Thursday, March 27, 2014
Lawrenceburg Council Approves Sale Of Building, Postpones Action On Parking Lots
City leaders voted Thursday to approve the sale of a city-owned building located just off of the Lawrenceburg Public Square, but opted to postpone action on the sale of several parking lots.
During the bi-monthly meeting of the Lawrenceburg Board of Mayor and Council, members were asked to approve a resolution allowing the sale of a building, known as the “Old Timers Club,” located between West Gaines and Pulaski Streets on Columbia Avenue. According to the resolution the building will be sold at a price of $22,000 to Darrell Valentine, who is currently renovating several properties in the downtown area.
Joel Hale, who owns nearby property, addressed the board at length requesting that they, “Table or postpone indefinitely the resolution.” Although he said he had never been inside the building, Hale said that he was opposed to the council, “Giving it away at a low price without giving the citizens a choice.”
He said he felt that the club should not be closed and told council members that they were moving too fast on the matter. He said that it was unfair that they would choose to, “Run it through without public bidding.” He also stated, “The people did not know that our public property was up for grabs.”
Council member Chad Moore pointed out that a two-hour public work session was held on the matter. He said that the session had been publicized through local media outlets, sufficiently alerting the public.
Mayor Keith Durham explained that there are several problems with the building that must soon be addressed, including issues with the roof. He explained, “I’m afraid we don’t have the money to get that building up to par.”
Council member Ronald Fox emphasized that there had been prior discussions about whether to move the Old Timers Club to another location. During a previous meeting Valentine had offered to allow the city to move the establishment to the old bus station property on East Gaines Street on a lease of $1 per year.
Council members discussed the significance of the club in terms of usage. They estimated that the facility is used by only six to twelve people, and only by four or five people on a somewhat regular basis.
As far as relocating the equipment such as pool tables, Durham stated, “I don’t know that the city should be opening a pool hall for just four or five people.” He pointed out that individuals using the building also have access to activities at the Senior Citizens Center.
Hale also voiced objections to a plan to move God’s Storehouse’s Community Thrift Store to the Columbia Avenue buildings. He pointed out that the business utilizes a trailer to house items saying that if this was allowed at the new location, “You’re almost going to have a dumpster look.” He said he opposed allowing the business to relocate there because, “Thrift stores are not showing progress. It shows desperation to rent your building.”
Valentine explained that, should the business require use of a trailer, he would make certain that it was hidden from view as much as possible. He said that the trailer would only be visible from the alleyway. Should this not suffice, he said the trailer could be located on another of his nearby properties.
Hale continued to express objections when the council began to discuss the sale of four small parking lots in the same area to Valentine (Rondar Investments LLC). Valentine had proposed purchasing a parking lot located on Fain Court for $8,000, two others for $8,000 apiece, and a smaller area for $2,000.
Hale told members that if they sold the lots to Valentine, “The value of my property will be diminished.” He said it would leave business owners, “Without the guarantee of public parking.” He stated, “I’m concerned that a man is coming in and buying up all this property.”
Valentine told the council, “My intention is for the parking lots to be used for the benefit of all.” He said that should he wish to sell them in the future he would allow the city to reacquire them for the same dollar amount.
Hale questioned whether in years to come Valentine would continue to use the lots for parking. Officials explained that the lots are not large enough to allow for the construction of a building and provide the amount of parking space required under city codes.
Valentine told the council, “I have no intention of putting anything there. They will be used as parking lots for the restaurant that is going in across from the old theater…I need the parking so that the restaurant can be successful. That’s my only intention.”
Fox explained to Hale, “We all have wished that someone would come in and fix up these old buildings and here is someone who wants to. I, for one, am for cooperating with it. I’m thankful that he was willing to come home and do this.”
Hale stated, “You’re on the wrong side of this issue.”
Fox replied, “Well, I’ve been wrong before. But I have tried to make sure your customers will have parking.”
City Attorney Alan Betz told the council that they were within their rights to sell the property, “Any way you want to.” He said that city-owned property, “Can be sold by private contract at any time,” and that the council was under no obligation to go through a bid process.
Under Betz’s advisement the council opted to postpone any action on the sale of the parking lots until their April 10 meeting. He said this will allow sufficient time to work out details of the contract. “We probably need to nail it down in writing before you sell the parking lots. This will give us two weeks to get everything negotiated and down on paper,” he said.
