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Arkansas City land bank approves sale of 706 E. Madison Ave. to neighboring owners for $2,000
Summary
At a regular meeting, the Arkansas City land bank voted to transfer city-owned property at 706 East Madison Avenue to Bradley and Deborah Kimmel for $2,000; the parcel was acquired in a 1999 FEMA buyout and will require rezoning for the buyers' planned use.
The Arkansas City Land Bank voted to transfer city-owned property at 706 East Madison Avenue to Bradley and Deborah Kimmel for $2,000, the land bank confirmed during a regular meeting where the motion was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.
The parcel was acquired in a FEMA buyout in 1999 and demolished at an estimated cost of about $12,000, with the demolition funds described as having come through FEMA-related programing, land bank staff said. Land bank staff also said the county's appraised value for the lot is $11,000, but the Kimmels offered $2,000 and the board considered that price appropriate given local conditions.
"I just wanted to give you that history," said Josh, land bank staff, as he summarized the property's background. He added, "The county appraised value is 11,000, which I think is a little on the high side for that property. But I think 2,000 is definitely appropriate." The Kimmels own the adjacent lot at 708 East Madison Avenue and told the board they intend to expand or add parking; staff noted a rezoning will be required for the buyers' proposed nonresidential use.
Board discussion noted the property's long inactivity after the FEMA buyout, a prior sale through the land bank that was reversed when the buyer did not complete development, and limited carrying costs (primarily mowing). Board members also discussed the land bank's historical time limits on development obligations, with one staff explanation that earlier policies had included a five-year requirement on some transfers but that timing language has changed over time.
The transfer motion was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote. The meeting record does not list individual roll-call votes or a numeric tally for the motion. The board also approved a correction to the minutes for a prior meeting (the record shows the minutes being approved as the January 21, 2025 regular meeting minutes); that procedural motion likewise passed by voice vote with no detailed roll-call recorded in the transcript.
Next steps identified in the discussion include the buyer's need to pursue rezoning with the planning commission before building in the intended nonresidential use and standard post-transfer administrative actions to complete the sale.
