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By Lynda Hollenbeck
Courier Staff
Benton Advertising and Promotion Commission’s contract to purchase the old US Fuel Mart from Troutman Oil Co. is still not finalized, Alan Jessup, commission chairman, said.
Underground fuel tanks discovered during an environmental study have delayed the deal, Jessup said.
The abandoned business is near the Saline County Fairgrounds at 15433 Interstate 30.
Commissioners have said that the property is “integral” in the commission’s vision to build a civic or events center near the fairgrounds.
“We felt it was important to secure the land now instead of potentially losing it or paying significantly more for it in the future,” Commissioner Brad Moore said at the time contract information became public.
An architectural firm reportedly will be selected soon to begin the design and site layout of the project, which will involve this site and additional adjacent sites.
Four architectural firms have submitted proposals on the project and a firm is expected to be chosen next week, Moore said.
Commissioners have not said how a civic or events center would be funded.
The property was auctioned Feb. 21, but the commission’s original price was rejected, Moore said. After further negotiations, an agreement was reached at $220,000.
The commission originally offered $136,000 and the original asking price was $248,500. The property was appraised for $500,000 in 2006 and another appraisal is expected to be conducted after the survey from the seller is completed.
Completion of the sale is pending a positive environmental study, a survey and a billboard lease review, Moore said. The seller of the property is responsible for the survey as well as the lease review through Lamar Advertising.
The seller must provide some sort of release or transfer of lease to allow the commission to be in control of the agreement with Lamar,” Moore explained.
The property is adjacent to the the county fairgrounds and offers frontage on the I-30 service road, which commissioners say is a strategic piece of property to tie into the plan to build a civic or events center near the fairgrounds.
The plan includes rebuilding the fairgrounds near the old airport property, Moore said. The city owns part of the old Watts Field airport and Holland Chapel Baptist Church owns an additional part.
“The county owns 20-30 acres adjacent to airport property and the old county barn and space available where the midway and horse arena could be relocated,” Moore said.
“We feel good for the overall concept,” Jessup said recently. “We hope it will be a good partnership for all concerned — the city, the county and the fair association. All parties have verbally agreed in principle to the concept.
“I think it’s a viable piece of property,” he added. “It’s a piece of the puzzle that needs to be secured for the overall concept. This whole project will help revitalize that stretch of Interstate 30.
“Holland Chapel is improving its property, the city Streetscape project on South Street is improving that area and the overall concept will improve the whole area and provide a good economic return to everybody.”
Initial plans call for placing an events center on the corner, in full view of the Interstate near the access ramp, with the fairgrounds and the arena behind.
“The county could lease the property for the events center, saving the cost of buying expensive frontage property,” Jessup said. “It would be very cost-effective if the plan comes together.”
Moore said he believes the purchase price is fair, compared to the prices being received for nearby land parcels. “Property on I-30 frontage sells by the foot, not by acreage,” he said.
In other A&P business, Shane Pigue, who is assisting the city with the promotion of the upcoming Tournament of Champions softball tournamenty to be held in Benton, displayed T-shirts promoting the event. He said Benton High School spirit teams will assist with the sale of the shirts.
Following are funding requests approved by the commission:
•Benton Senior Activity Center — $7,228 for a gospel concert to be held in June instead of the same weekend as Old-Fashioned Day, which takes place on the second Saturday in May.
Jill Jones, new A&P executive director, told A.C. Paxton, spokesman for the senior center, that she would be in contact with the concert promoter. She said she possibly could negotiate a better financial agreement for the center.
•Downtown Benton — $1,691 for the downtown Easter celebration. Lisa Baldwin represented the group at the meeting.
•Benton Area Chamber the Commerce — $1,692 for the annual Savor the Flavor tasting event.
•Benton Fire Department — $2,195 for a trailer wrap for Molly, the 1930 fire truck the city acquired and uses for parades and other ceremonial events. The truck belonged to the city for many years and was used to fight fires here during the 1930s and 1940s, but was sold. It was purchased from a collector in Tennessee in April 2006.
Benton Advertising and Promotion Commission was established in October 2005 by the City Council, which enacted a 1.5 percent A&P tax that is imposed on the city’s hospitality industry. The tax, also known as a “hamburger tax,” went into effect in January 2006.
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