11-14-1995 Council Packet Special Meeting

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TO: FROM: DATE: Mayor aod City CouncU Ron Moorsc, City Administrator November 9, 1995 SL'BJECT: Hennepin County Sale of Library Property ^OV 1 4 ^ Of oma The Hennepin County Library' Board has owned a two acre parcel of property' in the northeast quadrant of the intersection of Highway 12 and Old Crystal Bay Road for a number of years. The property had been planned as the site for a County library. Due to budget constraints, it has been determined that the site will not be used for a library. The City had requested that it be notified if the County was going to sell the property. Notification was recently received that the County Board will take action in early November to authorize disposal of the property, because of the City’s prior lequesi. the City will be given an opportunity to purchase the property at the appraised value prior to any competitive bid sale. The property was appraised a year or so ago at $227,000. The appraisal will be updated after the County Board takes action to authorize the sale of the property. Several Council Members have indicated the City should consider purchasing the property. One of the key issues to consider in relation to the purchase of the library property is how the City would fund the purchase. The City recently received a letter from Mr. Jim Harstad. who recently purchased prop :rty near McCuHey Road and the Luce Line, inquiring about purchasing several pieces of propeny owned by the City adjacent to McCulley Road. These parcels were acquired as part of the right-of-way acquisition tor McCulley Road. The City had planned to dispose of the parcels at some point. A rough estimate of the value of the properties is $120,000. Whether the proceeds of the sale would be used for the purchase of the library property or some other purpose, the Council may want to consider putting the property up for sale.