Gosport Town Council approves curb addition, property auction, bimonthly meeting schedule at June meeting

At the June 9 Gosport Town Council meeting, the council members discussed sidewalk improvements, a surplus lot being sold at public auction and an amendment to the council’s meeting schedule. 

All three council members were present for the meeting. This included President Marian McGee, member Michael Miller and member Ernie Arnold. 

At the meeting, the council members approved a motion to purchase three yards of concrete to add a curb at 358 N. Fifth St. to redirect water from flooding the property’s yard. The yard, street and sidewalk had been level, with nothing to stop the water. 

Town resident Ron Neibel estimated that the concrete would cost $200 per yard. McGee predicted that the area would be fixed at the beginning of the next week. The council approved the motion with the understanding that the excess concrete would be used to fix sidewalks throughout the town. 

Gosport Town Attorney Terry English asked the council to approve Resolution #26-1, which would allow the town-owned property at 122 W. North St. to be sold at public auction. 

The auction will take place at 6:30 p.m. July 14 at the Gosport Town Hall at 7 E. Main St. English said the opening bid will be set for $6,300 to reimburse the town for the amount spent in attorney fees and site restoration to bring the property to marketable standards. The lot won’t be sold for under the amount set for the opening bid. 

According to the resolution, immediately following the sale and before 5 p.m. July 16, the buyer must deposit $500 to English and execute a binding purchase contract. 

English clarified that it is the responsibility of the buyer and not the town to guarantee that the property is free and clear of judgements, liens or other encumbrances of record and is free of title defects. 

The council approved the resolution. 

Town resident Robert Wheeler Jr. attended the meeting with concerns about a speed limit sign and some town properties for the council to look into. McGee told Wheeler the town would check out the issues he raised. 

The council also approved a mileage reimbursement rate of 62.5 cents per mile.

Miller made the recommendation that the council return to having meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. 

“There's just so much stuff that's going on,” Miller said. “I don’t feel like we're getting it done right. We need to be able to talk more.”

McGee added an idea that the council return to one meeting per month in the winter. The council approved the change, with the next meeting set for 7 p.m. June 23, pending availability at the Gosport Community Building, 301 N. Ninth St., Gosport.