Dirt moving at Hartley's new industrial park

A new pool isn't the only big build happening in Hartley this summer.

Ground has been broken on Backroads Express, LLC's new site inside the city's new industrial park on Highway 18. Owners Wyatt and Monica Glime were the first buyers to stake out a claim in the industrial park, purchasing four lots this spring in the northwest corner for $100,000.

The city council on May 27 approved payment of prorated real estate taxes on the Glimes' lots. According to City Administrator Erica Haack, the property is eligible for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) rebates, which are rebates of the real estate taxes paid on the property based on a certain annual percentage for a set number of years. Haack said exact details on the rebates will be approved by the city council later this summer.

The Glimes, of rural Everly, were the first party to take an interest in the new industrial park. Plans call for a 17,000 square foot building to be built on the 4.69-acre property. According to previous discussion, the Glimes plan to use the shop to house and repair Backroads Express' trucks.

The 20-acre industrial park was constructed last year. Hartley Economic Development Corporation and the city council pursued its development due to a lack of space in Hartley's current industrial park on the southeast side of town.

Also on May 27, the council gave the go-ahead to extend the water main at the new industrial park to allow service for potential future expansion of the development to the west.

• Roadwork approved

The city council on May 24 rubberstamped summer street improvements for a three-block stretch of North Seventh Avenue West.

The upgrades will take place later this summer. According to Superintendent of Public Works Jaron Benz, the job will include cleaning of gutters, milling and asphalt overlay on a stretch of road between Highway 18 and First Street Northwest. The remainder of work will take place at miscellaneous locations throughout town repairing bad spots and paving patches.

Blacktop Service Co., of Humboldt, was awarded the contract for $54,585. According to discussion, the city will continue targeting streets in poor condition in the years ahead.