Jackson County Ends Blue River Property Surplus Process
County Executive reiterates that environmentally sensitive areas and trails were never intended to be included in a potential sale
Jackson County, MO, -Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota announced today that the County will discontinue the surplus process for the Blue River property after much misinformation about the issue.
The property was included in the County's surplus process as is county policy on many properties to determine whether there was market interest or potential future use for the land. The County has closed the solicitation process and will not move forward with any process. There was never a sale proposed.
"The purpose of including this property in the surplus process was to determine whether there was interest from potential buyers and explore opportunities for its future use," said County Executive Phil LeVota. "There is no reason to continue moving forward with the bidding process."
The County Executive also emphasized that the County never intended to sell the environmentally sensitive areas, including the glades, trails, and other land identified for preservation.
The Blue River property was listed as three parcels. However, the original bid specifications clearly stated that Parcel No. 1 would be evaluated and divided into two separate parcels before any potential sale.
The County had initiated a professional assessment of the property to establish new boundaries, separating the portion that could potentially be sold from the portion the County intended to retain and protect.
"From the very beginning, we knew there were areas of this property that needed to be protected, and that was always our intention," LeVota said. "The bid specifications made clear that Parcel No. 1 would be divided. We were never proposing to sell the glades, trails, or the areas we intended to preserve. I want residents to understand that protecting those areas was always part of the plan."
The County has closed the solicitation process for the Blue River property and will not move forward with the proposed sale. As a result, no legislative action related to the proposed sale of the Blue River property will be considered at today's Jackson County Legislative meeting.
However, with the public interest in the area, it has come to light that many people are accessing this piece of property without any authorization from Jackson County. Further, people are cutting down trees, making trails on their own without the property owner’s consent or authority. This creates a huge liability for the county which is now on notice of people accessing property without any authorization or management. This issue will be something the next executive and legislature will need to deal with. However, without any authority by Jackson County, any county property cannot be utilized without that consent. If there have been “volunteers” thinking they are maintaining and changing county land without county authority that can be problematic on many levels and that action should stop. Jackson County cannot be held responsible for changes made to the land without its consent.
The County remains committed to protecting the natural resources and recreational areas that make the Blue River corridor an important part of the community but in a responsible manner that protects the public.
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