Friday, March 6, 2026 |
Photo – Saratoga Town Hall – Bigfoot99 file photo
Saratoga officials are looking to sell town‑owned properties using a less expensive appraisal method.
In January, the Town of Saratoga began the process of purchasing the former Dan’s Trucking property from Danny McGuire. The plan is to eventually relocate the public works department to the 12‑lot parcel at North State and East Rochester Streets. After two public hearings, where residents spoke both for and against the proposal, the town council voted to pay $800,000 for the industrial land.
Speaking at Wednesday’s Saratoga Town Council meeting, Public Works Director Emery Penner stated that the sale is progressing smoothly.
As part of its due diligence, the town requested a site assessment from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality to evaluate the property for potential contamination. If the report comes back clean, the town can move forward with the purchase.
To help offset the cost of buying the industrial property, the governing body is considering selling several parcels of unneeded town‑owned land. Before the properties can be listed for sale, an appraisal is required to determine their value. Instead of commissioning full appraisals, the governing body is considering a less expensive option: a Broker Opinion of Value, in which a real estate broker uses market knowledge and active listings to estimate a property’s value. A BOV is typically far cheaper than a formal appraisal, which can cost thousands of dollars.
Back at Wednesday’s Saratoga Town Council meeting, Public Works Director Penner said the attorney assisting with the property purchase confirmed that a BOV can be used in place of a formal appraisal in this instance.
Penner said a local real estate company has agreed to provide a Broker Opinion of Value at $300 per property, compared to more than $1,000 for a formal appraisal.
The public works director suggested seven properties to sell.
The governing body unanimously approved the plan to obtain Broker Opinions of Value on the suggested lots. Penner said he will try to have the reports ready by the next Town Council meeting on March 18th.
