Mat-Su would sell a sinking public safety building for $13,176

A condemned public safety building near Lake Louise would sell for $13,176 under an ordinance going to public hearing Sept. 1 before the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly.

The Matthews Public Safety Building has settled about 29 inches into poor soils, and a borough memorandum says it may collapse at any time. The borough condemned it years ago.

The buyer would be the Louise/Susitna/Tyone Community Association, which represents residents and property owners around the three lakes. It plans to repair the building and store fire and emergency equipment there.

An engineering estimate the association obtained puts the repair at $139,150, more than ten times the purchase price. Neither the agenda nor its informational memorandum says how that work would be funded.

The price is what the borough spent subdividing the lot. Selling below fair market value requires the assembly to make a best interest finding, and the ordinance treats this as a sale for a public purpose.

Borough policy attaches a condition that carries into the deed. If the property stops being used for a public purpose, the borough can take the title back, and the buyer remains liable for environmental assessment and cleanup.

The area is remote and served by volunteers. The Lake Louise Susitna Tyone Volunteer Fire Department formed in 2014.