by Robert Nolte
WORDEN — Though the asking price is high, the Huntley Project school district is not closing the door on possible purchase of the Dassinger property.
The family would like $200,000 for the land being eyed for parking and storage for the school district. The land has been appraised at $140,000 and, so far, the district has balked at paying what is seen by many as an exorbitant price tag.
Supt. Wes Coy said negotiations are at a stand-still and until all the bids are in for building the new junior/senior high school, there is likely to be little movement on the property, which lies north of the school land upon which sits two homes.
“I guess you could say we are in limbo,” said Coy. “After the bids are all in for the rest of the building project, we will better know what our budget can allow and we will re-evaluate the Dassinger land situation at that time.”
In a YCN article in January, Coy told trustees at a board meeting that the owners had declined to negotiate the price, “but we will continue to lease the parking lot half of the property for the duration of the (building) project.” At that time, Coy said he met with the design team and Fisher Construction about alternatives.
“If we are unable to purchase the property, we should be able to adapt our parking,” Coy said.
To that, Trustee Tim Moullet responded, “We are building a big gymnasium and we do need the parking space.”
Contacted in Livingston, Joann Ferguson said she and her brother, Dean Dassinger of Bismarck, signed a confidentiality agreement and could not discuss monetary figures. She did say, however, that she believed the deal to buy the land in question was still “up in the air.”
“My understanding is that the school turned down our offer in December,” said Ferguson. “I haven’t heard anything since.”
