(Orleans)– The Orleans City Council Monday evening heard opposition to the possible sale of a city owned public access at the end of 2nd Street to some neighboring property owners. A number of residents expressed their opposition during a public hearing on the proposal. Representatives of the Spirit Lake Protective Association were also on hand…
“If it is sold, or some money changes hands, another comment there was to make sure that that would be re-invested into some other public things in Orleans, you know, because we don’t know which way it’s all going. But if something like that were to go down, that whatever the funds were and whatever went on, like you say, the easement should remain there, the building shouldn’t happen. The preference would be to keep the total public access if we could, but if not. And that’s why basically what we’re asking for is a little more time.”
A resident made reference to a similar access the city sold about 24 years ago…
“So we’ve already sold some of our city property and I think it has a negative affect. And I think if we do this, again we’re going to lose some of that city property that allows the people that live off the lake side that can enjoy some of that the city should be able to provide. I know that we have the park right there but like you say, when you give up something like that you can’t get it back.”
The city has received an offer of $255,000 for the land. The council voted Monday evening to table the matter until May.
