The Blountstown City Council held a special meeting Friday morning to prepare a proposal to Bay Ford on purchasing two pieces of city property.
As previously reported, Bay Ford is interested in expanding their dealershp in downtown Blountstown and expressed interested in both the corner lot at the SR 20 and 71 intersection - commonly known as Chicken Corner - and the City Hall building next to their current location.
City officials had appraisals conducted on both properties. One came in at $195,000 and another at $210,000 on the City Hall building. Two appraisals on the Chicken Corner lot came in at $250,000 and $175,000.
Should Bay Ford purchase the properties, the Council would be forced to find a new City Hall building very quickly. The Council bid on the Ameris Bank building on South Pear Street earlier this year, but did not win the bid. Sky Properties out of Lilburn, Georgia, obtained the building for $231,000. With two floors and a drive-thru window, plus ample parking, the bank would have provided plenty of space for both City Hall and the Blountstown Police Department.
City officials have an option on the West Central Avenue building that was previously Dr. Finlay Corbin’s dentist office. Appraisals on the building came in at $215,000 and $200,000.
Councilman James Griffin made a motion and it was seconded by Councilwoman Janie Boyd to offer Bay Ford a $400,000 package deal - $200,000 for each property with Bay Ford paying closing costs. The motion passed unanimously.
For the full story, see our print edition.
