City of Beatrice to acquire land for business, industry growth
BEATRICE - The City of Beatrice will exercise an option on land that will add to available industrial space in the city.
The mayor and city council conducted a public hearing on the plan, Monday night. City Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer says the tract involved is 80 acres.
"It would be to the north and to the west of the current industrial park. It would be straight west of where Precise Fabrication is located...the hatchery...some of those locations there."
The purchase price will be $1.2 million. The land would be purchased from William and Michelle Schwartzkopf. Gage Area Growth Enterprise originally held the option on the property, but the city…which secured the option, has the means of purchasing it.
Tempelmeyer said the city had to resolve an issue with a utility easement across the property. "A gas pipeline easement that was granted back in the 1930s...we were finally able to get that cleaned up and so we were able to use the property. The next step is hopefully a vote tonight for you guys to give notice to the Schwartzkopfs that we'd like to proceed with exercising that option. When doing so, we have ninety days to finish closing, with a purchase price of about $1.2 million. We're looking to issue bonds from the LB 840 economic development fund, to cover that cost."
The LB 840 program is funded by part of the city’s local sales tax. Mayor Bob Morgan says the purchase is part of preparing for potential business and industry growth.
"As you look into the future, you don't always have the option to get land right by the industrial park, to expand it. Maybe not today, but ten years from now, there's going to be a lot of people that are going to appreciate we had the foresight to make this happen."
The city council was unable to formally vote on the financing proposal Monday night, because only five of eight council members were in attendance at the meeting. Six votes are required to suspend rules and then give final approval to the bond issue.
Monday night, elected officials approved a resolution setting the electric demand and rates for Moonraker Mining 1, LLC…..a cryptocurrency company that will use a large amount of electric power in its computer operations. It will set up at the Gage County Industrial Park. Tempelmeyer said rates are fixed for the first three years of the five- year agreement with the company.
"They'll be putting up a container...is what they come in with. They've got a manufacturer they're working with to bring it on site. I think you'll see a fence go up...some improvements on the grounds, mostly rocking the area...and then bringing in this particular unit. We're working with them to figure out the layout of the electrical infrastructure they want built out. They'll be providing the transformer they want installed there."
Under an option selected by the firm, Moonraker will get a somewhat reduced power rate by allowing the city to interrupt power for up to 100 hours per year, if needed.
