Commissioners vote against Meridian purchase
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
POLSON — The Meridian building, also known as the old Tamsco building, showed up on the Polson City commissioners' agenda again for at least the second time.
Polson City manager Todd Crossett said Mike Maddy approached him with an offer to sell the Meridian building to the city of Polson for $590,000. Maddy and his wife constitute B & I Holdings, L.L.C. that owns the building.
The building was appraised for $700,000 in October of 2008, and Maddy offered to sell it to the city in January of 2010 for $700,000.
Crossett’s analysis projecting a two-percent population growth for Polson over the next 20 years would put the city’s total population at approximately 7,500 by 2031. Space is the current city hall is “maxed out,” Crossett said.
The Meridian building could provide storage for the Polson police department since the PPD currently rents two storage units. The building could provide vehicle storage freeing up space for the City of Polson Water and Sewer and Parks Departments. The city will develop a storm water system during the next 10 to 20 years, and this may include a man-made wetland near the Meridian building. The city already owns significant property in the area, Crossett added.
As far as financing the building, Crossett said a low-interest rate loan would keep the city from depleting the general fund.
Commissioners questioned whether or not the lease paid to the city on the building was current and discussed rumors of county taxes on the building being two years in arrears. Commissioners also said the price was too high.
A steel building, Commissioner Mike Lies said, could be built to provide storage for a lot less, about $70,000.
Crossett cautioned the commissioners that site preparation in the area would probably cost twice what the building would.
Commissioner Don Smith moved to authorize Crossett to offer $400,000 for the building, but the motion failed, 4 to 2.
Lies, conducting the meeting in the absence of Mayor Pat DeVries, called for a motion to allow Crossett to complete the purchase of the Meridian building. No motion was made so the item died.
Robert Byers, representing the United Methodist Church, approached the commissioners about selling property jointly owned by the church and the city. The piece of property in question is near the old roller rink across from the Polson Bay Golf Course on Bayview Drive.
The commissioners unanimously passed a motion to authorize Crossett to meet with Byers and look for a buyer for the property.
In other business, commissioners approved:
• the February cash report
• a 3-year loan to purchase a 2008 front end loader for the Polson Street Department
During the public comment portion of the meeting, community businessman Ron Grogan spoke representing the Mission Valley Rockies, a senior Babe Ruth team.
Grogan wanted to get on the agenda to ask the commissioners to cancel the Mariners' lease of O’Maley Field. Grogan’s team would like to use the field, too.
“It’s been a battle for equal playing time,” Grogan said.
Explaining that the Mariners were not in default, Crossett said if there’s no resolution between the Mariners and the Rockies about use of the baseball field by May 6, the city would schedule games and practices.
Polson Parks superintendent Karen Sargeant said she has been working for two and a half years on this issue.
“What I care about,” Sargeant said, “ is getting as many young people on that field as possible to play ball.”
The next meeting will be held on May 16 at 7 p.m.
