Amador County – Ione City Council ended years of work by a Castle Oaks Subdivision resident to settle an ownership issue, with a July 7th decision to give ownership of 2,737 square feet of land to a property owner who has maintained the property for 10 years. The council voted 2-1, with 2 recused members sitting outside the hearing room. Councilman Jim Ulm voted against it, and Councilwoman Andrea Bonham and Vice Mayor Skip Schaufel in favor. Real estate attorney Ken Smith, speaking for the landowner, Charles Hambaugh and his property on Fairway Drive, said “the property has little or no value to the city, and it cannot be valued the same as property with street access, because it has no street access.” The city owned the property, but he said they should not worry about this setting a “precedent.” He also reminded the council that the Planning Commission did approve Hambaugh’s application, will “increase the size of the lot by 2,737 square feet to a total of 11,381 square feet.” City Planner Christopher Jordan said the “adjustment would resolve an issue regarding how the property was represented upon initial sale compared to the recorded property boundaries.” Part of the property was also owned by JTS Communities, and offered for dedication to the city by JTS. Dominic Atlan, Castle Oaks PGA golf pro, said the house stood alone by itself, fully landscaped, and the contention of who owns the property has been going on for 10 years. Atlan found out in 2002 that it was not golf course property, and was glad because he did not have to cut weeds. He said he did not think it was the “buyer’s responsibility to check lot lines when they make a purchase.” In public comment, Greg Murphy said “it will set a precedent” and Hambaugh spending money to tend the property could not be justification “for a gift of public funds.” City Attorney Kristen Castanos said the opposite was true, and the money spent by Hambaugh, calculated at $14,000 dollars over 10 years to keep up the lawn, would offset the value of the property and the city would “not be giving away property.” Jordan said the land value was not formally appraised, but it was calculated using the most recent assessor’s land value figures. Its value was estimated at $11,618 dollars. Hambaugh’s costs included $6,000 dollars in 1-time landscaping projects, and maintenance costs of $8,247 dollars. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.