Iverson Chrysler expanding

• Iverson expansion

Construction work on a new sales facility for Iverson Chrysler Center continues Monday. The new sales center is located just south of the main building on Burr Street in Mitchell. (Chris Huber/Republic)

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A Mitchell car dealer is expanding in two directions.

Iverson Chrysler Center submitted the sole bid for city-owned land at the southwest intersection of Burr and Ash that had been declared surplus. The bid was opened Monday afternoon at City Hall.

The company, which sells Chrysler, Dodge, Ram truck and Jeep vehicles, is also building a new sales facility at its existing property.

John Iverson, president of Iverson Chrysler Center, submitted a bid of $112,500 for the surplus land. Included in the bid envelope was a cashier’s check for $5,625 as an initial payment, as requested by the city.

The Mitchell City Council approved the bid during its meeting Monday night.

Iverson said buying the land “came up in conversation” with Mayor Ken Tracy earlier this year.

After that discussion, lots 1, 2, 3, 11 and 12 of the city-owned property were put on the block by the city earlier this fall. The land was appraised for $110,000 by a three-man committee named by Tracy. That committee included two Realtors and Councilman Randy Doescher.

Iverson said he needs room for the business to grow.

“Cars and trailers take up a lot of room,” he said. “I’ve got vehicles across the street by a storage building. That’s filling up.”

Iverson said he is installing another sales facility south of his current location at 600 S. Burr. A large hole was dug at the site, and footings will be put in place starting today.

Iverson said he will move some of his sales staff to that new location so they can serve customers who are looking at vehicles up there.

“Who would have thought when we came here 15 years ago this would have happened?” he said. “We have grown over that time, and continue to grow.”

Tracy, Finance Officer Marilyn Wilson, Golf & Cemetery Department Director Kevin Thurman and Public Works Deputy Director Terry Johnson were present for the bid opening.

They also supervised the opening of bids for a contract for 23 acres of hay land near Graceland Cemetery. There were four bids for the threeyear contract.

The highest bid, $3,703 per year, was submitted by Jerome McNary, of Mitchell. That was followed by $2,990 from Mike Johnson, $2,980 from Carl Niehoff, and $1,806 from Steve Thiesse, all of Mitchell.

The land had been rented in the past by Stevenson Farms, Thurman said, but it did not submit a bid.

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