Scott County commissioners voted Oct. 8 to quitclaim the county-owned “Just Property” near Austin to the Scott County Redevelopment Commission, authorizing signatures outside the meeting. Commissioners and redevelopment officials said the move is intended to let the redevelopment authority market and manage the land for industrial investment. The motion passed after several commissioners said they wanted to give TriHawk one final chance to make a formal proposal.

The vote followed extended discussion on whether the county should hold the land for TriHawk or move it into redevelopment’s control so the commission can pursue bonded projects and other development tools. Greg (Redevelopment Commission) and others said redevelopment has spent money on surveys, geotechnical work and wetland delineations to make the property marketable. Commissioners who supported the transfer said moving the parcel to redevelopment speeds the ability to pursue investors and use redevelopment tools, such as bonding and reinvesting any sale proceeds into infrastructure on the property.

Opponents and some commissioners urged a short delay. Commissioner Randy asked staff to reach out to TriHawk and allow the company a final opportunity to appear before the board; a few commissioners preferred tabling for a week to see if TriHawk would step forward. Others said the county had already asked TriHawk in prior years and redevelopment’s efforts had not produced a firm proposal. Ultimately the motion to quitclaim the property passed. The signed deed will be executed in the presence of a notary outside the meeting and copies will be circulated to the council and participating agencies for their separate approvals.

Commissioners and redevelopment officials also discussed likely next steps if an investor expresses interest: a parcel sale to a private buyer would typically return proceeds to the redevelopment fund (a nonreverting fund used to invest back into the project area), not to the county’s general fund. Commissioners asked for clarity about how proceeds would be used and noted the county’s short-term fiscal constraints; redevelopment staff replied that their stated intent is to reinvest proceeds into infrastructure and further development on the property. Several commissioners emphasized they want written commitments on reinvestment if a sale moves forward.

The discussion covered competing priorities: the need for near-term county revenue for facilities and courthouse repairs versus the longer-term economic development case for proactively marketing an industrial park along U.S. 62. Commissioners asked redevelopment staff to continue outreach to TriHawk and to proceed with marketing and bonded financing options if TriHawk does not formalize an offer within the requested time frame. The redevelopment board member present said the commission will continue negotiations and work to move shovel-ready projects forward.

The commissioners instructed staff to provide the deed, record signatures, and send the signed intergovernmental documents to the county council for its review. The transfer was framed by proponents as a tool to accelerate industrial investment; opponents framed it as a decision that should be conditioned on a clearer financial plan for the county.