The city of New Bloomfield has purchased the former highway maintenance facilities site in New Bloomfield used previously by the Missouri Department of Transportation.
Located at 3695 Meadow Lake Road, the 4.99-acre site was purchased by the city from the state agency at the appraised price of $93,000.
New Bloomfield Ward 2 Alderwoman Rosemary Augustine said she received a call Friday from the Missouri Department of Transportation confirming the state has signed the contract for purchase of the building.
"We still have some technical details on insurance to work out but the city and the state have agreed on the property purchase and the price," Augustine said.
New Bloomfield Mayor Michael Lowe Sr. said the city has enough money saved in its reserve fund to purchase the building outright and no financing for the structure will be required.
Lowe said the city plans to use the building to store city vehicles, mainly police cars and other city equipment.
"We have had some problems with vandalism of supplies and vehicles in the past. This will help control that problem and also give us needed storage space," Lowe said.
Lowe said he and other members of the council believe the nearly five-acre site is well maintained. He raised the possibility the city might also use the building and site for economic development purposes.
"We might be able to convince a new business to open there and we could sell the building to them. We are always looking for ways to boost economic development and create more businesses in New Bloomfield," Lowe said.
During budget cutbacks at MoDOT, the highway maintenance building at New Bloomfield was closed on May 4, 2001, and consolidated with other Central Missouri facilities. Two years ago, 135 maintenance facilities around the state were closed by MoDOT.
MoDOT announced recently the building and site at New Bloomfield were for sale.
The 4.99-acre site at New Bloomfield includes a building with a six-bay service area, an office, a break room and a bathroom. The location also has an equipment storage building with lights and electrical outlets as well as partial concrete flooring. The complex also has a two-bay material storage building.