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Keene gains clear title to Dane property; industrial park entrance available
Summary
Council public comment reported a life estate release and bank lien release were filed for the Dane property, clearing title for the city and opening a potential second entrance to the city’s industrial park.
Samantha Gillen, president of the Type A board, told the Keene City Council on July 10 that the city has cleared title to the Dane property and can use the parcel as an additional entrance to the industrial park.
Gillen said the property, originally purchased for about $728,000 and consisting of roughly 35 acres, had a 2.5‑acre life estate reserved for the former owner’s widow. The life estate, she said, required a release for the parcel to revert fully to the city after the life tenant moved off the property. Gillen reported she obtained a bank lien release from Pinnacle Bank and secured a signed life‑estate release from the widow’s attorney; she said the documents were filed the day of the meeting.
“All of a sudden, we had to jack the price up 80%.” (context: earlier discussion about water rates) Samantha Gillen said, “We did get it signed. It did get filed today. Everything’s clear. Keene owes nothing.”
Gillen said copies of the recorded deed, the bank release, and the life estate release would be provided to council and to the city attorney. City staff indicated they would follow up with the council on options to use the parcel for a second entrance and on next steps to market or develop the industrial park.
Why it matters Clearing title removes an administrative and legal obstacle to using the parcel for access to the industrial park and supports economic development efforts discussed by city staff. The availability of an additional entrance could affect future site planning and recruitment of businesses to the park.
What was not decided No vote or formal council action was recorded at the meeting; staff and the Type A board indicated they would coordinate on how to proceed with improvements or marketing. The transcript does not specify any planned infrastructure spending, timeline, or identified developers.
