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Commissioners explore swapping county facilities for city debt relief; plan outreach to city council
Summary
Fallon County discussed potentially acquiring city‑owned properties (golf course, airport, ballfield, Triangle Park) as partial relief for a $3.1 million debt the city owes the county. Commissioners agreed to meet with the city council to determine interest and possible appraisal and surveying of properties.
Fallon County commissioners discussed a proposal to trade county‑used or county‑located facilities for a reduction or forgiveness of a roughly $3.1 million debt the city of Baker reportedly owes the county.
County legal staff described a possible exchange of land and facilities the county currently occupies but that the city owns — including the golf course, airport parcel, baseball field and Triangle Park — totaling roughly 221 acres (the Northeast quarter plus additional parcels). The county attorney advised that, as two governmental entities, a direct transfer or careful purchase/loan forgiveness arrangement is possible without a full commercial appraisal, but she recommended surveying certain parcels before any deed transfer, especially areas where private entities such as Lakeview Country Club occupy portions of city land under separate arrangements.
Commissioners said the first step is to present the concept to the city council publicly. They want to know whether the city council is interested in a property‑for‑debt arrangement or would instead prefer debt reduction via purchase price credit. Commissioners discussed potential structures: (a) deed transfers of certain parcels in exchange for forgiveness or reduction of the city’s outstanding loan balance of about $3.1 million; (b) a purchase price credit reducing the debt; or (c) more segmented solutions (surveying the country‑club parcel to exclude it from a county deed). Legal counsel advised the commission to get city council input and recommended that county representatives attend a city meeting to present the idea.
Ending: Commissioners agreed to have county representatives attend the city council meeting this week to discuss whether the city is interested; the county attorney and staff will also request surveys or appraisals needed to identify parcels that could be transferred and advise on deed language and liability issues before a final arrangement.
