Council accepts bid for Food Pantry building

Despite a split vote, the Sundance City Council has agreed to sell the building that was until recently a food pantry to a private buyer for $40,000. Council members who voted against accepting the bid felt it was too low for the piece of land and the building that sits on it.

Two bids were received for the property; the apparent high bid of $40,000 and another for just $10,000. After a brief pause, the council questioned whether they had to accept it and were informed by City Attorney Mark Hughes that they had the right to refuse any bid and could do so if they felt neither was high enough.

On the other hand, he said, the council also has the right to sell the building for less than they think it is worth, though he pointed out that it has been a while since it was appraised.

Mayor Paul Brooks, though he did not disagree that the bid was low, felt that the property is a somewhat special case. The building, which originally belonged to the Forest Service and was donated to become a daycare until new regulations made it necessary to move, is old and in need of considerable rehabilitation, he said.

For a buyer, said the mayor, it would either cost significant money to restabilise the building or significant money to tear it down. The city does not currently have a functional construction and debris pit, which would mean hauling the rubble out of town.

Public Works Director Mac Erickson further pointed out that it will cost the city money to continue owning it, even if no work is done to fix it up. It is not used for any purpose at the present time and the council has expressed no plans to use it in the future.

The vote was split, with Council Members Jana McLean and Brad Marchant voting against accepting the bid. With the mayor’s vote to split the tie, however, the sale was approved to the apparent high bidder for $40,000.