GLASGOW, Ky. (WBKO) – Two recent property acquisitions by Glasgow City Council have raised questions about the city’s plans for the sites.

Earlier this year, a majority of councilors voted to purchase two properties within the city for more than $6 million, with councilors Marna Kirkpatrick and Max Marion opposing the purchases.

One property was purchased from Farmers RECC, a local utility provider, while the other, still under contract, is a multimillion-dollar purchase along Cleveland Avenue from MCS Properties LLC.

At a special meeting Tuesday, the city council voted to reallocate funds within the city budget for these purchases.

The council transferred funds from the Landfill Fund to the General Fund, a process intended to ensure proper auditing. According to Councilman Terry Bunnell, the landfill fund currently has about $12 million.

“We’re making an investment and we have to do it ourselves for a long-term solution,” Bunnell said.

Before the vote, Kirkpatrick raised several concerns, including the procedures followed for property acquisitions and the source of financing.

“I don’t know who the players are in this, but I do know that our citizens are very concerned, upset and want answers,” Kirkpatrick said.

Treasurer Stephanie Garrett explained that while the funds are already in the city budget, they will be moved to different accounts to avoid confusion with unrelated funds.

“By doing this, it allows it to look better as an audit,” Garrett said. “It allows you to be seen better than anyone else and you stay up to date better with your funds.”

Kirkpatrick also questioned the $38,000 per acre price tag for the Cleveland Avenue land.

After a brief exchange with other council members, the rate was deemed competitive and fair, although Kirkpatrick did not necessarily agree.

City officials clarified that an appraisal had been obtained for the Cleveland Avenue property, although the figure was not available at the meeting.

“I just know that the assessment exists,” Mayor Royse said. “I know he’s valued at least for what we’re giving for him.”

The property purchased from Farmers RECC, located at the corner of Veterans Outer Loop and Highway 68/80, has already closed. The MCS property, also known as the “Johnson property,” is still under contract.

“Due diligence has been completed and we are in the process of closing,” Garrett said.

Part of this due diligence included soil testing on the land, which has been farmed for many years.

Kirkpatrick also asked about the future use of the property.

“We haven’t been able to say a word because we’ve been doing due diligence,” Royse said. “We can’t talk about this until we go through the due diligence process, which has just been completed.”

Mayor Henry Royse explained that a public meeting will be held on December 3 from 6-8pm in Glasgow City Council Chambers to review the engineering plans for the site. A committee is currently reviewing about three options for use of the land.

Kirkpatrick, still concerned about the process, raised questions of transparency.

“As of today, people think we’re involved in shady, underhand deals, and that shouldn’t be happening,” he said.

Mayor Royse clarified that the purchase would not affect tax dollars, but would be funded by operating revenue from the city landfill. Glasgow Landfill is a regional center used by various communities to dump their waste.

“We have the money in the bank, we’re not paying any interest on it and we’re not holding anyone back in terms of developers having to tie up their capital to spend time developing the land,” Royse said.

Glasgow City Council must approve the budget amendment in two readings before funding can be transferred to other accounts. They will probably complete the final reading at their next meeting.

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