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Council rejects two flood-buyout offers, approves one property purchase
Summary
Council considered three flood-buyout purchase prices at the Aug. 4 meeting. Two larger offers — $1,001,000 for 1310 Burdick Expressway East and $1,000,300 for 420 15th Street SE — failed on 2-4 votes; the council approved a third buyout at 709 West Central for $335 in a 4-2 vote.
The Minot City Council considered three nominally related flood-buyout acquisitions on Aug. 4 and accepted one of them. Staff presented purchase prices and explained factors that affected negotiation including appraisals, potential demolition costs, relocation assistance under the Uniform Relocation Assistance Act, and the time and legal expense of eminent-domain proceedings.
For 1310 Burdick Expressway East staff sought concurrence on a $1,001,000 purchase price. Council discussion focused on why the city would pay amounts above appraisal (staff noted a city policy requiring council approval for offers that exceed appraised value by more than 15 percent) and the uncertainty, time and combined attorney fees that could result from eminent-domain litigation. City attorney and staff explained eminent-domain proceedings can add legal fees for both the city and property owners and can take months to years. After discussion the motion for the $1,001,000 buyout failed 2-4.
A separate buyout at 420 Fifteenth Street Southeast for $1,000,300 likewise failed on a 2-4 vote with the same dissenting members. The council approved a smaller buyout at 709 West Central (listed in the record as $335) by a 4-2 vote, with Aldermen Fuller and Samuelson recording the dissenting votes.
Staff told council the city will continue negotiations with owners of properties where concurrence failed and may return with revised offers or pursue other acquisition options, including potential eminent-domain proceedings if necessary.
