A piece of property adjacent to Zachary Park is going to cost Macon County a little bit more than previously thought.
During Tuesday’s Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting, county attorney Chester Jones explained that the previously agreed upon purchase price was not enough to cover a lien against the property itself.
“When this board agreed to buy the property in October of 2019, the amount agreed upon was $71,188 and in doing some research I found that amount will not satisfy the lien, so we need to make a new offer,” Jones said. “That offer needs to be $78,300 in order to be acceptable for all parties.”
Nearly a year ago, the county made an offer to purchase the 1.74-acre tract on Buck Creek Road from current owners Robby and Rena Stauffer. The $71,188 amount was the appraised tax value of the property, which is primarily wooded but does have an old mobile home on site.
“Our new offer does not take into account that mobile home, because that structure does not add any value to the land,” Jones said. “In fact, the county will likely end up having to pay someone to remove that mobile home before we can do anything with the property.”
Commissioner Jim Tate, who represents Highlands’ district, envisions the new parcel adding to the current Zachary Park facilities. During the discussion regarding buying the land, Tate noted that the purchase would allow for the walking trail to be extended and thus would create a cross country running course for the Highlands School team to use for home meets. Additional field space for soccer and/or baseball and increased parking are also a possibility.
Zachary Park is currently home to a baseball and softball field as well as a soccer field, walking track, concession stand, restrooms and offices. The complex, which opened in 2003, was expanded in 2013 to just over eight acres total.
“We have talked about this piece of property in the past and agreed to make the purchase, so I don’t think this change in price is anything to dissuade us from continuing with the project,” commissioner Ronnie Beale said. “To get a piece of land that size, adjacent to an existing park in Highlands, for that price is still a bargain and we should be thankful that the family is willing to work with us to make the sale happen.”
A motion to approve the new purchase price of $78,300 and a subsequent budget amendment passed unanimously.