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Council authorizes up-to-6‑month contingency to pursue test well on prospective south-side property
Summary
The council authorized a contingency arrangement to secure a prospective property while the city evaluates the site for a potential water well; the motion directs the city manager to pursue a contract/lease allowing up to six months for test-well drilling and analysis, with legal review and written contingency terms.
The City of Perry City Council authorized city staff to pursue a contingency agreement to secure a prospective property for use as a potential municipal water well site while the property is tested. Council action directed the city manager to negotiate a time-limited agreement (up to six months) that would allow the city to install a test well and evaluate water quality and quantity before completing any purchase.
Council members and staff emphasized the need to verify whether the site would yield adequate flow and meet water-quality standards before committing to a purchase. Staff and councilors discussed alternatives such as using a lease or use-license that would permit testing without a full property purchase. City counsel and the city attorney advised that any contingency arrangement must be in the city’s name and comply with open-meeting and procurement rules.
During debate, some councilors urged due diligence and legal review; others stressed urgency to avoid losing the site to another buyer. The council made a motion to authorize the city manager to enter a contract providing a contingency period (maximum six months) for test-well drilling and evaluation; the motion included direction to return an approved contract form for the council to ratify if tests are satisfactory. The motion passed on recorded voice/roll call.
Council members asked staff to confirm estimated test-well costs, expected timeline (staff estimated results could take 30–45 days after drilling), and whether nearby existing wells could be used for initial testing. The city attorney cautioned that the contract and any escrow or deposit terms must be structured so the transaction is clearly a City of Perry action and not a private actor’s agreement, to avoid Sunshine Law or procurement challenges.
Staff committed to return a draft contract and the cost estimate for council review and to post the matter on the next agenda if needed. The council’s authorization does not commit the city to a final purchase; it allows time-limited due diligence to determine whether the site can support a municipal well.
