News
City Council approves land purchase
Thelma Grimes
SAN PEDRO VALLEY NEWS-Sun
The Benson City Council authorized spending $80,000 on two land parcels during Monday night's regular meeting.
City Manager Glenn Nichols said he has been in negotiations with landowners of two parcels near City Hall on 6th and Patagonia streets since August. With the first asking price around $115,000, the city was able to get the figure reduced for council approval.
The first parcel will cost the city about $55,000. Nichols said it is the house located just east of City Hall, and will likely be used to create a recreation department. The council unanimously approved the proposal.
The second parcel is a vacant lot behind City Hall, which will cost for $25,000. Nichols said it is just an investment, and there are no immediate plans for it. Mayor Mark Fenn said he wasn't sure if this parcel was a smart investment. Fenn voted against the measure, but the rest of the council voted in favor of it.
In other business, Fenn also asked that the council to back him in directing the staff to study street re-paving needs. Fenn said the north side of town is being redone thanks to a Community Development Block Grant, but other streets in the city are left in disrepair.
Public Works Director Brad Hamilton said a preliminary study revealed that about 16 miles of city streets need repair, noting that the costs could be as much as $3 million.
Councilman John Lodzinski said if the city were to also want curbs and to address drainage issues on some streets, it could cost as much as $5 million.
After a short discussion, Hamilton was asked to move forward with a cost-analysis study.
Fenn said once streets in need of repair are identified, the council will have to discuss how to pay for it. One idea discussed at a City Council retreat is asking taxpayers to approve a property tax increase to pay for the improvements.
In other business, the council unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Tohono O'odham Nation in order to receive a $9,600 grant to purchase defibrillators for the Benson Police Department.
Police Chief Paul Moncada said it's a 100 percent grant; the city doesn't have to match any of it, and they will be purchasing up to five defibrillators. One will stay at the department and four others will be sent with officers.
SAN PEDRO VALLEY NEWS-Sun
The Benson City Council authorized spending $80,000 on two land parcels during Monday night's regular meeting.
City Manager Glenn Nichols said he has been in negotiations with landowners of two parcels near City Hall on 6th and Patagonia streets since August. With the first asking price around $115,000, the city was able to get the figure reduced for council approval.
The first parcel will cost the city about $55,000. Nichols said it is the house located just east of City Hall, and will likely be used to create a recreation department. The council unanimously approved the proposal.
The second parcel is a vacant lot behind City Hall, which will cost for $25,000. Nichols said it is just an investment, and there are no immediate plans for it. Mayor Mark Fenn said he wasn't sure if this parcel was a smart investment. Fenn voted against the measure, but the rest of the council voted in favor of it.
In other business, Fenn also asked that the council to back him in directing the staff to study street re-paving needs. Fenn said the north side of town is being redone thanks to a Community Development Block Grant, but other streets in the city are left in disrepair.
Public Works Director Brad Hamilton said a preliminary study revealed that about 16 miles of city streets need repair, noting that the costs could be as much as $3 million.
Councilman John Lodzinski said if the city were to also want curbs and to address drainage issues on some streets, it could cost as much as $5 million.
After a short discussion, Hamilton was asked to move forward with a cost-analysis study.
Fenn said once streets in need of repair are identified, the council will have to discuss how to pay for it. One idea discussed at a City Council retreat is asking taxpayers to approve a property tax increase to pay for the improvements.
In other business, the council unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Tohono O'odham Nation in order to receive a $9,600 grant to purchase defibrillators for the Benson Police Department.
Police Chief Paul Moncada said it's a 100 percent grant; the city doesn't have to match any of it, and they will be purchasing up to five defibrillators. One will stay at the department and four others will be sent with officers.
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