Politics & Government

Arnold Approves Sale of Land to Veterans Group

The city council agreed to sell the .8 acres of land to the group for $8,000. The land will be used as part of a proposed veterans tribute park in Arnold.

The Arnold City Council has agreed to sell nearly an acre of land to the Jefferson County Veterans Tribute Committee for $8,000.

The .8 acres of land will be be used as part of a proposed veterans tribute park. The undeveloped land is located off Church Road between the Arnold VFW Hall and the former location of Checkered Flag Motors. 

Ron Clark, the committee's president, said the group hired an appraiser who assessed the land at $8,000. However, in 2011 the city appraised the land at $60,000. 

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At last Thursday's work session, Mayor Ron Counts said the city had appraised the land as if it were filled in and ready to be sold. He said the group's appraiser assessed the land in its current condition.

Counts recommended that the city sell the group the land for $8,000 with a stipulation that if the project fizzled out in seven years, the city would buy back the land for the same price.

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"If the project doesn't work out, we could see the land to the VFW Hall," Counts said. "I talked to them, and they indicated they would be interested."

After the work session, the council immediately held a special meeting to approve the land transaction. The council unanimously voted in favor of the motion.

"I want to thank the council for the trust you placed in us," Clark said. "We're going to work real hard to make sure the park is a showpiece in the community."

Previously, the council had informally agreed at another work session to donate the land. However, councilmembers later learned that that move would be illegal.

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However, Clark told Patch an easement wouldn't allow he group to build on the land, and it would limit what they want to do.


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