A controversy brewing over the sale of farm property for the possible construction of a shopping mall has DeKalb County officials concerned.

The DeKalb County Board of Rules Committee took a step toward progress Wednesday when it voted 14-9 to allow interested firms to bid for the farmland at the intersection of Sycamore and Barber Greene Roads, said Assistant City Manager Gary Boden. One member was absent from the meeting.

The bid possibilities are “inclusive of, but not restricted to a major shopping complex,” Boden said. Other commercial developments are conceivable.

“It remains to be seen whether the county will be in favor of selling property for a mall,” he said. “There’s the opportunity to reject the bids.”

Boden wrote to County Board Chairman J. Quentin Daily three weeks ago asking that a decision be made on the issue. The main controversy is whether “the farm property should be considered at all for any type of mall development,” Boden said.

The city is “unanimously” for the sale, but the board is split, Boden said. The farm property is only part of a “growing list of eight alternative sites” in DeKalb, he said.

A January offer by Wilmorite, Inc., fell two votes short of approval by the board, Boden said. “All but one student area representative on the board voted in favor of it,” he said.

On Nov. 7, Wilmorite withdrew its bid for “business reasons” after maintaining interest for 10 months “on a regular basis of inquiries,” Boden said.

“Interest has been expressed by several different firms over the past 15 years,” Boden said. Since Wilmorite withdrew, business can begin with other interested firms. After bid specifications are drawn, County Administrative Aide Ray Bockman will present them to the board next month.