City seeks appraisal on land for sewer plant

Byline

The City of Sisters will soon get an appraisal on the land it hopes to use for a sewage treatment facility.

The city council agreed Thursday, August 26, to hire Bancroft Appraisals of Bend to appraisal a parcel of forest land that lies at the southern edge of Sisters. The appraisal will cost $15,750, according to city administrator Barbara Warren.

An appraisal is required if the city is to purchase the property from the Forest Service, or if a deal is negotiated to trade the land for services. The city had held off getting the land appraised to see if legislation would be passed in the United States Congress transferring the land at no cost to the city.

That legislation stalled last month in the face of Forest Service opposition. If the legislation is revived, it is likely that the transfer will involve some payment for the land in the form of sewer services for the Forest Service.

"If it doesn't go straight gift, (an appraisal) is needed," Mayor Steve Wilson told the council.

In other business, the city council also authorized an appraisal of the private lot on the Village Green Park. The 40-by-114-foot parcel is listed at $39,500.

"The land has zero value until a sewer system goes in," Wilson said. "It has no buildable envelope on it."

The city will hold public hearings on what the city should do about the land. Councilors noted that they did not want to see a private home built in the park.