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Council hears long-running Dakota Mart blight and contamination questions; taxes and tank removal cited as obstacles
Summary
Council members discussed the Dakota Mart property’s overdue taxes, liens, potential bankruptcy, and underground tanks that complicate sale or redevelopment; members said cleanup costs will be substantial and the path forward is uncertain.
Good Thunder councilors spent part of the meeting reviewing ongoing issues with the Dakota Mart property, a long-vacant commercial site that council members described as a community blight with unpaid taxes and liens.
Council discussion noted that the property has back taxes and liens held by regional partners, that a bank or lienholders may ultimately take possession, and that removing underground tanks could cost tens of thousands of dollars. One councilmember observed that if soil contamination existed, state cleanup programs could be triggered but the cost and timeline remain uncertain.
Legal counsel and staff provided limited updates: discovery in litigation was incomplete earlier in the summer, and the city had not received a recent substantive update from the attorney working the matter. Council members discussed the possibility of the city acquiring the site but said the city did not want to hold contaminated property; multiple participants suggested seeking a private buyer willing to remove tanks in exchange for acquiring the property.
No formal action was taken; staff said they would contact the city attorney for an updated status report and identify lienholders and stakeholders so the council can consider next steps.
