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Case # 4 <br /> <br />By: <br /> <br /> COUNTRYSIDE ESTATES AREA <br /> PARK ACQUISITION <br /> <br />William K. Goodrich, City Attorney <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: <br /> <br />As you will recall, the Council on March 2, 1989, authorized <br />staff to pursue acquisition of park land in the Countryside <br />Estates area. One of the parcels under consideration is Lot 9, <br />Block 2, WINDSORWOOD ADDITION. This is a parcel which has <br />forfeited to the State of Minnesota because of delinquent taxes <br />from 1984 through 1988. The total of the delinquent taxes, <br />penalty, and interest plus the 1989 taxes is approximately <br />$3,000.00. The property owner's only recourse at this point is <br />to petition the County Board by October 18, 1989, to redeem the <br />property by payment of all the delinquent and current taxes. <br />The County usually grants such requests. <br /> <br />The owner of the property has now listed it with an Elk River <br />realtor and we have been presented with a Purchase Agreement to <br />purchase the property for $10,500.00. The terms would require <br />the City to pay all of the delinquent taxes plus any other costs <br />of sale. The County Auditor advises that the County Board would <br />most likely abate the taxes if the City purchases the property <br />and agrees to use it for park or other public purposes. The <br />realtor indicates he has another purchaser for the property and <br />therefore I have asked the City Administrator to sign the <br />enclosed Purchase Agreement on behalf of the City, contingent of <br />course, on the City Council approval. <br /> <br />At this point, we have nothing firm to advise the Council <br />regarding acquisition of park property from Otto Sundberg, which <br />is property south of Countryside Estates. The residents do <br />prefer this site. We have heard rumors that the property may be <br />developed soon, but there is nothing official on this subject. <br /> <br />ENCLOSURE: <br /> <br />Site maps of WINDSORWOOD Parcel and SUNDBERG Parcels. <br />Purchase Agreement. <br /> <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br /> <br />Staff recommends acquiring the WINDSORWOOD property to <br />assure park space for this area. The price appears to be <br />reasonable, and if the preferred Sundberg site is <br />subsequently acquired, we believe the WINDSORWOOD parcel can <br />be readily marketed. <br /> <br /> <br />