GENTRY — Two properties were offered to the city of Gentry, according to information shared with council members by Mayor Kevin Johnston at a special working session of the council on July 26. No exact price offers were on the table, but council members were asked if there was interest in further pursuing the offers to negotiate price and possible purchase arrangements for a future council decision.
The first property, offered through Krein Development, was for 11.59 acres located south of the subdivision on South Smith Street and west of the railroad tracks. The land is owned by Tier One Investments and was appraised at $92,500. A possible three-year purchase arrangement was suggested with three equal payments. The land is adjacent to 2.54 acres of city land which once was the location of the city's sewer plant.
The second property, offered through Sharon Bever, was for land owned by Randy Bever on the west side of the city park, between the post office and the Cargill plant. The parcels which amount to approximately 7.5 acres are currently listed for just over $700,000, according to information provided at the meeting. The county valuation for the three parcels was $243,350, according to the Benton County website.
According to Kevin Johnston, Gentry's mayor, the offer to the city could possibly be a combination of purchase and gift. No specific information was provided as to price or gift amount but council members expressed reservation if the offered price was as high as the listed prices.
Johnston said the location of the Bever property would be ideal for an addition to the city park since it is adjacent to the park. Rather than preserving the area as a native prairie remnant, Johnston spoke of the need for soccer fields and space for other athletic activities, mentioning the number of people who already use part of the area to play tuj lub, a top-spinning game popular among the Hmong people.
Tuj lub, pronounced "too-loo," is a game played outdoors with elements similar to baseball, golf and possibly bocce ball. It involves spinning a top with a stick and line, requiring both strength and focus. It's a traditional Hmong sport which Hmong immigrants brought with them when they resettled in the United States, according to MinnPost. Many U.S. cities are building courts for the sport.
The larger tract of land along the railroad tracks was discussed briefly as a possible location for a soccer field, but street access and parking would also need to be considered. Questions about grades and leveling were also raised.
Council members suggested the mayor pursue more information on the land parcels and possible prices and purchase arrangements offered to the city for the council to consider. Also suggested was a long-range plan to determine the city's future needs for additional land to meet needs for parks and other city purposes.