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Commissioners table $175,000 purchase of Liberty Church property, seek funding and vision details
Summary
A proposed $175,000 purchase of 225 N. Second St. (Liberty Church property) was removed from the consent agenda and tabled for regular business after commissioners asked staff for a clearer funding explanation and how the purchase fits the city's broader property strategy.
Commissioners on March 12 pulled and then tabled a proposed purchase of real property adjacent to the city's annex building, citing a lack of clarity on funding sources and whether the acquisition fits a coherent city property strategy.
Staff said the property at 225 North Second Street — identified in the agenda memo as the Liberty Church property — would help solidify the municipal block and could serve future expansions. The staff memo, referenced during discussion, explained the $175,000 purchase would be funded via a budget transfer from a restricted capital account (Rolling Hills Stormwater) rather than from general ad valorem revenues.
Multiple commissioners said an item of that magnitude should not have appeared on the consent agenda, arguing the commission deserved a fuller briefing and time to vet the proposal as regular business. "I do feel an item of this magnitude should not have been on the consent agenda," Commissioner Campbell said, requesting a formal presentation of the long‑term vision and funding details.
Staff clarified the purchase was contingent on commission approval and that the seller had included a 60‑day due‑diligence period in a letter of intent dated Feb. 27. Commissioners asked staff to return with a detailed explanation of funding sources and how the acquisition aligns with the city's gateway/annex complex vision. The motion to table the purchase until the next commission meeting and move it to regular business passed.
Next steps: staff will provide commissioners with the full financing explanation, the strategic vision tying the acquisition to adjacent city property, and additional documentation ahead of the next meeting.
