BEATRICE – A former south Beatrice manufacturing plant property is for sale. What’s known as the Hoover Group property is being sold.  "I think the price is going to be negotiable simply because of the demolition work that has to be done."


Beatrice Mayor Stan Wirth says there are some environmental cleanup issues to be addressed, with the property east of U.S. Highway 77….not far from the condemned former Dempster Manufacturing facility.  Wirth says the owners of the Hoover Group property have had contact with the city in the past, about what might be done with it.


"Now its listed for sale, and they're trying to market it as well as possible. Hopefully, that will be just another old building that has served its usefulness...and maybe get it demolished and out of site."


An environmental consulting firm has monitored the property for several years, as to substances left over at the site from manufacturing processes.
"Obviously there are some issues there, otherwise you wouldn't have Terracon with some different wells that are monitoring the runoff. What it is, I don't know....I haven't seen the report...but it is obvious that there is some disagreeable stuff there."

Hoover Group west side
Hoover Group west side  

The Hoover Group, at 700 South 7th Street…built bulk containers and steel tanks. It closed in 2008. Its operation dates back to 1911.


In 2014, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality issued a notice that the site was contaminated with metals, volatile organic compounds and hydrocarbons. Remedial action was prescribed to address soil and groundwater contamination.


Wirth says he’s not sure that following demolition… the property is conducive to residential development….but might have potential for commercial use…with its close proximity to the highway.  Beatrice Community Development Officer Rob Mierau says the plant property hasn’t been used for at least a decade.