By a vote of 4-3, Iola City Council agreed Monday to help extend water to the property boundary of where PrairieLand Partners plans to build a new facility. The 25-acre site is part of an 105-acre parcel recently annexed by the city that lies at the northwest corner of U.S. 169 and Oregon Road.
Carl Slaugh, Joel Wicoff, Nich Lohman and Joelle Shallah were in favor, while Mark Peters, Josiah D’Albini and Nickolas Kinder dissented. Council member Kim Peterson was absent.
PrairieLand will be responsible for more than $41,000 of an estimated $69,500 bill to expand water access. The City of Iola committed to providing the equipment and labor necessary for the expansion, as well as obtaining water service rights to the new development, while PrairieLand will pay for all project materials.
The Council did not decide, however, on whether or how to help the agricultural dealership with extension of sewer lines to the property. PrairieLand had requested the city’s assistance in providing water and sewer to the property boundary of the new facility, as well as any necessary rights-of-way.
Much of Monday’s discussion centered on what type of sewer line would be sufficient for PrairieLand, and if the company should foot the bill itself or with the city’s help. Members also seemed divided on whether it would be wise for the city to build a larger sewer line for future development on the annexed land. Rough estimates for the sewer line run anywhere from $275,000 to $400,000, depending on the scope of the project.
“Sewer talk, in more ways than one, really does stink,” remarked council member Josiah D’Albini, bringing smiles to the room. “But I am optimistic,” he continued, that an agreement can be reached between the city and PrairieLand for a larger project. “People don’t think about sewers, and it may be a sewer to nowhere for a little bit. But if we have future development out there, it could be a smart investment” by the city.
Shallah asked PrairieLand to come back with more information. “We’re just talking about it right now. I have to see things in black and white,” she said. “To make a commitment on anything that I’m not seeing in front of me, I’m reluctant. But I do want to see growth. Once that information is presented to me, I can make an educated decision.”
But the devil is in the details, as John Davidson, founder of Davidson Architecture and Engineering, pointed out. Davidson, the architect in charge of designing the new Iola location, said he was happy to work up a more detailed plan, but he needed more direction.
“We can design the sewer line. But we have to be hired by someone to design the sewer line. And at this point we don’t know who owns it,” said Davidson.
“If you give me a parameter of what you’d like to see out there as far as development, we can design a sewer system,” he continued. “But I have to be engaged to do that. And PrairieLand hasn’t engaged me because they don’t know if they’ll own the line or if the city will.”
After further discussion, the council requested that PrairieLand and Davidson return with costs for a sewer system sufficient for just the new facility’s needs and those for a system that would permit further residential or commercial growth.
That may require a decision sooner rather than later. While assistant city manager Corey Schinstock said city crews could extend the water line “within a couple of weeks,” Davidson expressed concern about any delay with the sewer system.
“These guys want to begin building before the frost gets here, and that means they’ll need to start moving dirt pretty quickly,” said Davidson. Company representatives estimate the new location will take about a year to complete.
THE NEW location would significantly expand PrairieLand’s presence in Iola. Plans are for a 64,000-square-foot facility, about double its current size. Representatives said Monday the expansion would create 10-15 new positions. The Iola location currently employs 40 individuals.
Iola became part of PrairieLand in 2019, when PrairieLand acquired O’Malley Equipment Company. While the store does not bring in significant sales tax revenue, as farm machinery and equipment is tax-exempt in Kansas, the store brings in business from a nine-county area, Iola store manager Dale Lalman told council members. Those customers — and future ones — are a huge asset to Iola, he stressed.
The planned expansion hinges on two factors: an expanding market and new technology.
