Accepting a gift seems like an easy decision.

However, Rapid City Council members believe more time is needed before the city formally accepts a donation of 80 acres north of Interstate 90 intended for a 25-field soccer complex.

In June, businessman Doyle Estes donated the property to the city. Technically, the city already owns the land. The deed was recorded with the Pennington County register of deeds in June, around the time of a press conference announcing the donation, but before the city council formally acted.

The mistake has been blamed on a "clerical error" by the city attorney's office.

On Monday, the council postponed formal acceptance of the deed until at least Dec. 1.

Some council members want more information about the proposed soccer complex, and a likely tax increment financing district surrounding it. A TIF district for the area was tabled earlier this month to allow a committee comprised of city officials and representatives of soccer groups to work out details of a new TIF plan.

City Attorney Jason Green said if the council decided not to formally accept the deed, the city would investigate ways to make sure the land stays vested with Estes.

Brian Pitts, executive director of Rapid City Soccer sports complex, asked the council to accept the donated land, despite the error made in June.

Pitts said the soccer group went through an extensive process over several years to identify land for the complex, and it believes the land donated by Estes is a viable location.

Alderman Ron Kroeger said the deed has been filed and the property is already off the tax rolls, so at this point the city really doesn't need to do anything.

"I don't think it's a do-or-die situation that we have to approve this right away," Kroeger said.

Alderman Ron Weifenbach said he has serious concerns about what it could cost to extend utilities to the 80 acres, a cost he put at millions of dollars, not thousands. Weifenbach said the city needs to fully understand potential costs before accepting the land.

"It's not as easy as just accepting a piece of property," he said.

However, Alderman Malcom Chapman said the issue in front of the council is not the soccer complex or a TIF; it's about whether to accept a land donation. He said the language in the deed says the city must use the land for recreation purposes within five years or it reverts to the donor, which doesn't tie the city to approving a TIF or building a soccer complex there.

The withdrawn TIF involved a request to form the special tax district's boundaries, an area covering more than 800 acres north of the interstate along Elk Vale Road, including the 80-acre soccer complex site. But the project plan, a document that typically outlines proposed improvements, costs and responsibilities of all parties, had not been prepared.

The proposed TIF would have paid for an irrigation well, extending water and sewer services, making street improvements to the soccer site and creating a regional storm water drainage and retention facility.

Using a TIF for those costs would allow the soccer organization to use $3.8 million in earmarked city 2012 sales tax funds exclusively on building the soccer facility, which three years ago was estimated at $12 million total.

Contact Scott Aust at 394-8415, or scott.aust@rapidcityjournal.com