All 15 owners of parcels in a core group of land needed to locate a proposed soccer complex in Burns Bottom have agreed to sell their property to the county for its appraised value.
The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors had been negotiating with the largest Burns Bottom landowner, Becki Propst Vassar and her sister, who initially asked for more than the appraised value.
Vassar Friday said the family agreed to sell their roughly 15 acres land to the county at the appraised value, $79,000.
Details still must be worked out before the agreement is signed, likely before the supervisors” next meeting Nov. 13.
“I”m real proud they”ve come to the decision they”re going to sell their land to the county and carry on the tradition of their family of being able to help the quality of life in Columbus and Lowndes County,” said Board of Supervisors President and District 1 Supervisor Harry Sanders, noting Vassar”s uncle earlier donated the land on which Propst Park was built. “I”m real proud for the family; they”ve been real conscientious, good citizens.
“It”s a relief to know we”re going forward with this program,” he added. “Once we get it under wraps, then we can start working on the neighborhood parks. The property that”s necessary for us to go forward (with the Burns Bottom soccer complex) is all under control. We really appreciate all the landowners and their cooperation.”
The supervisors and members of the Columbus-Lowndes Development Link now will begin talking to 31 landowners whose property is on the perimeter of the core property on which the soccer complex will be located.
“And we”re going to get with (Dispatch Publisher Birney) Imes, who has agreed to fund the landscape architect,” said Sanders. “We”ll see if we can get him started on drawing up the plans.”
The City Council earlier voted to donate 14.9 acres of city-owned property and provide water and sewer infrastructure already in place, as well as in-kind services, for the soccer complex, which has been likened to a downtown park and is to be located on 70 acres in the Burns Bottom area.
The total appraisal for the 70-acre Burns Bottom properties came to about $288,000.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 54 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
