Sprint Lumber purchases old Platte City pool site

The site of the former Platte City municipal pool has been sold to Sprint Lumber.

The Platte City Board of Aldermen approved the sale — at $275,000 — at its Tuesday, Oct. 26 meeting. The two parcels are made up of a little over two acres of property and was the former J.W. Lewis Park, located behind city hall at 405 Fourth Street.

A sales tax reimbursement agreement was also approved. The sales tax reimbursement agreement provides a 100% incentive if Sprint completes several items for public benefit including increasing sales tax revenue for the city, improving large vehicle traffic flow through the downtown area and remaining in Platte City for a minimum of five years after the date of the agreement.

According to a staff report, the city has been working with Sprint Lumber, one of its five largest sales tax generators, since 2018 to identify an expansion location within city limits.

In November 2020, Sprint and the City initiated negotiations for sale of city owned property but those negotiations lapsed in early 2021. They were revived at Sprint’s request in July. Negotiations focused on Sprint’s purchase of two parcels located adjacent to the existing Sprint Lumber property.

Valbridge Appraisal, a certified commercial appraisal firm, appraised the property for the city in November 2020 with a fair market value of $275,000.

Also at the meeting, the board discussed the upcoming project to build a new city hall and police station. According to city administrator DJ Gehrt, construction bids will come in this month, with review and approval to follow by the end of the year.