New Bloomfield aldermen buy state building

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 Friday 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.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.