Iola has opened the spigot to a pair of potential water-based attractions in the city.
City Council members Monday accepted a bid to sell the city’s decommissioned Elm Street water tower to Iolan Max Grundy for $1,000.
Grundy has proposed a plan to convert the tower into a one-of-a-kind short-term rental living space.
The proposed project would entail converting the tank into two levels of living space within the tower, including an open top floor plan and loft space to capitalize on 360-degree views of Iola and the surrounding landscape.
The bottom floor would comprise the living quarters, including two bedrooms, a kitchen and full bath.
Council members voted, 8-0, to have City Attorney Bob Johnson work up a contract to sell the tower to Grundy.
Assistant City Administrator Corey Schinstock said the tower was built sometime in the 1920s and hasn’t been used for more than 20 years.
A contractor who had been hired to help remove old steam generators from the city’s power plant following the 2007 flood had expressed interest then in removing the Elm Creek tower but never followed up, Schinstock noted.
After Grundy and wife Candice expressed an interest in creating the unique Airbnb in June, the city agreed to put the structure out for bids.
The Grundys’ $1,000 bid was the only one received.
“Congratulations,” Mayor Steve French told Grundy after the vote. “You own a water tower.”
Councilman Carl Slaugh described the tower as a local landmark.
“I’d just as soon have something positive and let him take a shot at it,” Slaugh said.
There are several items still to be ironed out before the project can proceed, such as codes that limit the height of living quarters in city limits.
“Thank you for trusting me with this,” Grundy told the Council. “We’ve lived in Iola for a year and three months, and we think Iola’s pretty darned great. I can promise we’ll do everything in our abilities to improve the city.”
