Drainage board approves offer authority up to appraisal average for Weihart property in Hannah Kessler project

Clinton County drainage board members authorized staff to contact the property owner about purchasing the Weihart parcel that is key to the Hannah Kessler watershed project and to use the average of two independent appraisals as the maximum offer.

Jordan (board member) presented appraisal results obtained at the board’s request: GER Appraisal Services appraised the property at $103,000 and a second firm (listed in materials as Chris and Beardsley) appraised it at $165,000. “The average of the two is $134,000,” Jordan said; Tom (staff) confirmed the board’s maximum offer would be the average if the owner is willing to sell.

Board discussion focused on how to finance the land purchase alongside the broader project. Jordan proposed bundling acquisition and construction into a single loan with a likely five-year term, as used in previous watershed projects, so the county could fund the purchase and pay it back through the watershed’s assessments. The parcel is currently in a tax-sale redemption period, and staff said a party who paid the taxes has expressed willingness to be reimbursed if the county proceeds.

Jordan asked staff to pursue a potential offer—explicitly phrased as preliminary outreach, not a finalized purchase—and the board approved the motion, 3–0. Staff will report back with financing options and next steps before executing any purchase.