County will sell property in Toppenish to cut losses

Yakima County is ready to cut its losses on the controversial Toppenish jail site, closing a chapter that has been a lightning rod for public criticism ever since the county bought it for six times its assessed value.

County commissioners on Tuesday are expected to set a minimum $200,000 bid price and a September date to auction the 38-acre site at Division Street and State Route 22.

County officials dropped the site after it was discovered Toppenish lacked enough water rights to serve a proposed 1,700-bed jail.

The jail ultimately was built next to State Fair Park.

The proposed auction would be the third time the county has tried to sell the property. Both prior attempts were for more than the $513,000 the county paid in 2003 for what was a tract of farm land with an assessed value of $83,000.

The land is zoned for industrial use.

But the vote may not be unanimous.

Chairman Ron Gamache said Friday he likely will vote against it, only because he said he believes the minimum should be closer to the property's assessed value of $249,350.

The other commissioners, Mike Leita and Rand Elliott, said they will vote for the sale at the lower price. Both said Friday it's time to put the issue to bed, as painful as it is.

"The reality is we can't continue to allow this sliver to fester," Leita said. "We all know that painful moment when you take out a sliver is the best thing for things to be healed. We need this healed, and get it behind us."

Elliott used another analogy, saying it is time to close the book on the property.

Neither Leita nor Elliott were in office when the land was purchased. It is currently leased for use as farm land for $3,700 per year. Leita said now is a good time to sell the land because the current market for farm land is strong.

Leita said the lease is nowhere near covering the cost of the purchase and the county's investment is only losing value.

Should the property sell at an auction scheduled for Sept. 10, the county will use the proceeds to help Sheriff Ken Irwin rebuild a Lower Valley precinct. Irwin will pay back the money to help retire bonds sold for the construction of the jail.

The old precinct in Buena was destroyed in an arson. No arrests were ever made in the case.

* David Lester can be reached at 577-7674 or dlester@yakimaherald.com.