The site, prominently featured in a new marketing campaign as a single uninterrupted expanse of developable land, is currently controlled by 14 separate owners, three family trusts, one estate that has not been fully settled since 2009 and a man named Earl who reportedly “isn’t really interested in selling but enjoys hearing what people might pay.”
“This is one of the largest industrial opportunities in the region,” said Economic Development Director Melissa Grant during a press conference held strategically far from any parcel map. “It offers tremendous flexibility for large-scale users.”
Grant then immediately changed the subject to interstate access.
According to promotional materials, the property features excellent highway connectivity, nearby utilities, strong labor access and “potential for phased development,” a phrase officials confirmed was selected because it sounded considerably better than “we may have to negotiate with 14 people individually.”
The site first appeared on the community’s radar several years ago when staff members noticed that a large number of adjacent agricultural parcels could, if viewed from approximately 12,000 feet in the air, be interpreted as one industrial site.
“It really comes together beautifully on the aerial,” said project consultant Todd Whitaker. “Especially if you remove the parcel lines.”
Whitaker said the development team has worked diligently to understand ownership across the site and is now “very close” to determining whether two of the property owners with identical last names are related.
Officials have already had preliminary discussions with several landowners.
Nine are believed to be supportive.
Two are undecided.
One lives in Arizona and has not returned a phone call since 2018.
One parcel is controlled by four siblings who currently communicate exclusively through separate attorneys.
And Earl has requested that any future discussions take place at the Dairy Queen on Thursday mornings.
Despite the complexity, local leaders remain optimistic.
“We feel very good about the site,” said County Commissioner Harold Benson. “Everybody understands the importance of economic development.”
Asked whether all 14 owners had agreed to sell, Benson stared silently at a conceptual rendering for several seconds before pointing out where a future entrance monument could go.
The property has already been entered into multiple statewide and regional property databases, where it is listed simply as “Available.”
Officials acknowledged that the word carries what Grant called “a reasonable amount of optimism.”
“In economic development, ‘available’ can mean different things,” she explained. “Sometimes it means the property is under option and ready to go. Sometimes it means the owner has expressed interest in selling. And sometimes it means someone’s cousin mentioned at Rotary that they might listen to an offer.”
The community is now pursuing funding for preliminary engineering, infrastructure planning and due diligence.
Staff members are also developing a confidential internal document titled “Who Owns What,” which reportedly contains 11 colors, six footnotes and a large section labeled “Complicated.”
Site selectors who have reviewed the property have responded positively, particularly to its size and location.
One consultant reportedly asked whether the acreage was under common control.
According to witnesses, the conference room became quiet enough to hear the HVAC system turn on.
Grant eventually responded that the community was “actively working through site control considerations” and immediately offered to schedule a drone tour.
Still, officials believe the property could become a major industrial destination.
“If the right project comes along, people have a way of coming together,” Grant said. “Especially if the project has 800 jobs.”
She added that if necessary, the community could probably assemble 420 acres relatively quickly.
Possibly 360.
“Definitely more than 200,” she said.
At press time, Earl had reportedly increased his asking price after seeing the 600-acre site featured on the economic development organization’s new website.
