Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Real Estate topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council directs staff to adjust negotiating position on offer for city-owned property after closed session
Summary
After a Committee of the Whole closed session under Minnesota Statute 13D.04, the City Council directed staff to revise the city’s negotiating stance on an offer for property at 915–929 17th Street North and return documents for review; some councilors raised concerns about the building’s condition, lack of surplus declaration and storage of city equipment.
The Virginia City Council reported it met in closed session at the Committee of the Whole to consider an offer to purchase city-owned property identified as 915–929 17th Street North under Minnesota Statute 13D.04 (subd. 3) for real estate negotiations. When the council reconvened, members voted to direct staff to adjust the city’s negotiating position and return updated documents for council review.
Several councilors expressed reservations about selling the property without a surplus declaration or public bidding process. Councilor Johnson said she would not support selling the building, arguing, “this building was never listed for sale. It was never declared surplus by the city and a vote of the city council,” and raised concerns about storage and protection of city equipment currently housed there.
Other councilors described the building as needing significant repairs, including mold, a leaking roof and no heat or plumbing, and said continued maintenance is a fiscal burden. Councilor Paulson said staff and legal counsel had advised the city is within its legal rights to consider offers even when property is not listed for sale, and the direction to staff passed on a 4–2 vote with councilors noting that no purchase decision had been made.
The council requested staff clarify the exact parcel or parcel code and to return with recommended language and documents reflecting any negotiated terms for subsequent council consideration. No sale or transfer was approved at the meeting; the council’s action was limited to directing staff to pursue adjustments to the city’s negotiating position and bring back documentation for public review and a future vote.
