Perry council approves sale of flood‑prone parcel to nearby homeowner for $2,500

The City of Perry city council voted to sell a flood‑prone vacant parcel (parcel O7740‑000) to a nearby homeowner, Matt Castle, for $2,500, with the buyer agreeing to clear debris and assume taxes.

Council considered the request during the Sept. 23 meeting after Castle said rats and raccoons were entering his daughter’s yard from the unmaintained lot. "Currently, the rodent problem is the issue. There's rats and size raccoons coming in our backyard, coming from that parcel. I just wanna purchase the land, clean it up," Castle said. He told the council he had estimates between $8,000 and $15,000 to clear the lot and had offered $2,500 to do the work himself and return the lot to the tax rolls.

The council took a motion to accept Castle’s offer, including his commitment to pay taxes and complete cleanup. A second was made and the council approved the sale by roll call.

Castle said he owns multiple properties in Perry and that, if the sale is approved, he would fence and maintain the lot and would not build on it. Council members repeatedly noted the cleanup estimate and the practical benefit of putting the parcel back on the tax rolls.

The action followed prior discussion about the parcel’s tendency to hold water during heavy rains and the presence of dead or rotting trees. A council member noted the low end of cleanup estimates the city had received was $8,000; Castle said he would accept responsibility for clearing the lot for the $2,500 purchase price.

The council’s approval included direction that the buyer would assume taxes and that the city would proceed with conveyance paperwork. No additional conditions or abatements were recorded in the public transcript of the vote.

The sale decision completes the council’s prior discussion about surplus or unused city parcels and their maintenance liabilities.