City to consider purchase of 222 Shalley Drive

Monday evening, the Plymouth Common Council unanimously approved a resolution to consider the purchase of the residential property at 222 Shalley Drive.

During the city meeting, attorney Jeff Houin explained that the single-family home has been vacant since the 2018 flood. It was purchased in August 2019 for $30,000 by John Marshall and Ronda Crist, according to the Marshall County GIS.

The city administration has held discussions with property owners regarding numerous reports of vandalism that have occurred on their property. Houin said the owners have expressed an interest in selling the property. 

The city administration believes that acquiring the property will be beneficial, especially for the park located at the Conservation Clubhouse, as the home will be demolished and the park will be extended.  Because the property is in the flood plain, rehabilitation isn’t appropriate, and construction of another structure wouldn’t be feasible or permitted.   

The procedure for purchasing property has several steps.  The first step is for the fiscal body, the City Council, to pass a resolution expressing interest in the acquisition.   The city would then be required to obtain two appraisals, which have been completed.  The next step is to prepare a purchase agreement and finalize the details with the owners so that the city administration can submit it to the Board of Public Works and Safety for approval of the actual purchase. 

Attorney Houin didn’t disclose any numbers during the public meeting, pending finalization of the agreement. Still, he did say the purchase price would be well within the budgeted amount for land acquisition in this year’s budget for the city.

Houin said the property had been included in the FEMA Flood Plain Property Grant project, but the owners couldn’t agree on a price.