The Mitchell City Council last night declined their option to buy back a lot adjacent to the Corn Palace for $20,000 . The lot at the corner of 7th and Main is where Casey’s General Store was located. Casey’s donated the lot to the city with stipulations as to what kind of business could be developed there. The city sold the property to the Mitchell Area Development Corporation for $1. The MADC then sold the property, which was valued at around $25,000, to Matt Doerr for 900 dollars two years ago. At the time, Doerr was the treasurer for the Mitchell Chamber of Commerce board. Doerr told the city he planned to open a boutique on the property. The lot remains vacant. Doerr now intends to sell the property to CJG Properties LLC for $20,000.
Two Mitchell residents criticized the city’s involvement in the sale of the property. Councilman Jeff Smith, who is the council liaison to the Mitchell Area Development Corporation, says mistakes were made, including not requiring a mandatory start time for the initial project.
The sale is expected to be completed to CJG Properties LLC. New Mitchell Area Development Corporation CEO Geri Beck told the council that Doerr plans to donate the profits from the sale to the city’s downtown streetscape plan.