Sunbury City Council authorizes payment to secure former Turkey Hill property, plans closed bidding sale

Sunbury City officials voted to pay the court-determined appraisal to secure ownership of the former Turkey Hill property and to list it for sale under a closed bidding process.

Solicitor told the council the court ordered the city to acquire the building and gave the city 60 days to pay the appraised value, which the solicitor said was "$250,000 and change." The solicitor recommended the city "pay the $250,000 immediately upon receiving the okay from the court" and then put the property up for sale by closed bid with a council-set minimum, allowing staff time before or after sale to complete closing paperwork.

Council members asked how the payment would be funded and whether tax liabilities would apply. Finance staff and councilors discussed using a mixture of capital reserves and January/February operating funds, taking a short-term loan, or other financing. The solicitor said he would check possible transfer-tax liabilities and confirm whether county and school taxes could be waived; he advised final figures would be presented after those checks.

Several council members expressed concern about depleting reserves at the start of the year. One councilor noted the risk that a closed-bid process could result in no qualifying offers if the minimum was set too high; the solicitor and other members said due diligence and preliminary interest calls supported listing with a minimum. The council agreed to set a minimum bid at its first meeting of the new year after staff returns definitive cost figures and the tax status is clarified.

The council moved and approved a funding plan to purchase the property at the court-assessed price and directed staff to prepare the sale process and confirm closing costs and tax implications.

What happens next: staff will confirm tax and closing-cost obligations (including whether the county or school taxes will be waived), produce final financing numbers and present a minimum-bid recommendation and sale timeline for council consideration at the first regularly scheduled meeting of the new year.