In ongoing efforts to increase economic development, the Taylor Town Council unanimously gave Town Manager Gus Lundberg the green light to prepare the documents for the purchase of approximately 147 acres near Pinedale Road and Airport Loop, located north of Kay Supply.
Lundberg said, “The town has an opportunity to purchase the approximately 147 acres, which has been referred to as the Roy Palmer Business Park for a total $750,000.”
The property was originally owned by the Palmer family. In 2003, they offered the Town of Taylor the option of purchasing 163 acres at the price of $3,000 an acre. The town saw an opportunity to build a business park that would go from the Highway 77 to Airport Loop and by 2006 they began working with Jason Hatch of Hatch Development to begin development.
Hatch bought out the town’s interest in 2008 and over the ensuing years installed nearly $1 million worth of infrastructure, including 4,200 feet of sewer lines and 2,000 feet of water lines. “Hatch is ready to walk away and is offering to sell the land for $5,000 an acre,” said Lundberg. “What I am asking for tonight is your approval to proceed in working with our town attorney. The town will give $290,000 as a down payment with the remaining amount being paid out in the next month to month-and-a-half.”
Lundberg also noted that the town has received a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant that will handle the flood mitigation throughout the area. “We have been selected as a state priority project and are confident that in the next year or two we will be moving forward with this project.”
After the council passed the request to have Lundberg move forward on the paperwork Mayor David Smith leaned back in his chair and said, “We just bought the town a business park.”
In his report, Lundberg noted that the recreation department held its first Trunk or Treat on Oct. 31. “It was a great response,” said Lundberg. “There is definitely an interest in this. At one point it was estimated that 1,000 people were there.”
Lundberg also said the first of the new fire trucks the town recently purchased will be coming home next week.
In other business, the council:
* Approved the October 2018 check register in the amount of $622,949.
* Approved the TPT Tax Reporting Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Phoenix for an initial cost of $1,500 and an annual fee of $275.
* Tabled consideration of a contract with Taylor Rodeo LLC until the meeting.
The next meeting of the Taylor Town Council will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6, at the council chambers located at 425 Paper Mill Road.
