Hinkey Land Deal - Part II

The following email was sent this evening  to Todd Wodraska, District Manager, regarding the proposed purchase of two parcels of land at the Southwest corner of River Rd. and Hwy 41:

Hello Todd:

I do have some questions about the proposed acquisition of two parcels of land for the intersection improvements. Sarasota County property records identify these parcels as ID 0788-04-0002 and ID 0788-04-0005. I'll just call them parcel 2 and parcel 5 from now on.

The records show that both parcels were purchased by Fourth Quarter Properties on July 9, 2004 for a combined purchase price of $816,400. On August 6, 2010, a Certificate of Sale was recorded giving M&I bank ownership of these parcels for a purchase price of $34,600. I make three assumptions from this information:

    1. M&I foreclosed on these parcels and Fourth Quarter Properties still "owes" the bank some sum of money.

    2. The $34,600 purchase price was to pay back taxes owed on the land.

    3. WVID purchase of this land will provide an indirect benefit to Fourth Quarter Properties.

QUESTION 1.  Will this indirect benefit to Fourth Quarter Properties be disclosed at some future public meeting, and will any of the Supervisors be required to recuse themselves from voting on the purchase of these two parcels?

The records also show the combined acreage of these two parcels as 5.417 acres. In past district meetings I have heard the acreage stated as either 6.2 or 6.4 acres, and it has been stated that the district has been trying to acquire 1.2 acres of that land for needed right-of-way to complete the planned intersection improvements. The difference in these numbers makes me wonder if some of the right-of-way the district is trying to purchase already exists? Existing right-of-way along Hwy 41 is recorded in OR Book 1031, Page 1550 and is not available online for review. I will have to go to the court house to find it.

Existing right-of-way along River Rd. is recorded in OR Book 2695 Page 1438 and this was available online for review. It applies to parcel 2 and includes approximately 0.660 acres along River Rd. This right-of-way was acquired by Stipulated Order of Taking, dated December 12, 1994, for a purchase price of $36,050 by Sarasota County.

QUESTION 2.  Please explain the differences in parcel and right-of-way acreage addressed above; it appears the district wants to buy something it already has?

QUESTION 3.  Given that M&I Bank will be acquired by Harris Bank in May, will the district consider condemnation proceedings to acquire the needed acreage if attempts to contact the bank and/or negotiate a sale prove fruitless?

QUESTION 4.  What is the status of the County condemnation action for land at the NW corner of the intersection?

I would like these questions to be entered in the record of the next district meeting along with the related discussion and answers.

Thank you,