Powell officials aren’t exactly sure why they own a small sliver of land alongside Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply store, but they’ll soon net $300 by selling it back to the original owner.

The 0.05 acre parcel was deeded to the City of Powell in the 1970s or early 1980s to serve as an alley behind the Murdoch’s store off South Street, according to City Attorney Alex Rolin. However, it never became a permanent alley. Instead, the northeast corner of the Murdoch’s store was built on top of the right of way and much of the rest of the property serves as a fenced-in storage area. The actual alley sits just to the east.

“It's one of those weird anomalies from the past that we don't know [what happened], but we’d like to clean it up,” said City Administrator Zack Thorington.

Jim Linton — who owned the store when it operated as Linton’s Big R and still owns the underlying property — offered $300 to buy back the sliver of land from the city.

The city council unanimously accepted Linton Enterprises’ offer at a Jan. 20 meeting.

Councilman Troy Bray jokingly wondered if the city could collect back rent on the parcel, but an appraisal paid for by Linton Enterprises concluded it is “essentially worthless,” Rolin said.

“It’s a weird little parcel,” she said.