Huntington Bid Winner Announced
By Patsy Stoddard, Editor
Emery County Progress, 1 July 2003
Summary:
In June 2003, the Huntington City Council awarded the bid for the Gibb property to Percy and Janice Mounteer, owners of the Star Theatre. Huntington City demolished two old buildings on the Gibb property because they had become a safety hazard and an eyesore.
The Mounteers had bid $25,500 for the property, which is adjacent to the Star Theatre. The first half of the lot was to be used as a parking lot for the movie theater and other Main Street businesses. The back portion of the property was to be used to create "a green space with trees, grass and a skatepark." The Mounteers also planned to build an addition to the back of the Star Theatre for a donut and fast food business.
The Mounteers had gathered 3,500 signatures on petitions which supported their purchase of the property.
A competing bid by council member Mark Justice for $28,100 was rejected. Justice, who was not present at the meeting, intended to build an office/retail building on the property. The council had the option to award the bid based on "what the buyer had in mind for the property and what would be the greatest benefit to the city and its residents."