Although the land price is being disputed, the RDA is sticking with its recommendation to approved the Fanestil’s relocation projects with certain contingencies.
During a 55-minute executive session this morning, the Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas board discussed how much the land is worth and what kind of financial shape Fanestil’s is in.
Fanestil’s is attempting to move out of flood plain near the Cottonwood River south of Emporia to a 20-acre tract on US Highway 50 just west of Waechter Hay and Grain.
Steve Sauder, RDA chairman, said the $468,000 land price Fanestil’s owner Dan Smoots negotiated with the O’Brien family may be too high.
Since the city of Emporia would end up having to buy the land for Fanestil’s, the RDA felt a land appraisal should be conducted. If the appraisal is a lesser amount, that should be the purchase price.
“There is evidence that the land price is questionable,” Sauder said after the meeting. “There was an appraisal done earlier by Emporia Enterprises and the O’Briens and it didn’t come in that high. We think the price should be a fair price, an appraised price.”
After returning to open session, the board without discussion unanimously voted to approve the following motion.
“Due to the unique nature of this proposal related to the FEMA grant, the RDA board makes a one-time recommendation restating our initial recommendation to the Emporia City Commission on the proposed Fanestil’s Quality Meats based upon the recommendation of the RDA’s Finance Committee after examining the required financial statements.
The motion is to approve the project contingent upon the following.
- It is understood that the financial projections are viable only if the performance-based incentives, such as tax abatement, water and sanitary sewer main extension and land acquisition reimbursement are included .
- Land to be reimbursed at the lesser of appraised value or purchase price.
- No public funds to be transferred until unconditional loan approval is secured and industrial revenue bonds issued.”
For the complete story, pick up the Saturday Emporia Gazette.
chalkrocks (anonymous) says...
Dare I say, thank you Steve Sauder for questioning the sales price! I would sell my 20 acres of land for a quarter of that price and be extremely happy.
August 5, 2011 at 10:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Is it possible that the City of Emporia/taxpayers are being held hostage by the Smoots' and the Obriens' ?
$23,000 per acre does sound a little steep, rather a whole lot " steep " to me .
My next, obvious question would be . If anyone connected with the RDA owned the land, would they also be trying to make an outrageous profit by holding the City of Emporia/County/taxpayers hostage, in order to have a " Big Payday " ?
Now, don' t get your panties in a bunch people, I asked a legitimate question, as there seems to be " ulterior motives " when it comes to putting money in some peoples pockets, bank account . Especially when it seems it is the taking of taxpayer money !
August 5, 2011 at 11:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
For once I agree with Steve Sauder.
Those O'Briens are crazy if they think that land will bring that price. They see a large payday and that's all there is to it. Greedy people!
Don't buy that land. Go elsewhere that has a decent price more in keeping with the honest market value. There is more land than that in Lyon County.
August 5, 2011 at 11:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mslater (Matt Slater) says...
Half a million dollars for 20 acres of land in Emporia Kansas? GTFO of here.
It's Emporia Kansas for Chrissakes, not the Vegas Strip. Try again.
Matt
August 5, 2011 at 12:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
from what I heard at the coffee shop, the price was a little bit lower until someone decided to do a little negotiating on their own.
Pretty easy to negotiate a price like that.
When it's not your money being used.
August 5, 2011 at 1:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
steve corbin, maybe we should close the coffee shops.... stop all this nonsense
even oil rich ground in texas isn't worth that much...
August 5, 2011 at 1:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
matt, when are you gonna be home?
August 5, 2011 at 1:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Blue_Dog (anonymous) says...
You all need to remember 1st rule of sales. Willing seller and willing buyer. Don't want to pay the price, then move on.
The Obriens have owned that property as long as I can remember. As a kid (I'm 50+) when Mr. Obrien ran the Transport Inn truckstop (where Emporia Toyota is now) I'm sure he could see the possibility of Emporia growing and he might have to move someday.
Again don't want to pay the asking price then move on.
