By: James Pruitt
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
A member of the Montpelier Village Council has taken a vacant lot off the community’s hand at the Feb. 22 council meeting.
The council also approved the purchase of a cab and chassis and dump body for the Water and Sewer Department.
Nathan Thompson, who owns N & T Thompson Holdings, offered to purchase the property at 116 E. Main St., for $2,000. The council voted 4-0 to accept the offer.
Member Laura Gray was absent and Thompson recused himself from the vote and left the meeting while the council discussed the offer and voted, Clerk Becky Semer said.
The village acquired the property in January 2011 for $1. At the time it had a house, that has since been demolished, village records show. The village kept the grass mowed since then and decided to put it up for sale Jan. 25.
Despite the for sale sign, no one came forward to purchase the property, Semer said. Thompson had the property appraised at $2,800 and offered $2,000. Council will put the money into a fund to help eradicate slum and blight properties, village documents state.
The property is zoned C-3 Central business and could have a residence built on it, Semer said.
The council approved the purchase of a 2017 Freightliner M2-106 4×2 cab and chassis with a Cummins ISB for the Water Sewer Distribution Department.
The resolution states the price is not to exceed $70,000 and is budgeted. There is extra warranty protection for the cab and chassis.
The council also approved the purchase of new dump body for the truck, not to exceed $25,000.
This covers the dump body and all the hydraulics, the steel floor, etc. The money is coming out of the tax capital fund, part from water and part from sewer.
In other news:
The council denied a request from Kent Dickenson the utilities for a property he purchased near Holiday City must be kept in his name. The village services the site and because it is outside of the corporate limits, the village does not have the ability to assess the property for any unpaid bills.
The council amended its Rules for Council to clarifies processes by which meetings are conducted. Semer said this happens regularly to help residents and new members understand how the council works.
Council accepted the resignation of Devin Harter from the Fire Department after 10 years.
James Pruitt may be reached at
publisher@thevillagereporter.com