PROVO — If Lindon can buy a tiny piece of canal-side property for the asking price of $5,000, it will add it to the county and city trails system.
If the city has to pay the back taxes, interest and penalties on the 0.6-acre plot, officials will pass and it may sit idle forever.
"The back taxes on this come to about $6,000, I believe," said City Recorder Ott Dameron. "That would pretty much double the price for the property."
Lindon City is therefore asking the Utah County Commission to waive the tax bill in the interest of the public good.
A decision is expected Tuesday, Dec. 12.
The property, located at approximately 100 N. 835 East and partially in the Murdock Canal, is part of a bankruptcy settlement for Lindon Hills Development Co.
Kevin Smith, Lindon city engineer, told the commissioners Tuesday there really is no good use for the property other than selling it to Lindon as a city park area.
"Lindon has a storm water and a sewer easement through there already, and it really can't be developed as a home lot," Dameron said.
"If we have to pay the back taxes, we'll probably not buy it and it'll probably just sit there," Dameron said. "The trustee will close the bankruptcy and the county can continue to assess taxes that nobody will ever pay."
Dameron said the property sits perfectly in position to be added to the trails system as a trail head staging and picnic area.
The commissioners on Tuesday were uncertain as to whether Lindon's arguments make it possible to dismiss the tax bill.
"As individuals, we'd have to pay it," Commissioner Gary Herbert said.
"I don't see a basis for approving this request," said Commissioner Jerry Grover.
Dameron said Lindon plans to bring a trails advocate from Mountainlands Association of Governments to the next meeting to help explain how strategic the acquisition is to trail development.
"I think that will help justify the commissioner's decision," Dameron said.
E-MAIL: haddoc@desnews.com