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Pine City council seeks proposals and schedules public hearing for vacant industrial parcel
Summary
Council asked staff to request a written proposal from a returning interested company, directed notice of a public hearing to be published for the May 20 council meeting, and clarified that whether a hearing is required depends on whether the deed shows the parcel as city or EDA property.
Chair called the meeting to order and the council moved quickly into discussion of a vacant industrial parcel that two businesses have expressed interest in.
Council members said one firm (identified in city materials as Scott’s company) submitted a proposal for a roughly 10,000-square-foot addition and projected new hires, while a second interested party had not yet provided a written proposal. Council members said the second party is expected to return next week, and they asked staff to request a proposal promptly so both offers can be considered.
City staff told the council it had obtained written guidance from the city attorney: if the deed shows the parcel is city-owned, the council reviews proposals and no public hearing is required unless the sale is under fair market value; if the parcel is owned by the EDA, EDA public-hearing rules apply. Council members directed staff to verify title and appraisal information before any final action.
“Three weeks off of trimmed a lot there,” one council member said while describing the timeline; members agreed that a quick turnaround might be needed if the returning party wants to move forward. The council asked staff to publish a notice for a public hearing so the item could appear on the May 20 council agenda if required by the appraisal or sale terms. The motion to post the hearing notice carried by voice vote.
Council members also discussed fairness and outreach after reports that county contacts had been communicating directly with interested businesses. Members emphasized that county or other outside contacts should route proposal negotiations through city staff or the EDA to avoid misunderstandings and potential delays.
Next steps: staff will (1) perform a title search to confirm whether the parcel is city- or EDA-owned, (2) confirm current appraisal information, (3) request a written proposal from the returning business, and (4) publish the public-hearing notice in the city’s chosen publication so the council can consider the item at the May 20 meeting if a hearing is required.
