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Tenino council declines Hidden Meadows donation, discusses appraisal and future of surplus city buildings
Summary
Council voted to deny a property donation from the Hidden Meadows homeowners association and discussed appraisals and disposal options for surplus city buildings including the library and two Sussex Street properties; council members debated selling versus long-term leases and requested appraisals before making final decisions.
Tenino's city council voted Sept. 24 to decline a property donation from the Hidden Meadows Homeowners Association and asked the association to offer the properties to another organization. The motion to deny the donation passed by voice vote during the meeting's new-business agenda.
The action followed a work-session discussion about surplus city property that identified raw lots on Washington Street, a cold-storage warehouse, an old maintenance shop and the library as potential surplus assets. Council members said they will obtain appraisals before pursuing any sale or lease. One council member noted the library has shown interest in purchasing its building; the council agreed an appraisal is needed to ground any negotiation.
Council members debated the merits of selling property outright versus offering long-term leases. Unnamed council speakers raised concerns that long-term leases could complicate tenant improvements and city oversight, while others said holding key parcels could enable a future civic center given the proximity of the administrative building and fire station.
The council also discussed that the Sussex Street properties may be mischaracterized on the zoning map as residential when they historically functioned as public buildings; staff said they will research zoning records to determine whether the parcels should be rezoned or corrected.
Related to community projects, the council heard from Frank, a project supporter working with local veterans, who said he would personally guarantee funding for a planned veterans' monument near the pool and that fundraisers (including brick sales) are underway. Council members said they had no substantive objections and requested a written agreement clarifying that the monument and underlying land would be city property once completed and a two-week notice before construction begins.
The council asked staff to return with appraisals and clearer recommendations on sale versus lease options before any final disposition. The Hidden Meadows denial and the request for appraisals were recorded in the Sept. 24 minutes.