RDA is right to question price and sale arrangements. Another good reason for RDA to arrange land purchases that they will be paying for.
August 5, 2011 at 2:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
location, location, location-jobs, jobs, jobs. All Steve is doing is playing the public. His dad bought farm ground in LENEXA and sold it by the square foot. There is not another property that will have all the amenities and a retaill location for agricultural tourism.
http://kbthomas.point2agent.com/Comme...
August 5, 2011 at 2:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Oh knock off the tourism crap already!!!
August 5, 2011 at 2:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
crete, that's part of the deal and the extra sales tax won't hurt a thing.
August 5, 2011 at 4 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
kb, try some respect, her id is create!!!
stop drinking the koolaid!!
August 5, 2011 at 4:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
oh now i see, kb stands to make a fortune off the fanestils building or fallen warrior scam.....
get over it, you are being a jerk....
August 5, 2011 at 4:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
netloafer (anonymous) says...
If the owner of Fanestil's wants to pay an exorbitant price for the land, then let him or some other individual with deep pockets. But he wants to put the taxpayers on the hook for the property. He also took millions from FEMA and I think he's trying to worm his way into the city or county paying FEMA back. And now we're getting the shot across the bow that if we don't comply we lose the 48 jobs.
Something is wrong with this picture.
August 5, 2011 at 4:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
There seems to be a forgotten ulterior motive here ! Apparently this is where the Smoots want their new plant/building to be . What needs to be asked of the Smoots is the obvious one, WHY this location ? Are their no other suitable locations that someone with " common sense " or a genuine feeling of helping Emporia/County taxpayers, instead of a " Digging for Gold " attitude .
Hey, reddog/K.B. Thomas don' t you or your family own some land/property on the West side that you could donate to the City of Emporia to save the taxpayers a few million dollars ? Or are you like the rest of the " Land Barons " and only have a nose for " Gold/Money " .
Just think of the legacy you or anyone would leave behind by donating land for the Fanestil project, shoot you may even get a " Rock " erected in you honor !
There are three words that can describe the entire situation that exists/is prevalent in Lyon County/Emporia, GREED,GREED and GREED !
August 5, 2011 at 4:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
when i moved to lyon county 15 years ago, i was astounded by the greed, its still alive and well today. looks to be growing, if land is now going for 23000 an acre. kb will be known as the greedy realtor....
August 5, 2011 at 4:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
Wow, KB you freakin nuts, no way in hell is anyone going to pay those prices for those properties, all that propaganda you read has rotted your brain.
August 5, 2011 at 6:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Reddog,
Here are the rules, please abide by them.
By contributing to this Web site, you:
• Agree not to solicit others. You agree not to contribute for the purposes of advertising or to solicit anyone to buy or sell products or services, or to make donations of any kind, or to promote other web sites, without our express written approval, or where expressly permitted
• Agree not to upload, post, distribute, e-mail or otherwise publish or make available on this Web site any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, "junk mail," "spam," "chain letters," "pyramid schemes," or any other form of solicitation; and
As noted earlier, if this type of action is thought to be happening on this Web site, we reserve the right to reveal your identity (or whatever information we may know about you, including your IP address(es)) in the event of a complaint or legal action arising from this type of action.
Your posting of content and your thoughts on Emporiagazette.com automatically gives Emporiagazette.com a royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, non-exclusive right and license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, disseminate, perform, transmit and display such content (in whole or part) and/or to incorporate it in other works in any form, media, or technology now known or later developed for the full term of any rights that may exist in such content. If you are not the owner of such content, you shall be deemed to have warranted that the owner of the content has expressly granted to you a similar license.
We retain the right to revoke access privileges of anyone who we believe has violated any of the terms outlined here or if such user is deemed a problem to either the site or its other users. We also reserve the right to ban any user and his or her comments from showing up on this Web site, without notice.
August 5, 2011 at 8:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
Steve your wasting your time, anyone that compares land here to land in Lenexa has lost their grip on reality.
August 5, 2011 at 11:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )