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Request to sell Kimball Pines Park land withdrawn after commissioners raise funding and access concerns
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Summary
After discussion about a proposed quitclaim deed to sell park land for a new service road, the Road Commission withdrew its request. Commissioners raised concerns about using park property to cover a Park Fund deficit and asked the Road Commission to consider easements and return with a deficit plan.
A proposal to sell land at Kimball Pines Park to allow construction of a new access road was withdrawn May 3 after commissioners pressed the Road Commission on funding, community impacts and whether the sale would be used to cover a Park Fund deficit.
Road Commission Managing Director Dennis Randolph told the Board the road would serve future uses, is on the Battle Creek Area Transportation Study project list for 2014 and has federal aid approval, but the Road Commission currently lacks funds to construct it. Randolph said the Road Commission needs to reserve the property, and that last year funds had been transferred and left in place.
Commissioner Bolger said he was uncomfortable if the county appeared to be shifting assets between departments to cover a parks deficit and suggested considering an easement instead of selling the land. "I believe the Park Fund deficit and sale of the property are two different issues that should be addressed separately," Comr. Bolger said.
Corporation Counsel Nancy Mullett confirmed the quitclaim deed's legal description and said the provision for splitting the land had been deleted. When commissioners pressed whether adjacent residents had been re-contacted about traffic and buffering, Randolph said they had not "since the meetings approximately a year earlier." Randolph offered to withdraw the request for property sale; the Road Commission later said it would send a letter requesting further discussion with the Board regarding the Park Fund deficit.
Mr. Purcell offered assurance to the Silver Leaf Renaissance Faire that none of the discussion affected their current operations.
The Board did not take action to sell the property during this meeting; commissioners directed further discussion and an expected letter from the Road Commission on the parks deficit and options such as easements.