Wellington council approves sale of property in city industrial area

By Sun Advocate

The Wellington council met April 26 and reviewed several matters concerning the sale of property in the city’s industrial area.
Addressing the first item on the agenda, the council approved the sale of 17 acres to David and Tina Jensen.
The city officials and the Jensens have been working out the details of the sale for several months.
In a related matter, Johnson Heating and Air Conditioning petitioned the city council with a request to purchase two acres with highway frontage adjoining the Jensen purchase.
Scott Johnson presented the council with a written proposal complete with maps and plans.
After some discussion, Wellington officials voted to table a decision on the Johnson request for two weeks until the full city council could be in attendance to review the proposal.
In another ongoing land sale negotiation, contractor Larry Young appeared before the council requesting tentative approval on finalizing the purchase of 17 acres in the industrial area.
Young explained that to meet business deadlines, it is important that he begin construction in the next couple of weeks.
After consulting with Young and the city attorney, councilmembers voted to grant tentative approval of the land sale.
Wellington officials will meet with Young privately in the next two weeks to work out a few lingering details and concerns.
A contract for the land purchase should be completed by the next city council meeting.
The council also reviewed a proposal from contractor Shane Campbell to purchase 55 acres at the industrial area.
Campbell spoke with the Wellington councilmembers and the city attorney who was in attendance at the meeting.
Campbell asked for a private consultation with the city attorney to discuss details of the proposed purchase.
The Wellington council voted to table the matter for a future meeting.
In another matter, Matt Rauhala presented a proposal to purchase one acre of land from Wellington city.
The property in question is not in the industrial area.
Councilmembers told Rauhala that a public hearing would be necessary before the land could be sold and the property would need to be advertised for competitive bidding.
It was also determined that, before the land in question could be used for commercial purposes, a change to the zoning status on the property would be required.
After some discussion, no action was taken on the land sale proposal.
Rauhala also requested two new culinary water hookups.
The water connections would supply properties in the county at large, but would be serviced from a Price River Water Improvement District line that is fed by a Wellington City line at 950 East Main. The city council approved the water connections.
The council then took up the matter of a lease agreement with Altel to place a communications tower on the old city water tank on the hill near the cemetery. The council tabled the matter until the full city council could be in attendance to review the lease agreement.
The council also tabled discussion on the on-going service contract between the city and PRWID.
The city fire chief gave a report on the condition of the fire department, and the council members discussed needed equipment and purchases. The council then voted to spend the funds necessary to put an older fire truck back into service. Four hundred feet of new hose and incidental equipment will need to be purchased for the truck. Fire department personnel will put together an estimate of the costs and present it to city officials as soon as possible.
In a final matter, Renee Blackburn spoke to the city council about on-going city cleanup efforts for this spring and summer. Blackburn represents a citizens group attempting to beautify and help citizens clean up their properties. .