City attorney to negotiate park property transfer
Appraiser hired for $5,500 to determine value of 110 acres at Rusk State Park
BY GLORIA JENNINGS

The Rusk City Council authorized Forrest Phifer, city attorney, Monday afternoon, to negotiate a contract with American Heritage Railways, for the sale of city property at Rusk State Park and Texas State Railroad.

The council also approved employment of Blake and Associates to appraise the city owned property at a cost of $5,500.

The contract with American Heritage Railways will call for all property owned by the city to be transferred immediately in the event the Texas Legislature approves the right to privatize the railroad.

There will be a reversionary clause in the contract to allow for the property to be returned to the city for a $100 purchase price in the event that the railroad or park cease to operate. In the event American Heritage sells the property the city will be reimbursed the fair 2007 market value of the property and the reversionary clause will remain intact.

In the event the railroad or park cease to operate, the city will get whatever improvements have been made on the property. The council met with the city attorney for just over an hour Monday afternoon to set the parameters for the disposition of the city owned recreational vehicle park being operated by the state. Councilman Kris Morgan, a surveyor, presented maps of the property at the railroad and park complex. City and state ownership of adjoining land were marked on the map.

He explained to the council that the deed records showed there were three tracts of city property on the site, totaling 110 acres. In 1976, the city sold the state a 6.772 acre tract and a 2.76 acre tract. A 60 foot strip was designated for a turnaround. The city's property includes the Rusk State Park and the park lake. "Currently the city owns 89 acres more or less," Mr. Morgan said.

Attending the meeting were Mayor Suzann McCarty; Councilmembers Morgan, Walter Session, Don Jones, Donald Woodard and Sam Florian; City Manager Mike Murray; City Secretary Fran Wendeborn; and City Attorney Phifer. Also attending the meeting were Bob Goldsberry and Marie Whitehead of the Texas State Railroad Operating Agency and Connie Brown and Penny Reynolds of the chamber of commerce.