LaGRANGE – The city council approved a “trade” of properties on Tuesday night that will make it possible for the city to build the section of the Thread Trail immediately next to the Broad Street, Country Club roundabout that is currently under construction.

While the city has already acquired all the property that it needs for the road work, officials felt that it would be wise to go ahead and put in the section of the Thread Trail that will pass through the intersection at the same time the landscaping is done around the intersection.

“We don’t need it for the roundabout,” said City Manager Meg Kelsey. “… We need it for the Thread. What we want to do is as we build the roundabout, is go ahead and put the piece through there so we don’t have to come back and tear that up because it is going to come through this intersection.”

The approval allows the city to “abandon” a section of city property to a private property owner, and in turn, the property owner plans to turn over a section of his property in a trade that city officials hope will be in the best interest of everyone involved.

“No money would change hands,” said Kelsey. “We would just give him this (property), and he would get that (property), so that we can fit the Thread through here.”

The property that the city is releasing was not being used for any major purpose, so the city would actually be able to do more with the property acquired in the trade then the property that they give up.

“We would just have to maintain it if we kept it,” said Councilman Nick Woodson.

The city also approved the annexation of 11 Sunset Drive to the city at the meeting.

The city council plans to meet again on Tuesday, March 14 at 5:30 p.m. at 208 Ridley Ave.