WEDNESDAY, August 19, 2026|
Photo – Map showing town owned property – Courtesy Town of Saratoga
The town of Saratoga successfully sold four out of ten listed properties.
In January, Saratoga officials began the process of purchasing the former Dan’s Trucking property from Danny McGuire with the intent 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. To help offset the cost, the governing body placed 10 unneeded town-owned properties up for sale.
Referred to as Properties A through J in town documents, the lots are located throughout Saratoga, including the Crawford, Riverside, and Valley View additions. Speaking at the August 5th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Public Works Director Emery Penner announced that four of the 10 properties had received successful bids. He said if the offers are accepted, the sales would generate just over $350,000 for the town.
The Town Council voted to accept the bids for Properties C, D, I, and J.
Properties C and D are both located on Block 48 of the Crawford Addition on the southeast side of town. Property C was awarded to Mike Butler for $41,289; it was appraised at $43,500. Dave Rangitsch purchased Property D for $63,000; the land was valued at $46,000. Property I includes Lots 20 through 24 in the Valley View Addition near Saratoga Middle High School. Valued at $31,000, Alan Webster successfully purchased the parcels for $31,101. Property J, referred to as the Myrtle Avenue Tract, was also awarded to Mike Butler for $216,999; it had been appraised at $193,000.
Public Works Director Emery Penner said the town also received a bid for Property H, Lots 21 through 24 in the Riverside Addition. However, he said the bidder demanded terms the town is unwilling to accommodate and recommended against accepting the offer.
The bidder, later identified as Quality Landscape and Nursery owner Randy Stevens, requested a 40‑foot access agreement, demanded the town relinquish ownership of an alley, and sought an easement for existing electrical facilities. Stevens offered $101,000 for the land, which was appraised at $100,000. In his bid document, he wrote that the property would be “useless” to him without those accommodations.
Public Works Director Emery Penner said the town cannot guarantee those stipulations will be met and that they render the bid invalid.
The Saratoga Town Council voted to reject Randy Stevens’s bid for Property H.
As for the unsold properties, Penner recommended waiting before listing them for sale again.
Penner said the remaining six properties are valued at approximately $340,000 in total. The Town Council voted to postpone relisting those parcels for sale.
