City buys old West Ward

With no discussion, the McCook City Council approved the purchase of the West Ward school property for $100,000, from owner D. Jon Morrison.

At the public hearing Monday night at the regular council meeting, no one spoke in favor or against the purchase.

Councilmen Jack Rogers and Lonnie Anderson were absent due to illness. After the hearing, Mayor Dennis Berry, along with Council members Colleen Grant and Aaron Kircher, voted unanimously in favor of the purchase.

Revenue left over from 2007 city sales tax receipts will be used for the purchase, city officials said.

The idea of buying the property was first announced at the Jan. 7 council meeting, when after meeting in a closed session, the council announced that Morrison had offered the property to the city for $100,000.

The council began the process of buying it Jan. 10, when it unanimously agreed at a special meeting to put down a $3,000 option toward the purchase.

The city now has 30 days, or up to a total of 60 days if needed, to obtain the necessary documents to complete the real estate transfer, such as appraisals and title searches.

According to the purchase agreement, the city will also be responsible for closing costs, estimated at around $2,000.

City officials have been mum about specific plans for the property, saying only that it will be used for land banking purposes, such as future development or use.

City Manager Kurt Fritsch said this morning that he does not foresee the city selling the property, unless it was for an exceptional price and at a benefit for the city.