Claremont Council wants more information before claiming forfeited property

Claremont City Council are in agreement that they want a Veterans’ Memorial in the city, they just are not sure how to go about getting it.
Members of the Claremont Chamber of Commerce and the American Legion Post are both interested in a Veterans Park and would like to see it in the vacant lots next to Legion Post.
Bryon Wolf, who spoke to the council representing Claremont Agency, the American Legion and the Chamber of Commerce said those organizations would like the city to reclaim two lots adjacent to the Legion Post.
The lots had county had ownership of the lots due to tax forfeiture and had demolished to buildings on the site. It offered the lots to the city but the city declined.
The lots did not sell at a county auction for $2,100 a lot. The city could obtain the lots at no cost but there would be several conditions including the property must be used for a public purpose and they could never be sold for a commercial purpose.
Wolf said that if the city acquired the lots the chamber would do some fundraising to get the money for a memorial.
He added that it was unlikely the lots would be sold to someone who wanted to build a commercial building because most of the cities in the area are seeing new business go in industrial parks. The city also recently lost a downtown park, he said, when the ball field was sold to CHS for an addition to their facility.
“I’m all for having a memorial in town,” Mayor Daniel Martinez said.
Martinez made a motion, with a second by Councilmember Rick Butler, that the city should get the lots at no cost from the county.
During the ensuring discussion, Councilmember Dean Gray reminded the council that earlier the council had voted no to acquire the lots. He also said that in most cities in the area, including Medford and Dodge Center, the Veteran’s Memorials are not in downtown areas.
Councilmember Marie Lindblom said she could see both sides of the issue and that her concern is that once the city acquires the lots it must hold on to them forever.  It is possible, she said, the lots could be sold for commercial purposes, but realized that any industrial growth in the city will not be downtown.
“I’m kind of torn,” she said. “I’m for the memorial but I don’t know if it has to be there and if the city needs another piece of land.”
How much does the county want for the land, asked Councilmember Michelle Welch, who said perhaps the city could buy the lots and give them to the Legion.
“I need more information,” Welch said.
In the end, Martinez and Butler vote yes on the motion, Gray and Lindblom vote no and Welch abstained, meaning the motion failed.
Council will get more information on the lots and the requirements, including how long after they are acquired that the memorial would have to be built, and reconsider the topic at the July meeting.
On another topic that caused a lengthy discussion council members voted to forgive all but $1,350 in assessments against the property at 500 E. Front St.
Deedee Szuberski told council members that her son, Zac, and his girlfriend, Niah, bought the property at a council auction for $5,000.
The property has been vacant since 2013 and