The Indianola City Council approved the purchase of land on the east side of the downtown Indianola square at their meeting Monday, what is currently occupied by Regents Bank, IMPACT, and Optimae Life Services on the square and the Regents Bank parking lot behind the building, for a future City Hall/Public Safety building. City Manager Ben Reeves tells KNIA News the city is aiming to maximize the space on and around the square and expand possibly underground parking, all while making the public safer with a more efficient public safety building.

“The goal is really to take a City Hall/Public Safety Building and move it as close as we possibly can towards Jefferson. That opens up the back part to have these new elements that bring green space and parking closer to the square itself. We want to have an opportunity to put in parking that will allow for county and city employees to have a place to park without occupying space right in front of the businesses, and opportunities for some of our business patrons that don’t want to park in the elements to have a place where they can have somewhat covered parking and still enjoy a great breakfast at Crouse’s or whatever it may be.”

Reeves said the process is still very much in the planning stages, and will have a large amount of public input over its lifetime, including several public votes and referendums.