BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Telegraph Editor
Starke commissioners decided to move forward with a contract to purchase a block of land downtown for an undisclosed project.
The city previously advertised for proposals to purchase property within a one and a half block area bordered on the north and south by Call Street and Madison Street and on the east and west by Church Street and the railroad crossing.
Two proposals were submitted by the deadline and ranked by a committee made up of the city manager, clerk and finance director. The top proposal, submitted by John and Elizabeth Jarmon, offered 320 E. Call St. for $225,000. HealthSafe Services offered 435 E. Madison St. for $280,000.
City commissioners stuck by the rankings, selecting the Jarmon property, pending finalization of the contract as well as environmental testing of the site. The city built time into the request for proposals to allow for that, if the owners agree.
Commissioner Danny Nugent said the city could do a lot with the property, but a specific use wasn’t mentioned other than parking in the rear of the building. The former retail site has historic value, and there may be grants available to renovate it, he said.
The second property is right next to the Downtown Square, and the city commission expressed interest in further discussions with the property owner. Unlike the first property, which the city is purchasing with federal ARPA funding, City Clerk Jimmy Crosby had not identified funds available to make the second purchase.
Commissioner Shannon Smith was cautious about the city overextending itself, saying the board would be spending more than the purchase price on the Jarmon property to make it usable.
“We cut a lot of money last year, and now we’re going out doing some other things that I just don’t, I don’t feel comfortable with it right now,” he said. “I think we’re doing the right thing with ARA money getting that piece of property, and we can develop it and do some really good things with it using some grant money and some other stuff.”
Commissioner Andy Redding said when they have more information, they can determine if it’s feasible to move forward with the second property as well.
