TRAVERSE CITY -- Traverse City community leaders opened seven bids offering to purchase the "Spirit of Traverse City" train in an afternoon meeting today.
The bids are as follows:
1. Mackinaw Crossings (Mackinaw City) - $15,000
2. OK Corral Gun Club (Okeechobee, FL) - $20,000
3. Save the Spirit of TC Fund (TC, filing for non-profit status) - nominal amount
4. Ron Bancroft & Warren Herkner (Interlochen) - $20
5. Wellington Farm Park (Grayling) - $1 plus the cost of repair
6. Anderson & Girls Orchards, LLC (Stanton) - $42,000
7. Eden Springs Park (Benton Harbor) - $20,500 *Can be a sell or donation to Carey Williams, will be kept at Eden Springs
All of the offers will be posted online for public viewing and consideration.
The bids will be reviewed and discussed, and then given to the city commision. They will hold a meeting to decide what bid to accept, if any, at which the public will be welcome to attend and provide comments.
Lauren Vaughn, the TC Parks and Rec Superintendant, stated he hopes "it goes to a good home where it's used well, used properly, and enjoyed for a lot of years."
There is not a definite time table in place to make a decision, but the city hopes to have the train moved by this summer's Cherry Festival.
