Seeing some resistance to the sale of Burleigh County fairground property, a company is targeting a more secluded but higher priced county parcel to build a rock crushing, aggregate sales operation.

County commissioners, acting as the park board with the addition of Dave Bement and Dwayne Wahl, were giving consideration to the request made at its Monday meeting by Realtor Chuck Huber.

The company, new to the area, was pursuing two parcels east of Yegen Road that are part of the Missouri Valley Complex property the county has put up for sale. An offer of $520,000, Burleigh's asking price, had been made, contingent on a zoning change from commercial to light industrial and that the county bring water and sewer to the property.

But commissioners have been struggling with the sale because they said they don't feel the operation fits well in what is considered a gateway area to the city, along Bismarck Expressway.

"In consideration of concerns over use and zoning, we'd like to discuss some other options," Huber said. "It's been decided to make a proposal for lot 2 block 2, in the southwest. The one closest to the livestock barn, right behind the railroad track. It will put the use furthest away from the fairgrounds and from Expressway."

The buyer is willing to meet the county's asking price of $1.5 million, contingent to the zoning change allowing light industrial and the county providing water and sewer. It's been determined that it will cost about $1.3 million to provide water and sewer with the county's share being about $370,000. A traffic study also may have to be taken on.

"Our group plans to use the old roadway (Apple Creek Road) for an entrance and I don't think that will develop a lot of problems for Yegen or Expressway," Huber said. "We are asking 30-day inspection rights and due diligence. They want to be sure they can build what they want there."

Commissioners said they want to get some specific numbers on what it will take to bring in the utilities, since it will likely mean going under the road to provide them.

Carl Vender, who chairs the Buckstop Junction board, said he personally didn't object to the proposed business, though he wasn't speaking on behalf of the board. He added that the city needed places to develop industrial sites and that there would be enough buffers in place.

"As a taxpayer, I think it is an offer that should be looked at seriously," Vender said.

Commissioner Mark Armstrong, who sits on Bismarck's planning and zoning commission, said the new proposal was more suitable than the prior property that an offer had been made on.

"I've talked to some people and they would like to see the competition. It would bring more jobs and planning staff did recommend the zoning change," Armstrong said.

Armstrong made the motion to make the sale subject to approval by the state's attorney and having firm numbers on what it will cost to provide water and sewer.

Commissioner Jim Peluso said he talked to several people involved with the fairgrounds and no one was objecting to the use of the land. Chairman Jerry Woodcox added that the county received a letter from groups who use the fairgrounds that want the sale to move ahead.

"It provides funding for the the complex," Woodcox said. "If the bid is $1.5 million and we spend $400,000 on infrastructure, that leaves $1.1 million for development of the complex property."

Commissioner Marlan Haakenson said that while planning staff had recommended passage of the zoning change, they did include a number of restrictions. Haakenson said he also wants to hear from the stockyard, to see how it may affect that operation.

Armstrong's motion passed on a 6 to 1 vote of the park board. Later, the same motion was made in the county commission meeting and passed 4 to 1.