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Ward council moves to buy 39.17‑acre Spence Trust parcel for roughly $400,000
Summary
The Ward City Council approved a motion to pursue purchase of 39.17 acres offered by the Spence Trust (appraised $457,000, offered $400,000) for park expansion, event space or future commercial use; the purchase will return to council as a formal resolution when paperwork is complete.
The Ward City Council voted Feb. 17 to move forward with purchasing a 39.17‑acre parcel the Spence Trust has offered to sell to the city for $400,000, a city official said. The parcel was appraised at $457,000. The council’s motion authorizes the chair to enter into an agreement and directs staff to return to council with a formal resolution and paperwork.
The parcel sits next to the ballpark and across the street from a school, and the Chair said the city is weighing several uses, including park expansion, a gathering or event venue, highway‑oriented light industrial or commercial use, or holding the land for future needs. “I think this is a good deal,” the Chair said during discussion, noting the city has reserve funds that could be used.
A council member who moved the motion said the town should buy additional land while it is available: “They’re not making any more land. We might as well have something,” the member said. A second followed, and the council approved the motion by voice vote; no roll‑call vote or individual tallies were recorded in the transcript.
Chair noted the Spence Trust offer includes conveyance of mineral rights. The council and staff discussed survey and deed issues and the fact that the purchase will return as a resolution once all paperwork is in order; the Chair said real estate decisions are a council function and the agreement will come back for formal approval.
The meeting record shows no public speakers opposing the purchase during the discussion. The next step described in the meeting was for staff to complete paperwork and prepare a resolution for a future meeting.
Actions on this motion were recorded as approval to negotiate and proceed toward a formal resolution; the transcript does not include a detailed vote tally by member name.
