Sara Stadem | Editor
The City of Crooks held a special meeting on Monday, March 1, as a public hearing to answer any questions pertaining to the State Revolving Fund (SRF) for the sewer improvements for the upcoming developments.
According to Mayor Butch Oseby, the main question the public had at the meeting was whether or not the City of Crooks would be paying for a developer’s sewer line. Mayor Oseby stated, “The answer to that question is no. We are just paying for the lift station and the trunk line, a place for them to hook up to and the developer has to pay for their own sewer.”
The City of Crooks does a cost recovery sewer district on all new development acres. So, the city is paid back eventually, Mayor Oseby further explained.
Although there are only two developments starting this summer, there is a total of 3-400 acres for the future that can be developed in Crooks because of the new lift and trunk line installation.
Mayor Oseby continued, “The meeting went well so we are going to move forward and apply for the SRF. We will then be taking bids for lift station and trunk line.”
This summer will begin two housing developments which will include a 50-acre development by the new school and a 40-acre development across the street which is east of the community center. According to Mayor Oseby, the City of Crooks should have lots and streets of what the developments should look like in the next month and there is a potential for approximately 150 housing lots between the two developments.
Mayor Oseby also provided an update with the Johnson Industrial Park which is located on the northwest corner of Crooks. So far, lots three, four, five, six and seven are presold to six different businesses with the potential of 50 jobs coming to Crooks in the fall of 2021. This is a total of 21.3 acres presold out of a 30-acre industrial park.
He continued to explain there would be a potential of 35 jobs immediately as some are transfer jobs coming to Crooks. One business coming to Crooks already has 25 employees and another one has three to five employees and they all plan on continuing to grow.
Mayor Oseby concluded, “Some are small startup businesses. They are all young people. So, you will see construction work going on there this spring and you will see buildings going up. I’m excited for the growth!”