The city of Rochester has decided to cease all negotiations for the potential purchase of an 11-acre section of the Rochester Fairgrounds. The city had considered locating a planned public works facility on the site after being approached by the operators of the Rochester Fair, Rochester Agricultural and Mechanical Association (RAMA).
According to City Manager Dan Fitzpatrick, members of the RAMA board approached him about the possibility of the city purchasing the property and negotiations began last fall.
The city gave RAMA a March 1 deadline for a signed and executed purchase and sale agreement in order for the city to meet the ideal construction timeline for 2018. The city even agreed to a one-month extension, which has since elapsed.
"Our sole responsibility as a city government is to the taxpaying residents and business owners of Rochester, and a large purchase such as this must be conducted with all due diligence performed,” Fitzpatrick says. "Unfortunately, this purchase no longer makes financial or practical sense, and it is our responsibility to go no further in this process."
According to a statement, the asking price for the property more than doubled during negotiations.
“We are ready to move forward with another location for our new public works facility and cannot delay this any longer. A new DPW facility is our top capital priority,” says Fitzpatrick. “The location at the Fairgrounds was a good one for the facility and would have provided funds for RAMA to use as it saw fit. Ultimately, we have to make a responsible decision. We have other options and have concluded our negotiations."
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