By Betsy Finklea
The Dillon City Council  held the second and final reading of an ordinance to sell four Main Street lots behind King’s Pizza to Nazmy Khalil.
Khalil will pay $42,000 for the lots plus legal costs, City Manager Glen Wagner said.
Councilman Johnny Eller asked what they planned to do with the money from the sale.
Councilman Phil Wallace said he thought they talked about purchasing the land around the fitness (wellness) center. Mayor Todd Davis said nothing had been finalized on this, and it was just a suggestion. Wagner said the money is not earmarked and would go into the general fund.
Davis asked if there was anyone in the audience who had questions, concerns, or comments, etc.
Davis said he has had three phone calls about it.
Davis said the property did go up for bid. Wagner clarifies that it did go up for bid when there was a structure on it, and they received an offer of approximately $10,000-$12,000. Davis said the property has been for sale for approximately three years and to his knowledge there has been no interest. He said he didn’t want any questions. He said everyone had an opportunity. He said that he could see why some would want it to remain a green space, but added that council was elected to make those decisions.
Motion to approve the second reading of the ordinance was made by Wallace and seconded by Eller. The vote was unanimous.
The ordinance approved reads as follows:
AN ORDINANCE TO ALLOW FOR THE SALE OF PROPERTY OWNED BY THE CITY OF DILLON
WHEREAS, City Council has deemed that the City of Dillon owns four lots on East Main St. from South MacArthur Avenue to King’s Pizza, which is no longer needed for a municipal purpose, and which has been for sale with a sign posted on these properties since the summer of 2012.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the Mayor and Council of the City of Dillon, South Carolina, the following:
Section I: That these properties, Tax Map Numbers 59-10-29-01, 59-10-29-02, 59-10-29-03, and 59-10-29-04 are being sold for the sum of $42,000.
Section II: The above four lots are to be sold to Nazmy Khalil, owner of King’s Pizza.
Section III:   The City Attorney shall prepare all paperwork to convey these properties to Nazmy Khalil.
Section IV. The buyer, Nazmy Khalil, will pay all associated costs for the sale of the properties.
Section V: That this ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption.

The properties were the subject of controversy in 2012 when the city announced plans to tear the buildings located on these properties down. The buildings were demolished despite pleas from a local developer who wanted to save the buildings.
The city began demolishing the buildings on their own, but were stopped by DHEC  because it was determined the buildings contained asbestos and also, the city’s failure to obtain a permit.
DHEC later slapped the city with a $30,000 penalty along with an order. The asbestos abatement and removal of the buildings cost the city approximately $108,000. The city also added a fence and rye grass to the property at a cost of approximately $2,000. The estimated cost to the city on these properties totals $140,000.
In January 2013, the city council decided to leave the properties as a green space, but Wagner said they were never taken off the market. A three-sided sign about 6 ft. tall was placed in the space in the summer of 2013 advertises the property as “full of opportunity.”