An access agreement provided by Cooper would give the city the right to drill for water, with the right of first refusal on the property, at a cost of $2,000. The city would be required to return the sites to a satisfactory condition.

City Attorney Mike Crow reminded the council that the agreement offered no assurance of what the price would be if the city should decided to buy it.

“This is not an option to buy,” Crow said. “She is not bound to sell to you. The $2,000 you pay to her is gone if you accept this. You don’t get it back.”

Because the land is not in the city, Crow said the city could not condemn the land to acquire it.

Council member Janet Angell said she would like to know the fair market value of the property before committing to anything.

Mayor John Franiuk said negotiations had been taking place with Cooper since early in the summer. He said he did not want to wait much longer if the city decided to proceed because the weather would soon make it impossible to drill.

“But look what she’s got going here,” he added. “We’re going to pay her $2,000 to drill holes in her land, to tell her if she’s got good water or not.”

Crow reminded the council to keep the cost of transporting the water in mind while looking at costs.

Test drilling would cost about $7,000, it was estimated, or about $2,500 per well, plus the $2,000 price of the access agreement.

A motion from Pat Albert to authorize the mayor and city administrator to enter the $2,000 access agreement with Cooper, with the right of first refusal on the land, or approval of an option to purchase with a mutually agreeable price, was unanimously approved.

The council heard a request from Steve Trieb for permission to sell fireworks and permit their use during the New Year’s celebrations this December.

The council tabled action on bids for interceptor sewers for Stone Creek and South Park subdivisions submitted by Jack Willis and Mark Himpel, until more information could be obtained. The matter may be handled during a special meeting called during the study session, to be held at 7 p.m., on Monday, Nov. 15.