FRIDAY, October 9, 2026|
Photo – Site of the former Uptown Motel – Courtesy City of Rawlins
Rawlins City Council agreed to solicit bids for three city‑owned properties and use the process to establish an official policy for future sales.
As reported by Bigfoot99 and The Bandit102, the Rawlins City Council held a special work session following Tuesday’s regular meeting to decide what to do with three surplus properties: the old Kum and Go at 1115 North Higley Boulevard; Antelope Flats, a 28‑lot parcel along Airport Road and East Rochelle Drive; and 619 West Spruce Street, the former Uptown Motel.
Community Development Director Lou Lascano opened the work session by asking for guidance on how to proceed with the .39-acre vacant lot on 619 West Spruce Street. City Attorney Pinita Maberry‑Nave explained that the city used money from the Dangerous Building Fund to demolish the former Uptown Motel and, rather than reimburse those costs, the owner transferred the property to the city.
The Dangerous Building Fund is money allocated in the past to purchase unsafe or derelict structures and remediate the hazards, with the goal of eventually selling the property to replenish the fund.
Attorney Maberry‑Nave said that because the demolition of the former Uptown Motel was paid out of the Dangerous Building Fund, a lien was placed on the property. She added that the lien is now pointless and should be removed before the parcel is listed for sale.
The City Council agreed that all three unneeded properties should be sold. Vice Mayor Darril Garner instructed Attorney Maberry-Nave and Community Development Director Lou Lascano to expedite the process.
Lascano asked how the governing body wanted to conduct the sale, either list the property with a realtor or accept sealed bids. Attorney Maberry‑Nave said the town of Saratoga recently sold several parcels through a bidding process with positive results.
Instead of using formal appraisals to price the properties, which can cost thousands of dollars, Saratoga officials opted for Broker Opinions of Value, where a real estate broker uses market knowledge and active listings to estimate a property’s value.
Councilwoman Tonya Lewman asked which sales method would be most likely to generate the highest revenue. Community Development Director Lou Lascano said sealed bids would be the best option for maximizing returns.
Since the city already has an idea of the properties’ value, as Community Development Director Lascano indicated, Attorney Maberry‑Nave recommended setting a reserve price at or near that figure, adding that the city must try to get the highest return on the properties. However, the attorney noted that the city spent $60,000 demolishing the former Uptown Motel, and because no one has expressed interest in purchasing the site, it may not be worth that much.
Vice Mayor Darril Garner asked if Community Development Director Lascano knew how much of a price difference the city could expect between selling the properties through a realtor or by conducting an auction. Lascano said he didn’t have concrete numbers but noted that a realtor would charge a commission for the sale. Vice Mayor Garner said hiring a realtor would support a local business. In addition, he said a realtor may boost the price of the properties and questioned if the governing body should work with an agent before opening the process to bids.
Councilwoman Tonya Lewman said she also favors supporting local businesses, but pointed out that hiring a realtor would trigger a separate bidding process, adding another layer of complexity to the sale. Councilman Derek Elliott said he believed the properties would sell faster through a bidding process than by listing them on the real estate market. Vice Mayor Garner responded that a realtor, whose commission is contingent on the sale, would most likely work to obtain the best price.
City Manager Matt Hall advised against using a realtor and suggested relying on sealed bids, noting that other communities sell property in that manner. If the bids fall short, he said the city can pursue other options.
Instead of deciding how to sell individual parcels, Councilman Steve Sanger suggested creating an official policy to establish exactly what to do with city‑owned property. He said having a set procedure would eliminate the need for Community Development Director Lascano to seek guidance from the governing body for every piece of property.
Following the discussion, the Rawlins City Council agreed to sell the Kum and Go site, Antelope Flats, and the former Uptown Motel through sealed bids. City staff will document the entire process, from clearing any liens on the properties to the final closing, and use that information to develop a future sales policy.
