Dennis Box
The Courier-Herald
After the speeches, pleadings and demands were finished, the Bonney Lake City Council voted 6-1 to override a veto by Mayor Bob Young during a June 8 council meeting.
The override means the city will move forward on the purchase or condemnation of the 12.55 acres of land owned by Schuur Brothers Construction next to Allan Yorke Park.
Council members Neil Johnson, Mark Hamilton, Cheryle Noble, Dave King, Phil De Leo and Deputy Mayor Dan Swatman voted yes and Jim Rackley voted no.
The confrontation between the council and mayor started on May 25 when the council voted 6-1 to pass Ordinance 1033 authorizing the purchase or condemnation of the property.
The council intends the parcel to be added to Allan Yorke Park, Bonney Lake's largest park at 21.5 acres. There are two other parks in the city - Lake Bonney Park, 1.3 acres, and Ascent Park, .02 acres.
Two days after the council passed the ordinance, the mayor vetoed the measure, stating the cost of the property to the city would be too high.
During the meeting, 13 people from the surrounding neighborhood and the city spoke out for the acquisition of the parks. But unlike previous meetings over the past months, three people spoke against purchasing or condemning the land.
Rackley voted against the original ordinance and followed with a vote against the veto override.
"I'm totally for parks," he said. "I'm afraid it will take money away from other areas that need parks."
The decision to move forward could mean a lengthy condemnation process where the city files suit in Pierce County Superior Court claiming the land is necessary for the public good. Then, a jury would decide the fair market value of the property.
"Taking someone's land is a serious issue," Johnson said. "But for the first time the council is showing vision. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to add land to Allan Yorke Park. In 10 years this will look cheap. And I'll tell you if it was my home, I would have no problem giving my home up for fair market value."
The override vote followed the same pattern as the first vote on the ordinance.
"It went as I expected," Young said. "When you veto a 6-1 vote, it doesn't change unless the community really comes out. I did it more for the public relations. I think it worked and people were able to express their thoughts. I just felt something needed to be said."
The city will now enter into negotiations for the purchase of the property from Schuur Brothers Construction. If a negotiated price for the land cannot be reached, the city will condemn the land and let a jury decide the fair market value.
Schuur Brothers bought the land in March for about $1 million with the intention of building townhouses. Previously the city had offered $1.2 million, but Schuur Brothers turned the offer down stating it did not cover the design and engineering costs already invested in the property.
The council voted to place a $5 million bond to buy land for parks on the November general election ballot. A portion of the money from that bond may be used to purchase the Schuur Brothers property.
Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@courierherald.com
