Howard board approves buying land in Village Center

By Kevin Boneske

Staff Writer

HOWARD – A 4.19-acre parcel located where high-power lines cut across that land in the Village Center is being purchased by the village for $375,000.

The Howard village board agreed Monday, Oct. 22, to buy the land south of the Howard Commons apartment complex between Forefront Dermatology and Sierra Dental from Dan Schmidt of Black Viper, LLC.

The board had met Oct. 8 in closed session to discuss potentially purchasing the land and directed staff to make an offer to purchase.

Village Administrator Paul Evert reported the commercial land is assessed for more than $400,000, though Schmidt accepted the $375,000 purchase price, provided the sale is completed by the end of the year.

Because moving the high-power lines would be cost-prohibitive at around $700,000, Evert said the parcel as it now exists could be developed as a large parking area to support events in the Village Center with a couple of spots available for office or retail use on the northeast and southwest corners of the lot.

Evert said funding for the purchase would be coming from Tax Incremental Financing District No. 8.