More than a year after a fire broke out at the former Pizza Ranch in Jefferson, the property now has a new owner.

The Jefferson City Council recently approved to acquire the property at 206 North Wilson Avenue. Former owner Robert Schultz gave the building to the City for free. Schultz was under investigation for arson after a fire broke out at the restaurant in January of 2016. He then made an alford plea on December 13, 2016 for a Class D Felony for second degree criminal mischief and an aggravated misdemeanor for third degree arson and was sentenced to probation.

City Administrator Mike Palmer says the reason why the Council wanted to acquire the property is because in three years the City would eventually get the building and it may be in so disrepair that they would have to demolish it.

The next steps are abating about $1,800 in asbestos and clean up the structure to get it back on the market. Palmer notes that last year the Council established $150,000 in renovation funds to fix out any downtown building that they acquire.

Palmer adds that there is some interest in the building, including Pizza Ranch Corporate.