by Logan Gruber
operations@thenewsleaders.com
After coming out of a closed portion of the Aug. 31 city council meeting, the council voted 4-1, with council member Bob Loso in opposition, to an agreement with the school district to purchase Colts Academy.
“You won’t hear them vote on this issue again,” city administrator Judy Weyrens said.
The city still needs to close with the district, but it all lies with staff now. The council won’t need to look over the issues again.
The council does still plan to host an open house and a walk-through of the building, but the closing date needs to be set yet.
The council also directed staff to have a survey done of the land Colts sits on, for a possible future site of the police and administrative functions of the city.
A purchase agreement was originally signed on June 15 by the city to purchase Colts from the school district. The council did choose to use tax abatement to purchase Colts, meaning taxes on 13 properties in town, totaling $134,000/year, will be used to pay for Colts during approximately the next 15-20 years. Those taxes would normally go to the general fund, but instead half-cent sales-tax money would be used to fill the gap in the general fund. This would use up about half of the half-cent sales-tax per year for the years it would be active.
The city will soon finally close on a deal with Independent School District 742 for the Colts Academy building, to be used as a community center. Land around the building may be used in the future to build a city hall/police station on.
