County Council approves half million dollar purchase of 50 acres next to park
County Council approved the purchase of two parcels of land adjacent to the Dubois County Park at the meeting on Monday evening
The parcels are split into one ten acre plot with a residence on it; the second parcel is 40 acres classified as agricultural land but is wooded.
The council discussed the purchased price of $200,000 for the ten acres and $300,000 for the 40 acres during the meeting. The reason for the purchase was dual-sided: The Park Board would like to have another entrance and exit to the park for emergency use; the 50 acres of woodland is adjacent to the park and would increase the size of the park for future improvements.
The ten acres has a house, a metal sided barn, and a small pond as well as an agricultural field and some forest.
Concerns were raised about the price of the land in comparison to its tax assessed value. Specifically the 10 acre parcel of land has a tax assessed value of approximately $78,000
“Fifty acres, that’s 10,000 dollars an acre,” said Mark Brescher, District 1.
“Well there’s a house there too,” Greg Kendall, county council at large, explained.
He then clarified the reason the park wanted to purchase the property was to avoid pursuing an easement for the emergency roadway. “That could save the county money and time for that reason alone.” Kendall explained. “After the road is in we can turn around and sell the property with the house.”
Shane Lindauer, District 2 said, “I have been approached by folks in my district that have raised concerns about the price of the property as well. There are serious reservations about purchasing this and I have reservations myself.”
Martha Wehr acknowledged that the tax assessed value of the 10 acres was approximately 78,000. She expressed concern that the appraised value would not come out close to the asking price. “Appraiser’s look at that tax assessed value when they are coming up with an appraisal.”
“I guess you have seen an appraisal that is close the asking price,” She asked Kendall to which he replied he had not seen the appraisals yet, but he felt it was a good deal. Kendall explained that the people he had spoken with had stated the purchase was a “no brainer”. Its location and future value outweighed the cost now.
Concerns were also raised that the funds used for this would come from EDIT funds (economic development income tax). Would the purchase create jobs?
According to Kendall the Park Board has not issued a new master plan for development of the property.
The vote was then recorded 5 to 1 with Lindauer the lone dissenter to the deal.
Neighbors to the land owned by Dorothy Blessinger are talking about the asking price.
John Lechner can throw a stone out his front door and hit the property the county plans on purchasing. “The neighbor down the road just paid $5000 an acre,” He said.
“She had all the good wood logged from their about a year and a half ago.” He continued. “We (neighbors) don’t understand where they came up with this price.”
A local realtor stated $10,000 an acre isn’t unheard of in Dubois County, but the tax assessed value and the asking price were extremely out of sync.
According to Art Nordhoff, lawyer for the Council, by law the appraised value of the property the county is planning on purchasing has to be equal to or less than the amount they have approved to pay. Two appraisals of the property were ordered and have not been made public yet.
“They will be made public at the meeting on Tuesday when I present the Commissioners with them.” Nordhoff explained.
