Springdale Continues Consideration of Lodge, Land Purchase

Mayor Doug Sprouse will continue to discuss the purchase of Rabbits Foot Lodge and 40 acres located east of Silent Grove Road. Karen Morton, the property owner, offered the property to the city for $1.05 million.

The log-cabin lodge, built in 1908, was once the home of former Sen. J. William Fulbright. The property contains a spring that was once the city's water source.

Mike Overton, alderman, called the purchase a chance to preserve some of the city's past.

"We've not done a good job of preserving our history," Overton said. "We've been a throw-away city."

Other council members said the location of the land was the primary reason for the purchase, located between J.B. Hunt Park and Lake Springdale.

"We can get land that's in a good location for our parks," said Jeff Watson, alderman. "We have to see what use we can get from the building on it."

Jim Reed, alderman proposed letting the Shiloh Museum board oversee the lodge. Alderwoman Kathy Jaycox asked for an inspection of the lodge before any purchase.

Another alderman, Brad Bruns, said he would like to see an appraisal of the property. He also asked that the purchase not be made until after bids for the development of two new parks are in.

The city bought land for parks in the northwest and southeast corners of the city with money raised by the sale of bonds. An existing 1 percent sales tax will repay the bonds.

The purchase of the lodge and acreage would come from money reserved in the city's Capital Improvement Program fund for parks. The park reserve had $1.59 million at the end of 2013 and about $1.7 million at the end of February, Sprouse said. Money is reserved each month for parks, for a total of $200,000 per year

No bond money would be used to buy the lodge and the property around it, Sprouse said.

The purchase would be contingent on an appraisal, an inspection of the lodge and the approval of the council, Sprouse said.

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