The Merrill Board of Public Works last Wednesday considered bids on the sale of the former DNR ranger station off North Center Avenue.
As noted in a letter to the board from city administrator Dave Johnson, the Common Council authorized the sale by sealed bid after a local business expressed interest in purchasing the property for future expansion. A provision of the authorization stated “any and all bids may be rejected.” The idea of selling the property was to put it on the city tax roll with a business taking over the property.
On Wednesday evening, Johnson stated two bids had been received. One bid in the amount of $7,500 was submitted from Merrill Sheet Metal with plans to expand their business in a couple of years and another $23,500 bid from Justin Peterson, with no stated plans for the property. The board unanimously approved Johnson’s recommendation of rejecting both bids due to neither bid accomplishing the city’s goals for the sale. Johnson further recommended the city retain the property for continued use by the Parks and Recreation Department for their summer programs.
The ranger station, originally constructed by CCC crews in the 1930s, reverted back to city ownership when the Department of Natural Resources vacated the building for a new facility on Eagle Drive.