Missouri City has completed of the final steps required in its attempt to finally acquire the Quail Valley Country Club by using eminent domain. A special 3 member appointed commission set the price at $3.1 million on tuesday. The club owners may still appeal the fair marke value, which is expected.

City Council scheduled an executive meeting for Thursday to consider authorizing the purchase and funds to do so.  This would allow the city to takeover the 390-acre parcel, which would be turned into a city-run golf course and park.

City officials decided to try to purchase the property because of concerns that the club owners would shut down the site and redevelop the area into apartment complexes. City officials and many residents feared, property values in the city would plummet as a result. However, club owner Mark Voltmann said last year that the company's goal is not to redevelop the course, but to operate it profitably.

The country club opened in 1970 and was the centerpiece of Quail Valley development, which was one of the first master-planned communities in the Houston area. The club had two 18-hole courses, as well as a nine-hole executive course and a par-3 course. Only the 18-hole La Quinta course currently remains open. The Renaissance Golf Group, of Dublin, Ohio, purchased the country club in January 2002.