The Springfield City Council declared a one-acre parcel of land at the sprayfield site surplus on Tuesday.

In January Miles Bunch asked the council to purchase the land. Councilman Charles Hinely said there had been some dead end streets declared surplus and were sold to the adjacent property owners. He wanted to know if the same could be done in this situation.

City Manager Brett Bennett said there is a specific exemption for streets and lanes.

“Typically because you’re not going to get a whole lot of use out of an old lane,” he said. “You’re not going to build anything on it, and there’s not a whole lot of value associated with it.”

Council member Butch Kieffer said even though the adjoining property owner wants to purchase the land, the city can’t just deal with him.

Bennett said no.

The state code requires the land to be sold using auction or sealed bid.

At that time the council wanted to check with the engineers to make sure the property would not be needed for the sprayfield to function.

The council also approved a plat for the new well site.