City requesting the sale of properties, price for former water tower lot $17K

by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor

Rogers City residents will decide in November whether or not to sell four city-owned lots. Members of the Rogers City Council came together early Tuesday morning for a special session to ensure the ballot language is ready in time for the general election.

There are four pieces of property that have been discussed at recent meetings and a workshop. 

According to city attorney Mike Vogler, each property will have its own ballot question. The resolutions needed to be adopted by Tuesday and each one was approved.

The first lot is located at the southeast intersection of North First and Michigan. 

The second is at Cedar Street, east of Balsam Street and west of Evergreen Street. 

The third is commonly known as the Riverview Street property, located along Riverview Street and Trout River, east of Marquette Street and west of Linden Street. 

The final property is the West Third Street property, located north of the intersection between West Third and Oak streets.

The vacant lot is the former home of the city water tower, shown here in 2012
The vacant lot is the former home of the city water tower, shown here in 2012
CITY HALL has a lot for sale at the corner of Ontario and Doris Lane. It’s a large lot that used to be the home of the Rogers City water tower. City officials are hopeful there soon will be a home filling the void in the vacant lot.
CITY HALL has a lot for sale at the corner of Ontario and Doris Lane. It’s a large lot that used to be the home of the Rogers City water tower. City officials are hopeful there soon will be a home filling the void in the vacant lot.

“We reviewed all properties the city owns, determining that a number of properties, for various reasons, should not be sold. Those that are needed for easement; for infrastructure; or that they are potential properties for future wells,” said mayor Scott McLennan. “These are the properties the city no longer needs to hold on to. It would be better to get them back on the tax rolls.”  

In other related city property news, the sale of the former water tower lot along Doris Lane, that voters already gave the city permission to sell, is moving forward. 

Per the city assessor, the 2020 value assigned to that property is $17,058. It is a corner lot, with 100 feet of frontage on Doris Lane and 150 feet on Ontario Street.

It is zoned R-2, that requires at least 50 feet of road frontage and at least 7,500 of parcel square footage to build a home.

Based on those requirements, the parcel could be divided into two parcels, sold to two parties, with two homes being built, said city manager Joe Hefele.

“There is sewer main along the west end of the property, so we would want to maintain a 20-foot utility easement along the entire western edge,” stated Hefele in his report to council. “Also, neighbors have historically accessed their backyards along this western edge, and have asked to be able to continue to do so upon sale of the property by the city. I am not sure how this can be legally accomplished and have placed a call to the city attorney to discuss.

“Finally, while we paid a contractor $5,700 to remove the large concrete pit on the property, deeming it dangerous to children, we chose not to spend the money to remove the six large concrete anchors. Each is about 3-feet-square at ground level, expands to 8-feet-square at the bottom, is about 6-feet deep, and has large steel anchor bolts extending through it.”

  Hefele told the council he would prefer selling the property as one p

iece. Council agreed and decided to have the asking price at $17,000, especially since it is a double lot and that it is close to schools.   

“It will be sold as is,” said McLennan. “It will be advertised in the Advance and there will be a sign put up. Bids to be received within 10 days.”

“We have one that is chomping at the bit,” said Hefele.

The final decision to sell the property would be left in the hands of council.