Officials debate Dollar Mountain parcel history and recommend appraisal to set value

A detailed review of the Dollar Mountain parcel’s history prompted disagreement among officials and a proposal to obtain an independent appraisal to settle valuation questions.

One committee member summarized past actions: the county acquired the land through tax foreclosure decades ago, the city later purchased a 447-acre parcel in 2019 for about $1 million, and the property was subsequently listed with a minimum auction bid of $70,000. That presenter said the assessor later reclassified the land — raising a previously cited market value from roughly $10,000 to about $183,000 — and recommended an appraisal before any transfer: “Maybe get an appraisal for it. We can split the cost of an appraisal,” Committee member 1 said.

Another official challenged the written history’s accuracy, saying parts of the account “don’t sound like it’s accurate to me,” and noted the county’s auction procedures differ from public expectations. Staff and other members acknowledged uncertainty in past records and agreed an appraisal and due diligence would be the right next step before negotiating any exchange or sale.

Speakers also discussed Dollar Mountain’s physical constraints — steep slopes and access issues — and whether increased assessor values reflect a true market opportunity or a miscategorization. Staff noted more recent partnerships with the Bureau of Land Management have opened additional trail opportunity in nearby parcels, which could affect the site’s recreational and tourism value.

No formal action was taken. Officials asked staff to provide prior presentations and records about Dollar Mountain and to bring options for an appraisal or further analysis back to a future meeting.