The Indianola City Council and Warren County Board of Supervisors met in a special joint session Monday evening, approving a land swap between the two entities. The land swap was proposed by Warren County, with the city gaining the West Annex property on the downtown Indianola square to return to commercial use, the Masonic Temple, and five acres on the 6th Street Sub-Area where the former County Shop site was located. Warren County will receive the current Indianola Public Library building to use as office space.

Indianola City Manager Ben Reeves tells KNIA News this has been in the idea phase for several months, and has worked out to be a big benefit for both local governments in both space needs and further development.

“We want to respect and assist the county in helping to meet their goals, because that helps us meet our goals. At the same time, when we redevelop an area of town that has zero taxable benefit right now, it is not on the tax rolls. We create jobs and businesses and homes, that creates real tangible, taxable value. It assists small business, it benefits the city and the county, and it creates a heartbeat for our community that lessens the burden on residents community wide.”

The resolution passed the Indianola City Council 6-0, and the Warren County Supervisors in a 2-0 vote with Supervisor Crystal McIntyre abstaining. Supervisors McIntyre expressed support of the project, but wanted to wait to give the public time to provide input.

The city would retain use of the library building until a new facility is completed. Hear more on today’s Let’s Talk Indianola.