Rogers City Council moves to acquire property
Rogers City officials discussed an offer to acquire a parcel of land that is part of the Sports Park at their regular meeting Monday evening. After a closed session, the council moved to direct city attorney Mike Vogler to prepare a purchase offer. The issue involves a parcel of land that had been leased by the city for more than 20 years but was recently sold by the owner, Detroit and Mackinac Railroad (D&M), to one of the residents in the neighborhood.
The parcel extends 30 feet into right field as well as the adjacent parking and alley along the northeast side of the park. The parcel contains 28,896.49 square feet or 0.663 acres. The city is prepared to offer $12,000 for the land based on an independent appraisal that was conducted after the new landowner offered it for sale to the city.
THE COUNCIL agreed to pay additional expenses estimated at $1,300 to the landowner for the survey and other expenses associated with his purchase of the land. The offer would allow the landowner to retain the mineral rights to the property and would indemnify the owner from any potential environmental issues that may ar
The original offer by the property owner to the city was rejected as being excessive and the city considered acquiring the property by invoking eminent domain provisions as the land has been an integral part of the Sports Park for more than 20 years. According to city manager John Bruning, the city tried to purchase the property in the past but there was some confusion over ownership as Lake State Railway was paying the tax on the property during that time while the title was held by D&M.
IN OTHER business, the city voted to approve an increase in compensation for council members and the mayor. Council members will receive an increase in annual compensation from $900 to $1,200. The mayor will receive an increase from $1,200 to $1,500. The increases had been recommended by the officers’ compensation commission.