The Wayland City Council Monday evening approved a request by Trygon Investments for designating the odd-shaped property at 1135 133rd Ave. as part of an industrial development district.The industrial facilities exemption enables the property, owned jointly by Keith Nickels and Josh Otto, to eligible for a tax abatement of up to 50 percent for up to 12 years.

Ryan Ferrier of Lakeshore Advertising, who presented the request, said the request will be handled at the City Planning Commission’s Tuesday, Oct. 8, meeting.

Acting City Manager Jae Guetschow said the council is under no obligation to grant a tax break, in fact, it could rescind it,

There are other reasons why the request may face a challenge.

“I’ve never been a fan of tax abatements,” said Mayor Jennifer Antel., saying she first wants to make certain the applicant will use and pay for city utilities.

Mayor Pro Tem Joe Kramer said, “We’ve been waiting a long time for something to happen here.”

It was back in 2018 that Otto and Nickels offered to buy the property for $20,000. The land sat idle for more than decade before and no one came forward with any plans to buy it.

So the city decided to sell it because $20,000 was better than nothing.

However, several local business men protested the sale, insisting it should have gone up for auction instead.

The unusually-shaped site has sat idle now for six years and Monday night was the first time anything has happened.

Councilman Norman Taylor explained that the industrial facilities exemption request could be be “a potential incentive for someone to use or develop the property.

Nickels himself commented, “It’s tough to get a tenant to come this far south.”

The vote to designate the district was unanimously in favor.

In other business at Monday’s meeting the council:

• Was told by Guetschow that the boil advisory for water Friday actually only affected two residences on the northeast end of the city and the issue was resolved quickly.
• Agreed to take bids for repairing the door at the back of City Hall because, as Clerk Leanne Clausen, insisted, “It isn’t handicapped friendly.”
• Approved acceptance of a grant from the Institute for Responsive Government.