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County to purchase final parcel for proposed CCS parking lot
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By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
The last piece of the County Community Services (CCS) parking lot puzzle was hopefully secured July 21 when the Houston County Board approved a motion to spend $26,000 to purchase an 8,000 square foot parcel of land from Midwest Bottle Gas. The land in question is an 80 by 100 foot parcel that was once part of the railroad right-of-way.
County Surveyor Dick Walters had explained that the land was thought to have been taken by the state as part of an easement for Highway 44. That assumption was incorrect. The land had reverted back to Midwest Bottle Gas, who was the owner of the approximately 1.5 acres of land the county had purchased for $27,000 earlier this spring.
“Midwest is standing firm on this price,” County Finance Director Casey Bradley told the commissioners. “The price for this parcel is $3.55 per square foot. But when you average in the two parcels, we will end up paying $2.75 per square foot. The average price for land along this highway corridor ranges from $2.98 to $3.89 per square foot. So we’re still below the average price that has been paid for land in this area.”
A motion by Commissioner Dave Corcoran and second by Commissioner Bob Augedahl was unanimously approved.
The county needed the parking lot to conform with city zoning that requires 36 off-street parking stalls for the (CCS) building. The county purchased the former Meyer Furniture Store building last winter and developed it into an office building that now is home to County Extension, Veterans Services and Public Health Nursing.
Bradley also brought an easement agreement to the board for approval that covers the use of a small parcel of state land along Highway 44. This agreement is basically the same as the county and state had made for a triangular piece of property on the north side of the railroad right-of-way.
With the approval of the purchase of the 8,000 square foot parcel, the easement agreement with the state and the City of Caledonia’s approval of the stormwater run-off plan, the county will now be able to develop the property into the parking lot.
In other council action:
Dollar General
abatement terminated
County EDA Director Jordan Wilms and County Auditor Char Meiners brought a recommendation to the board to terminate the property tax abatement the county had earlier granted for Dollar General.
When Dollar General had applied for both a city and county tax abatement, the company had agreed to create 10 full-time jobs, but instead has only created three full-time equivalent jobs (two full-time and two half-time).
“The Caledonia EDA voted in July to terminate their tax abatement if Dollar General did not come into compliance with the original agreement,” Wilms told the board. “Dollar General has made no indication that they will be coming into compliance by creating 10 full-time jobs. I feel the county should follow suit and terminate the tax abatement, as the city has.”
A motion by Corcoran and seconded by Commissioner Jack Miller was unanimously approved.
According to figures provided by Meiners, Dollar General had only received tax benefits for 2008. The county abatement was $3,850.60, while the city’s abatement was $2,346.30.
Office furniture approved
The board approved a request by County Attorney Sue Bublitz to purchase five new work stations for her department. With the completion of the CCS, Veterans Services and Public Health Nursing moved out of the Courthouse, there has been some shuffling of offices.
The County Attorney’s Office will be moving into a different area of the Courthouse and the “built in” work stations can’t be moved. Bublitz requested authority to purchase new work stations that would replace those built-ins.
The money to purchase the new office furniture would come out of the County Attorney’s forfeiture fund ($3,000), its 2009 budget ($3,000) and from the GIS department earmarked for computer software ($1,300).
“I’m a little concerned that we will be purchasing this (the new work stations) and they will only be used for a couple of years before you move into the CJC,” Corcoran said. “Do we really need to spend this money now? Will you be able to move these?”
Bradley explained there are currently not enough work stations for the County Attorneys office and that the bids he received for straight desks were higher than the modular units. He added that the modular units should work once the CJC is completed.
The board also approved the Finance Department spending up to $2,000 for chairs and filing cabinets. Bradley explained he was able to find four old desks that were not being used that would work for his department. But they needed chairs and filing cabinets.
The board also approved the Environmental Services Department spending $1,300 for new filing cabinets.
Asbestos inspection quotes
The board approved the low bid of $2,307 submitted by Danewick-Poole Environmental of Rochester to conduct an asbestos assessment on the two homes on Pine Street the county purchased to make room for the CJC and also the Sheriff Department’s garage. All three buildings will be torn down to make room for the CJC.
According to County Jailer Mark Schiltz, the assessment will be conducted around Sept. 1. The county is required to give a 30-day notice to the parties renting the two houses. The assessment will include taking 100 samples in the three buildings. Once the assessment is conducted, no one can reside in the homes.
You can contact Charlie Warner at
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