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<br />counteroffer and reiterated their offer of $286,000. He reminded the City Council that the site <br />clean up was funded by a grant. <br /> <br />Councilmember Look asked if anyone else had expressed interest in this property. <br /> <br />Economic Development Coordinator Sullivan stated that there have been some inquiries, but no <br />formal offers. <br /> <br />Councilmember Look stated he has been made aware that there is someone else who was <br />interested in purchasing this property, but was told that Ace already had it wrapped up. He <br />stated that he has concerns about staff speaking on behalf of the City Council and limiting the <br />marketability of this property. He stated that he feels the property should go into a public <br />bidding process. He stated that he feels that City's counter offer of $310,000 was reasonable. <br />He stated that he also has concerns that the planned use of a transfer station on this property is <br />not the right use of property. He stated that the City has helped establish a small business <br />community in the area and he would like to see something similar move onto this property. He <br />stated that he opposes this sale and would like the City to hold onto the property. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen stated that he has not been happy with this project either. He stated that <br />the City paid $315,000 for this property and the recent appraisal showed a value of $205,000, <br />which he feels' is not being a good steward of the taxpayer's money. He stated that he felt the <br />counteroffer of $310,000 was reasonable. He stated that he would also like to see the City hold <br />onto this property. <br /> <br />Councilmember Strommen stated that she wanted to remind the City Council that the purchase <br />price of $315,000 included a building and right-of-way that is not included in the property being <br />sold to Ace. She stated that the EDA looked at this and the City got involved because to receive <br />the grant money to get the property cleaned up, it needed to get involved. <br /> <br />Councilmember Olson stated that this kind of transaction in a redevelopment project is not <br />uncommon and happens in both commercial and residential areas. She stated that there are costs <br />associated with redevelopment and, in this case, she feels it will benefit the City. <br /> <br />Councilmember Look stated that he agrees that the City did need to step in so the property could <br />get cleaned up, but his concern is that the contamination shouldn't have happened in the first <br />place. He stated that to clarify his point from earlier, there is another entity interested in <br />purchasing this property that would bring no less than 20 jobs to the City. He stated that a <br />message was given to this person that the property was going to go to Ace Solid Waste <br />regardless. He stated that he has concerns about deals that seem to be happening under the table <br />because there are viable businesses interested in this property, but since the City has seemingly <br />handpicked someone else for the property, other entities cannot compete. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec suggested that this other interested party could look at the other available land the <br />City has. <br /> <br />City Council / November 27, 2007 <br />Page 14 of 18 <br />