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City may start selling property- Decker presents selling idea
Feb 14, 2012 (News-Democrat & Leader - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
The city of Russellville may soon be selling some of it's property, which would generate monies to go into the reserve fund for a rainy day.
Councilman Bill Decker, who joined the decision makers in September of last year as interim for the vacated seat of Lanny McPherson, presented this idea to his fellow council members on Tuesday, Feb. 7.
Decker visited the property valuation office and did some investigating into how much property the city of Russellville actually owned. He found at least 85 pieces of property and believes there to be more.
"The city owns a lot of property. I can't help but wonder if the city might not be better served or better off maybe selling some of the property that we don't have any need for or don't use in anyway," said Decker.
The councilman mentioned that he wasn't referring to properties that the city is using or has a need for in the future for access to other properties, but the vacant lots that lay throughout the city. Decker said the larger parcels may be broken up into different lots which is why it seems the city owns a lot, but never the less, there are properties the city is maintaining for no need.
"What I'm talking about are the small isolated half acre lots that are scattered. I know there is some on East 1st Street," said Decker, who also talked with street supervisor Timmy Pitts about the maintenance issues of these properties. According to Pitts, said Decker, they have to mow and take care of all of them. "To me I don't see where the city is benefiting from this," Decker said, adding that it's actually costing the city in the long run by having to maintain these properties.
One of Decker's solutions would be to sell the properties to private individuals or somebody that would take it and pay property taxes.
"At least we would generate some revenue off of it," said Decker, who felt maybe someone may build a home or business on it, which would be even more property tax collected.
"I think this is something worth looking at," said Decker asking the other council members to chime in on their thoughts. "I just kinda want to get a feel from the rest of the council and if you feel it's worth pursuing."
Mayor Mark Stratton mentioned the liability insurance costs the city has to have on the properties, which would be another savings if some of it were sold.
"Bill hit the nail on the head, we spend a lot of time mowing and trimming to keep these lots situated," said Stratton.
Decker said when he served as the city's code enforcement officer back years ago he had to make sure everyone's property was under compliance -- even the city's.
"I had a job to do and just like an individual owned a piece of property, if the city owned it I saw that it was maintained, mowed and trimmed and taken care of just like anybody else," said Decker.
How to sell it was a question Decker didn't know the answer to.
"That's something you can figure out how you want to go about handling," Decker said.
City attorney Neil Kerr had the answer saying each piece of property would need to be declared surplus, then an advertisement would have to be placed in the News-Democrat & Leader and the city would allow people to come in and place a bid. "This would be legal process," said Kerr.
Councilman Jimmy Davenport said he was sure some homeowners would be willing to purchase lots that were next to their own properties.
Stratton agreed this may be a good idea and put Decker on a committee with city zoning administrator Bill Pearson and councilman Davenport to look into the idea further.
"Bill (Pearson) has been here a long time and knows where all the property is," said Stratton.
The only request Decker had of the idea was that any revenues generated from the sale of these properties be put in the city's reserve fund.
"It's been my experience when you accumulate any kind of funds like this, it gets co-mingled in with your general fund and it gets spent and you don't know what happened to it," said Decker. "Folks, this reserve fund rather it's this council or any future councils, they are going to be glad that money is there at some time and some place and some fashion. It's going to be worth while having that."
___ (c)2012 the News-Democrat & Leader (Russellville, Ky.) Visit the
News-Democrat & Leader (Russellville, Ky.) at www.newsdemocratleader.com
Distributed by MCT Information Services
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