Not only does the city make sure they pay ‘something’ for the land, they only let them have half of what was requested;
Under the deal, the city would raze the existing building and divide the property it owns there into three pieces. A 9,000-square-foot parcel would be sold to the Glory House for $50,000, while another 43,000-square-feet would be gifted.
Mayor Mike Huether and his administrators have resisted the move, saying it’s not in taxpayers’ interest to give away city assets, even if it’s an empty building used for miscellaneous storage. Last month, City Planning Director Mike Cooper and Public Works Director Mark Cotter were in front of the City Council when they shared a recent appraisal that valued the park land at $675,000.
It’s funny how the mayor just couldn’t stand to give this land away and cut a back door deal with the Glory House to side step the council. Yet $500k for a tennis center bearing the mayor’s name is no problem at all for the good taxpayers of Sioux Falls.