in improvements to the lots within the next six months. Valentine then offered to increase his purchase price to $40,000, under the condition that members not vote to table the matter.
Council member Robin Williams questioned whether the city should retain the lot adjacent to Hale’s business for public parking. Mayor Keith Durham explained that the lot had only been owned by the city for the past two years, but was used by the public for many years prior. The lot had previously been owned by the Lawrenceburg Housing Authority.
Durham told Hale, “I have wished that someone would come in here and buy one of these buildings and fix it up … As someone who has been a lifelong resident of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee I’m glad to see some progress…We’ve been working toward progress and we’re just now starting to see it pay off…In my opinion we’ve finally got some good things going on in Lawrenceburg.”
Should they postpone action on the sale, Durham said he feared that the forward progression in the downtown area would come to a halt. “Things we do at this board can either advance progress or stop progress…What I’m afraid of is that the progress will stop.”
Council Member Jamie Sevier agreed. He pointed out, “I’ve been seeing a lot of excitement lately that’s due to Mr. Valentine’s investments…I think everything that’s being done will attract more businesses to the square.”
Council Member Ronald Fox stated, “Mr. Valentine has pledged that anyone can park in those lots and I, for one, believe it…He’s invested a lot and needs this for his businesses and I, for one, don’t have a problem with it.”
Council Member Chad Moore encouraged the board to take action on the matter. “This has been a month-long process…I’m ready to deal with it and move onto something other than parking lots,” he said.
Hale admonished the council because they did not have a parking agreement with Valentine down in writing. He said that without such an agreement Valentine might, in the future, change his mind and opt not to allow public parking. He told council members, “I say take the straw out of your mouth and get realistic.”
As Hale continued making similar comments council members told him they felt he was out of line.
When the vote was called the resolution to sell to Valentine was approved by a unanimous vote.
City Attorney Alan Betz said that contracts for the sale of all four properties stipulate that:
*The lots be used primarily as parking
*No permanent structures be placed on the properties (including fences)
*The city retain right of first refusal, allowing the opportunity to re-purchase the property at the current selling price of $8,000, should Valentine opt to sell it to a non-family member
At Betz’s recommendation the city retained a four-foot easement against Hale’s building. They did so to ensure that, in the future, a sidewalk could be constructed to guarantee public access to other public parking that is nearby.
