By DAVE SCHULTZ
The city of Bluffton will soon be the owner of a house on Hale Street, the last structure on that small street behind the Almco Steel facility off of Oak Street.
The city has attempted to buy the house before, but was rebuffed when its offer did not meet what the owner was wanting for it. The city is constrained from buying any real estate for more than the average of two independent appraisals.
This time, however, the two appraisals averaged out at $30,000 and that’s the price the owners agreed to. Wells County Geographic Information System listings show the owners as Jim and Stephanie Boggs.
In a letter to council members, Whicker noted that the house will soon be vacated. “I would like to get council’s approval to buy this property so we can control all of these Hale Street lots for future green space or a trailhead when the Old Cemetery Trail is finally developed.”
The property is directly across Hale Street from the cemetery. An extension of the Rivergreenway has been on the drawing board for years that would extend the trail to the Old Bluffton Cemetery.
The council members approved the sale on a 5-0 vote.
daves@news-banner.com
