No action, no offer on West Ward

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Red Willow County commissioners took no action and made no offer after a 60-minute closed session Monday morning to discuss the county's possible purchase of the former West Ward Elementary school.

Commission Chairman Earl McNutt said the building and the city block is a potential site for the proposed city-county public safety center, jail and sheriff's office.

It is owned by Peter Coulter of Denver, who purchased it from Jon Morrison of Las Vegas for $130,000 in November 2005. At the same time, Morrison backed away from his offer to sell the same property to the county for $50,000.

Following the closed session, McNutt directed County Attorney Paul Wood to request an appraisal of the property from Jeff Bain of North Platte.

Commissioners also auth-orized Reuben Hoff Jr., chairman of the county jail task force, to contact a McCook real estate agent about negotiations for the purchase of the property.

Wood told commissioners that the law requires that the county obtain an appraisal of any property it would like to purchase that is valued at more than $100,000. If the county negotiates in good faith and negotiations to purchase the property are unsuccessful, it is possible that the property can be obtained through eminent domain (the right of a government to take private property for public use) procedures.

In other action:

* Commissioner set dates for property tax valuation protest hearings: June 27 and 28, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.; June 30, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.; July 10, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.; July 11, 12, and 13, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.; July 14, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.; July 17, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.; July 18, 19, 20 and 21, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.; and July 24, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.

* Commissioners authorized McNutt to write a letter to the Nebraska Humanities Council in support of McCook's hosting of the Nebraska Chautauqua in June 2007, which will coincide with McCook's celebration of its 125th year.

* Commissioners approved the continuation of the bond for Deanna L. Brown, deputy city clerk of Indianola.

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