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Council ratifies purchase agreement for former Rite Aid; approves feasibility study contract on consent
Summary
Ephrata lawmakers ratified a purchase and sale agreement for the former Rite Aid property as the city pursues a new facility for municipal operations and authorized a feasibility study with Design West Architects to examine adaptation of the building.
City staff presented a request to ratify a purchase and sale agreement for the former Rite Aid property and to authorize a professional services agreement to evaluate the site’s suitability for city operations.
Greg (staff) told the council the asking price for the property was $2,500,000 and staff negotiated $2,300,000 as the final purchase price with a 60‑day due‑diligence contingency. “The asking price was 2,500,000.0… we were able to bring them down to 2,300,000.0, and that's what we were able to bring them down to,” Greg said.
Why it matters: staff presented detailed photos and testimony about substandard conditions at the city’s current police/city hall facilities — dating to 1955 with subsequent remodeling — that officials said create security, storage and health concerns in the police area. City leaders described the vacant Rite Aid site as a potential consolidated location for broader city operations and police facilities.
Key council action and debate
- Ratification vote: The council moved, seconded and voted to ratify Resolution 25‑42 to accept the purchase and sale agreement for the Rite Aid facility. After some audio difficulties for one councilor, Sarah stated on the record, “I'm in favor.” The mayor announced, “Motion carries.”
- Feasibility study selection: Council also approved Resolution 25‑47 authorizing the mayor to enter a professional services agreement with Design West (Design West Architects) to perform a feasibility study on adapting the Rite Aid building. Staff said Design West scored highest in the qualifications process and has prior work experience in the area.
What staff showed and noted
Staff provided photographs and a slide presentation documenting conditions at the current City Hall/police facility, citing small and insecure parking, makeshift garage conversions used as offices, undersized evidence and armory storage, plumbing failures causing persistent odors, limited locker and shower facilities and inadequate HVAC and training/conference spaces. Police leadership flagged officer safety, secure vehicle storage and evidence handling as operational deficiencies.
Next steps
Staff said they will bring the design/feasibility contract to the consent agenda (it was placed there at the meeting) and proceed with the 60‑day due‑diligence timeline tied to the purchase contract. Staff also said they will return with professional‑services work products and a feasibility report to inform any further purchase decisions or adaptation work.
Ending
Councilors generally supported pursuing the property as an option to address chronic space and security problems at the existing facility. No vote to close the purchase was taken beyond ratifying the purchase and sale agreement and authorizing the feasibility study.
