Published: August 19, 2008 09:55 am      

Supervisors plan to sell farm

CLINTON — The Clinton County Board of Supervisors is planning to sell more than 160 acres of county-owned property and will schedule a public meeting to garner input on the sale.

On Monday, Supervisor Dennis Starling introduced the issue, noting the Clinton Regional Development Corporation has asked the county to participate in the Lincolnway Railport project. Starling said it likely is one of the most promising economic development projects of the last 50 years, with one company looking to offer 200 to 225 jobs in the $25 per hour range. He remarked that the railport has been estimated to cost $10 million to $12 million and noted the board has given the CRDC a positive indication toward the county bonding for the project.

Starling said the county has an asset in the farmland that it no longer has a need for, and since divesting the home on the property, the county could divest the agricultural land, which produces an income of $34,000 per year. He said if the county moves the investment from a farm asset to a rail asset, it would lower the bonding requirements and could increase tax revenue in the future, well over the $34,000.

Clinton County Attorney Mike Wolf pointed out that there is a three-year lease on the property, but the county could sell the land subject to the lease. Starling said the county’s share of the railport cost would be $4 million and commented that if the project does not go forward, the region would be “missing one heck of an opportunity.”

Supervisor Jill Davisson said that she feels the county does not need to be a landlord. She said that right now, farm land is being sold at high values and the return would be beneficial to the county, adding that the property would be back on the tax rolls. Starling said if the property is sold, he would like to see the money received from the sale earmarked for the railport project, so the asset would produce the most benefit for the county taxpayers.

Davisson said a public hearing would be needed on the sale.

Wolf advised the board could issue a resolution how the sale would be performed, but said the county first may want to hold a public meeting regarding the issue. He said then the board could pass a resolution outlining the sale procedure and later, hold a public hearing to confirm the details of the sale. Board Chairman Grant Wilke suggested the board discuss the matter at the next BOS meeting after more information about the property is available and then set a public meeting.

Later in the agenda, County Auditor Charlie Sheridan and Maintenance Supervisor Rick Laurion discussed the status of the election building currently under construction. Sheridan advised the board the building is five weeks behind in the construction schedule.

Laurion said parts of the project have lagged behind, noting Sheridan had hoped the building would be available for use by the second week of September. Laurion said the county could contract the roofing work, but he has called several roofing contractors and none are available currently to do the work. He said he does not think the building will be completed in time and estimated the project to be done by the second week of October.

Laurion said workers could start working overtime in an effort to get the project done sooner, and with a little help, the roofing could be complete by the end of the week. Sheridan noted that new voting machines, which are to be stored in the building, have been received and need to be pre-tested and publicly tested before used the coming election.

Davisson suggested the cafeteria at the Administration Building could be secured and used for that purpose, with county employees able to use a conference room as a temporary cafeteria. Wilke urged county officials and employees to work together and be positive until a solution to the problem could be worked out.

Davisson noted that in the past, the county contracted with the Clinton Labor Congress for work as needed and suggested Laurion contact union officials for advice on a potential workforce. Laurion said the work substantially could be done by Sept. 15, lacking sanding and painting, but said he and workers would focus on the areas needed by the Auditor's Office first.

The board approved a motion authorizing Wilke to contract with outside help on the project if needed.