Newport, Ark. -
Tuckerman business owner David Walls advised the City Council Tuesday night that he is "definitely not dodging paying for this building," however, a paperwork issue has delayed the city's anticipated sale of the old Dollar General Building to Walls, who owns ASWF Wrestling.
The wrestling company owner has spent an estimated $38,000 rebuilding the inside of the facility and has plans to reface the front of the building to give it a completely new look, yet all plans are on hold until the city can obtain the necessary deeds, according to Walls.
"We agreed to buy the building in good faith when the title and everything was correct but the City of Tuckerman has only received a donation deed from the State of Arkansas which leaves Mr. Cordoza three years to come back and pay the taxes on it and take it back," he explained to the council.
"We've been trying to get this settled for five months but without a clear deed to this property, my lawyer and my banker will not let me go any farther."
The issue became tense when Mayor Everett King received permission from the council in the August meeting to send Walls a letter setting an Aug. 20 deadline to purchase the building or it was going to be shown to other prospects.
"I have a year-to-year lease but when I came in to pay my rent last month I was told, 'We're not accepting your money anymore until you get this straight.' So I'm here tonight to get this straight," said Walls."
"I would like to have a lease until this all this paperwork gets done. A year lease would be good and if we can get this straightened out in a year that would be great."
King, unaware the issue would be discussed Tuesday night, asked for the council to table the issue until the October meeting so he could provide them with further documentation, which Walls, whose lease is up in October, agreed to.
"We like that building. We've had a good business for two and a-half years and we haven't had any problems out of it. It has paid for itself. I just want to get this settled."
The council followed King's recommendation and tabled the issue until the October meeting.
Credit: www.newportindependent.com
