FAIRMONT– The Fairmont Economic Development Authority (FEDA) on Monday discussed the sale of 37.6 acres of property on Highway 39. The board had discussed the sale specifics at its last meeting and on Monday reviewed the purchase agreement.

Fairmont’s Economic Development Coordinator, Ned Koppen, told the board that a special public hearing on the matter would be held on Dec. 19, at which point the board could approve the purchase agreement, which Koppen said is in the hands of the buyer.

However, Board Member Chris Pierce said he had some reservations about the sale and pointed out there’s about $1.8 million tied into the property– $1.4 million from the city and $434,000 from the state via a grant from DEED. He said the land use description pretty specifically says it needs to be for industrial distribution or value added agro manufacturing and can’t be used for service or retail.

He was referring to a BDPI grant from the state that the city of Fairmont received which helped fund extending the infrastructure to the parcel of land.

“I would be in favor of just (selling)10 acres contingent on DEED saying we can do that. Do we have that in writing?” Pierce asked.

Koppen said that it meets the city’s zoning requirements of light industrial.

Pierce was still uneasy with some of the language and while he said he wanted the purchase to take place, he wanted to make sure that the buyer understood the land use prior to the purchase going through.

“If we sold the whole thing and he wants to sell it and can’t, are we liable as a city to pay the state back that money?” asked Pierce.

He added that when it comes to real estate, everything should be in writing and that he wanted to protect the city and the taxpayer’s money.

Koppen reminded the board that it had previously approved moving forward but has not yet approved of the purchase agreement.

“New information has come out and we have a grant to manage. It could cost us $434,000,” Pierce added.

He also pointed out that since the city obtained the land several years ago there has been a lot of staff turnover at city hall and that no one who was with the city at that time remains.

“Ned’s done everything right with this thing but there’s a lot of loose ends that need to be tied up,” he said, alluding to discontinuity in the city.

“I feel strongly that we shouldn’t sell the rest of the property at this point. I don’t think us as the economic development authority of Fairmont should turn over land to a speculative land developer without a plan and agreement,” Pierce said.

He made a motion to amend the purchase agreement to the initial offer of 10 acres versus all 37.6 acres contingent on DEED approving the specific land use.

Board Member Brian Roggow agreed with Pierce and said he wasn’t away of the grant stipulations and that he wanted all of the “i’s dotted and t’s crossed” so that the topic didn’t have a high chance of coming back.

The motion passed.

If the ourchase of 10 acres goes through. FEDA would still owe 27.6 acres of land which it could put up for sale again for other potential buyers.

In other business, the board:

— Accepted the resignation of member Chantill Kahler Royer.

— Heard an update on the progress of the “My Town” video which FEDA is doing in partnership with Visit Fairmont and the Fairmont Area School District.