Even though it was not officially on the agenda, the topic of selling city land to Houchens Industries once again spurred heated debate at the Adairville city council meeting on Monday.

None of the city council members requested that the issue be included for a vote on the agenda, but council member Marla Sircy did ask that community members be allowed to voice their opinions about selling the city's property for the potential building of a new Crossroads IGA grocery store, which would also include gas pumps and a Subway restaurant.

“There's been a lot of discussion about Houchens and I asked to open the meeting up for that,” Sircy said.

Previously, the council had voted against Houchens' $45,000 proposal for the piece of land beside city hall that includes the town's maintenance garage.

The city countered with an offer of $60,000, but the Bowling Green-based company balked at the offer and responded that it would pay no more than the original $45,000 proposal.

Two Adairville citizens - Brent Johnson and Buster Sircy - spoke up against the sale of the property for the $45,000 price.

Johnson questioned the council about if there had been an appraisal done on the property.

He was told there had not been one.

“I don't know how much it's worth, but I guarantee Houchens does,” Johnson said. “I don't know if $45,000, $60,000 or $100,000 is a fair price. I think we need to know that before we decide to do something with our city property.”

One sticking point with some members of the council was the cost of replacing the city's maintenance garage.

Marla Sircy said she had solicited estimates for a replacement building. A pole barn structure of similar size would likely cost around $61,500 and a block building, which is what the maintenance garage currently is, would cost around $89,000, Sircy reported.

Dick Dickerson, the president of the Adairville/South Logan Chamber of Commerce, spoke up in support of the sale of the land for the price Houchens is offering.

After much debate, council member Donna Blake made the motion to sell the land for $45,000. Nannette King seconded it.

The vote wound up in a 3-3 tie with Blake, King and Judy Tanner voting yes. Sircy, Tracy Gunderson and Danny Finch voted no.

Normally, mayor Jim Wilkerson would break the tie, but he abstained, because Houchens Industries currently holds an option on a piece of land he owns on the north side of town.

The motion ultimately died because the vote was tied with no one to break it.