(12/8) At the December 6th town council meeting, discussion was had about the ‘orphan’ lot next to the waste water treatment plant’s old drain field. The council agreed to sell the three acre lot to the adjoining property owner, but not without a few bumps along the way.

In 1985, following the completion of the, then new, ‘state of the art’ wastewater treatment plant, the town found themselves with three excess acres not fenced-in in the plant’s drain field. Faced with having to maintain the lot with weekly mowing, town staff asked Richard Lindsay, the adjoining property owner, if he wanted to use the three acres as part of his horse farm. Lindsay agreed. While Lindsay only remembers using the three acres for hay one year, he has meticulously maintained the land by mowing it weekly.

In the early 1990’s, following the building of a riding ring next to the lot, and with no end in sight for the town resuming maintenance of the lot, Lindsay asked if he could purchase the land. The town turned down the request, and Lindsay continued to maintain the land.

In the fall of this year, Lindsay approached the town again about purchasing the lot. This time however, the town indicated they were open to the suggestion, but countered that the lot, which is currently zoned light industrial, should be first hooked up to the town’s water and sewer systems.

Lindsay rejected the suggestion, as the services where not necessary given his farm was currently served by two wells, and he just revamped his septic system. He hoped to have the lot rezoned ‘agricultural,’ thereby eliminating the need for the hookups.

Lindsay’s offer of $18,000 for the lot drew the ire of Commissioner O’Donnell, who felt the price too low. O’Donnell noted It was appraised for $100,000 if the industrial zoning was retained. However, the $100,000 price tag did not take into account the necessary $40,000 investment the town would be required to make to run the sewer and water lines, not to mention the cost of installation of a road for access.

Following a spirited give and take among the council, Commissioners Davis, Ritz and Sweeny opted to take Lindsay’s offer, citing that he had been maintaining the land for 37 years for the town at his own expense. "If he gave us a bill for his services over all those years," Commissioner Davis said, "I’m sure it would more than equal the difference."

O’Donnell however voted against selling the land, saying he did not want people in the future thinking they can get land for a heavily reduced rate from the town. Commissioner Pollitt chose to abstain due to lack of familiarity with the lot and its history.