Providence council votes 4-0 to buy $1.4 million parcel beside city park

The Providence City Council voted 4-0 on Oct. 21 to buy a 2.3-acre parcel next to the city park for $1.4 million and to approve a budget adjustment to pay for it, according to the council's draft minutes. Council Members Kunz, Kirk, Sealy and Campbell voted yes, and Council Member Speth was absent. ^[1][2][3]

City Manager Ryan Snow said the adjustment raises the use of prior-year money in the capital projects fund reserve by about $1.5 million, with $300,000 assigned to land and the rest to administrative capital purchases. The city also holds about $563,000 in a restricted park impact fee account, he said. He said the adjustment does not raise revenue or taxes. ^[2]

The parcel includes a house, field space and 11 garage bays, compared with the 16 bays the city has now. Snow said an appraisal valued the property at $1,485,000 and the owner agreed to sell for $1.4 million. ^[2]

At the public hearing, Joe Bates spoke against the purchase. He said the county assessor values the parcel at $1,018,000, questioned whether the buildings and asphalt could carry 20- to 30-ton city trucks, and asked the council to vote no. No one else spoke. ^[2]

Snow described possible uses and said none is committed. They include indoor storage for the city's six garbage trucks and two street sweepers, about an acre of added park field space, a possible fire and EMS station with the house providing crew housing, or renting the house. The city has about three years left on its contract with Logan for EMS service, he said. ^[2]

Council Member Campbell questioned whether the slab and pavement could bear heavier vehicles. Answering Council Member Kunz, Snow said that once the city is under contract it would inspect the house, have public works test the buildings and take a core sample of the asphalt. Council Member Kirk said open space ranked among residents' top concerns in the city's well-being survey. After a closed session on price, the council approved the purchase with due diligence and the budget adjustment. ^[2]

In other action, the council voted 4-0 for Resolution 11-2026, which approves further consideration of a petition from Creed Estates LLC to annex parcel 02-117-0054, 9.82 acres near 246 E. 1200 South. Staff said the resolution only lets the city study the request, and that the earliest public hearing would be at the December meeting. ^[2]

Mayor Alder told the council that the Council of Governments funded road projects only down to its sixth-ranked project, and Providence's project ranked seventh. She called it the third straight year the south end of the valley received no road funding. ^[2]