BY ANNA DILLANE
Business Owner

First of all, I’m writing this letter as a local business owner and a private citizen. My comments and viewpoints are mine and mine alone. 

After reading Russell Ross’s letter to the community (Diamond drive property owner), I realize that I owe the County Manager, Anne Laurent, an apology. 

Anne, I am sorry that I questioned your leadership in pursuing the purchase on behalf of the county. 

I (and the rest of the community) did not know that you were directed by County Council in a closed session on August 20 to negotiate a purchase agreement for this property. Had it been made transparent that Council already knew about the proposed purchase, had it been made public that the Council had directed our County Manager to negotiate the purchase, my public comments would have been very different. I am truly sorry. 

However,  I do not understand the behavior of a county government and a council that considers $10 million property purchases without public input. I do not understand the mentality of a Council and County staff that negotiates a nearly double assessed value of a property that is potential contaminated without due diligence. There’s a level of secrecy and a lack of transparency that undermines any faith this community could possibly have in its government.

In moments where tensions rise between well-meaning people, I like to play a game called “how could this have been handled differently?” 

Imagine a scenario where Council and staff agree that it might be considered a public good to purchase these three properties. Imagine that Council and staff begin negotiating with the property owner and soliciting public comment on the potential purchase. Imagine that Council and staff educate the community about the potential uses for the property and solicit input for public priorities. Imagine that they explain where the money to purchase and develop the land is coming from. Imagine that County staff came up with potential drawings of the multi use facilities- which included first floor retail and restaurant space at affordable rents. Imagine that we can all see the benefit and are assured that the land is free of contamination and ready to be built upon. Maybe then we would have been a community that supported this county action and staff? Maybe?

Maybe not, but we will never know. 

Instead, (according to the seller) conversation about the county purchasing the land began in July of 2024. 

A closed session of County Council was held on August 20 at which staff was directed to negotiate the purchase.  

A price was agreed upon on August 20.

The potential purchase was announced as an agenda item on Friday November 15.

Four days later, Council was set to vote on a $10 million purchase on November 19. 

I’ve heard recently that the County staff and Council feels attacked recently. I’m sure that my comments contributed to that. I apologize for that. I never want anyone to feel attacked by me. However, a change needs to occur in how we are governed locally. I believe that the feeling of attack that you perceive is simply logical consequences for poor decision making. You cannot expect to sneak a $10 million purchase of three commercial properties onto the agenda at the last possible moment and not experience blowback from a caring Community. Please learn from this experience.