The Town of Stevensville is considering the potential purchase of 26 acres of ground located adjacent to the town’s well fields next to the Twin Creeks Subdivision. The issue came up because the Town holds a Right of First Refusal on the property and the property owner has received an offer on the property from a third party for $185,000.
The property has been appraised at $208,000. Public Works Director George Thomas told the council that it was opportune to consider buying the property given the situation with the four wells that are not functioning up to par due to sand problems. There will also certainly be a need for more wells if the town continues to grow. He said finding land elsewhere to put in new wells would be expensive as the infrastructure already installed at the current well site would have to be duplicated and a transmission main would have to be installed to connect the two properties.
The third party who made the offer on the property was at the council meeting and said that he was retired and hoped to build a home on the property and live there. He said if the town was only interested in placing a well on the property that he would consider providing the town with a lease for installation and operation of the well.
The matter was taken under advisement but the town must make a decision quickly since the right of first refusal expires 30 days after the original offer was received. A meeting is scheduled for November 19 to consider the issue just one day before the deadline.