Soldotna Resident Marcus Guidry asked the City of Soldotna to sign over a parcel of land originally scheduled to head to auction.
Guidry: “It’s actually park land in Soldotna, there’s a little strip there that’s actually a small city park is what the property is right now and like I say it’s right next door to our property and basically we just wanted to acquire the property so no one else would get it and just use it as a buffer zone, that’s kind of our intent and goal.”
He and his wife had asked the City for the lot next to his home on Riverview Ave in 2009. They were told by the Administration, including Economic Development & Planning Director Stephanie Queen and the land was not for sale.
Mayor Nels Anderson said the City must balance the desire to sell vacant parcels to direct neighbors versus finding the best return on investment for tax payers.
Councilor Regina Daniels suggested an agreement to sell the land to the Guidrys with the stipulation that the land remain a well-kept park.
Daniels: “I thought it was a good idea because they approached the city council, they’ve taken care of their area, they help with the park on that street, so we’ve removed that piece of property from the ordinance hoping that that’s something we can come to an agreement with them to purchase.”
Queen said other property owners have expressed interest in other lots for sale. Those owners were contacted, but she said none responded. City Manager Mark Dixson said the Administration isn’t realistically capable of contacting all each parcel’s neighboring land owners and negotiating between the different parties.
The parcel 06003-205 was ultimately removed from the sealed bid sale on a vote of 5-1 with Meggean Bos the only “nay.”