By Jolene Farley
The Hills Economic Development Corporation expressed an interest buying land adjacent to the city's apartments during the Tuesday evening meeting.
Wilmer Elbers, Hills, was to attend the City Council meeting, which was scheduled before the EDA meeting, to discuss a 200-foot parcel of land near the Hills Stainless Steel building he wanted to acquire.
The council meeting was adjourned and the EDA meeting in full swing when Elbers arrived.
After some discussion about parliamentary procedure, the EDA meeting was recessed and the council meeting reopened to discuss the transfer of the land Elbers was interested in acquiring.
Elbers said he was offered the land for nothing years ago by a previous council but never pressed the issue. He has maintained the area for several years.
Mayor George Langford wants to assess the boundaries on the parcel before the council makes its final decision.
EDA President Arlen Leenderts reopened the EDA meeting.
Board members promptly turned the tables on Elbers and asked if he would be interested in selling property he owns with partners Gerald Haak and Tony Bosch near the city apartments.
The EDA intends to divide the property up into lots to be used for modular home construction.
Elbers agreed to ask his partners if they're interested in selling and what their asking price would be. Tuff Memorial Home had been offered the parcel for $28,000 recently, according to Councilman Dana Dahlquist.
The EDA then began discussing other property owned by Elbers and his partners. The city agreed last summer to cost-share advertising for recruiting people to build on Elbers' lots in Hills.
Since little advertising had been done, the council members asked if they could place the advertising and send Elbers and his partners the bill for their portion.
"We need to get people from the Sioux Falls area," said Elbers. "Housing is more expensive there. People will commute."
Everyone agreed to schedule a meeting with DeYager Real Estate. Arlen Leenderts and Wendell Bengtson will represent the EDA Board in the meetings.
In other City Council business Tuesday:
- Hills will bill Martin Township for half of the approximately 20,000 gallons of water used at the Mike Jess house fire.
- Doug Chapman asked the council to recommit the $2,500 originally offered to offset the cost of the sewer for Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
The original construction plans were changed, but the council still agreed to pay the amount. "We committed ourselves to the $2,500," said Langford. "I cannot see any problem with expending that amount."