The council approved a trio of easements and property deeds that will allow utility services to reach the complex, which is expected to be completed sometime in or close to September.

“The state had a sewer line that ran from U.S. Highway 87 and Interstate Highway 20 out to their property. Over the years, the city has been maintaining that property,” said Darden. “As we got into the development stages of the Roy Anderson Complex, we had originally anticipated putting in a septic system. However, because of new regulations governing parks and recreation, we had to get on the sewer. The state agreed to convey that portion of the property to the city, and we would maintain thereafter. That way we can get this sports complex tied onto sanitary sewer.

“Also part of this project, Oncor will be providing us with power service from the east of the complex. The power lines run across private property owned by a local merchant. He has agreed to convey an easement for that to the city. Also, Oncor is needing an easement from the city for the transformer that will supply the power to the facility.”

The council approved the measures by a unanimous vote.

Also during the meeting, the council gave the go-ahead for three parcels of land located in downtown Big Spring to be sold to the Settles Hotel Development Company, which is currently in the process of renovating the historic Big Spring landmark.

“We're getting ready to finalize the sale of the Settles Hotel to the Settles Hotel Development Company,” said Darden. “During the course of their development, they saw it necessary to look at other properties we, the city, own in and around the Settles Hotel, specifically the property to the south, a half-lot between the hotel and the bus barn. There was a sheriff's sale a couple of months ago, and during that sale the Settles Development Company acquired the other half of that property.

“The other two lots are located west of the Settles Hotel, on the southwest quadrant of Third Street and Runnels. This is property we acquired through Main Street Inc. several years ago.”

Darden said Tuesday's agenda item won't give the go ahead to sell the property to the company, but will get the ball rolling on a process that will allow for it.

“Mr. Ryan and the Settles Hotel development group wanted to have an agreement out there whereby they could acquire that property for their development,” said Darden. “What this agreement will do is allow us to bring back to the council at a later date an entity that we feel can, in turn, give that property to them.

“We're not selling this property to them through this agreement. I want to make that clear. All this does is say we intend to convey this property to an entity that can, in turn, sell it to them. And then, through an agreement, there will be reimbursement made to the city and the Hotel Settles group through the reinvestment zones.”

Darden told the council the agreement was necessary because the city cannot simply sell a parcel of land to a private individual or corporation.

“To be able to transfer property to an individual, you can only do it through an auction or a sealed bid process,” said Darden. “Through a 380 agreement, you can give it to a non-profit organization, and they have mechanisms where they can. However, we, as the city, cannot directly convey property to a private individual or corporation. For example, the Big Spring Economic Development Board or Main Street Inc. could convey this property.”

Contact Staff Writer Thomas Jenkins at 263-7331 ext. 232 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it