West Melbourne council authorizes purchase of two parcels near Henry Avenue for utility expansion

The West Melbourne City Council on March 3 authorized the city manager to execute a contract to purchase two parcels fronting Henry Avenue for $139,000 to support utility expansion near the city water plant.

Project Manager Petroni told the council the appraisal "came in at 139,000" and that the negotiated purchase price matched that figure. He said the parcels total about an acre, adjoin the water plant, and the sale is contingent on a satisfactory Phase I environmental assessment and confirmation of clear title. "If it does not approve then we will not move forward with it," Petroni said, describing the vote as a formality to permit the city to proceed if conditions are met.

Council Member Adams moved to authorize the city manager to execute the contract; Miss Magguire seconded. The council voted unanimously (recorded as "Motion carries 70").

Council members said the land is intended to support utilities and could create a loop connection from Park Hill into the plant; Petroni noted it would relieve some access constraints and that the city's utility enterprise fund can absorb the expenditure. He said the parcels' tax IDs and the contract language are included in the staff report and staff will return with any results that affect the transaction.

Next steps for the purchase are completion of the Phase I environmental review, a clear-title determination and, if both are satisfactory, execution of the contract by the city manager.

The council approved the consent agenda earlier in the meeting and then took the land purchase up as a separate action; the vote on the purchase was recorded as 7–0.