Story by Judy Griffin, Forney Messenger

The Forney City Council held a special meeting Thursday morning, July 16 at 8 a. m. to give its final OK to the purchase of 43 acres of additional land for Forney Community Park.

The park land is located at FM 548 and FM 741 and is adjacent to the community park.

The property was appraised at $1,100,000.00 and is being purchased from George Allen for $1 million with funds from the Mick Spellman Estate. Under stipulations in the late Mr. Spellman’s will, this land can be used only for the development parks and cannot be sold for any other purpose. The purchase of the property is contingent on the release of funds by the American National Bank Trust Department, which handles the Spellman will and is charged with distributing the funds according to Mr. Spellman’s wishes as provided in the will.

According to clauses in the resolution authorizing the land purchase, the land is designated specifically for public park purposes and shall be designated as park property to be used by the pubic for recreational purposes.

After Mayor Darren Rozell explained the value of the 43-acre parcel and Mr. Spellman’s wishes to purchase the park land, he told the Council he had met with the Park Board and that after a discussion, the Park Board had recommended that the City of Forney purchase the property.

Upon Council approval, the park will now consist of 170 acres.

After discussion, Council member James Hatley made a motion to approve the contract for the purchase of the property, to be used for park land only, and to have Assistant City Manager Gina Nash execute the contract. Hatley’s motion was seconded by Council member Andy Park and all Council members present voted in favor. Council member Robbie Powers was absent.

The only other item on the agenda was to approve a resolution designating certain property as park land.

During discussion of this item, Mayor Rozell pointed out that the resolution was necessary to designate the land as being purchased as park land. The Council also discussed the fact that with this designation, the land cannot be sold without voter approval.

After discussion, Hatley moved that the Council adopt this resolution, with a second by Council member Wade Gent. All Council members present voted in favor.

There was no further business and the meeting was adjourned at 8:20 a. m. by unanimous “yes” vote on a motion by Hatley, seconded by Council member Brian Haughey.

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This story and any accompanying photo(s) were originally published in the Forney Messenger and are Copyright © 2009, Forney Messenger, Inc. and have been used by permission. The Forney Messenger is the publisher of Kaufman County’s oldest newspaper and may be found online at www.ForneyMessengerInc.com

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