The Independence City Commission approves the purchase of the former FedEx building in the Independence Industrial park for use as a unified Public Works facility.
A purchase agreement has been negotiated with the owner, Realty Income Corporation, and the transaction is expected to close in late August.
City Manager Kelly Passauer says this acquisition will significantly advance the City’s long-term infrastructure goals. In 2018, the City’s Community-Based Strategic Plan set forth a vision to address aging infrastructure and enhance City facilities. Infrastructure improvements already completed in the City’s multi-year Capital Improvement Plan include the renovation of City Hall and construction of the new Fire/EMS station. This next step addresses the facility needs for the Public Works and Utilities departments.
The 23,000-square-foot commercial building was constructed in 2012 and recently became available for sale. Passauer says the facility will resolve several operational issues, including inadequate equipment storage and workspace and coordinating operations with departments spread out among separate aging sites around town. This property will enable the City to consolidate three departments including Water Distribution and Sewer Collection, Street, and Sanitation, with a shared tool room, vehicle service pit to allow more efficient maintenance of City vehicles, and a vehicle wash station.
The building will be purchased for $1.7 million, with additional funds designated for essential facility upgrades, cleanup of existing Public Works sites, and other costs associated with acquisition and occupancy. Passauer says the purchase of the existing facility is a more cost-effective solution than others considered, including new construction.
Bonds for the property purchase were authorized at the June 11, 2025, City Commission meeting. Bond payments will be made using water, sewer and sanitation enterprise funds, meaning there will be no impact on property taxes.
The City will continue to utilize the existing Sanitation Yard at 21st & Maple, but the inventory of replacement pipe will be relocated to the new site. Passauer says this will make the sanitation yard easier to maintain, improve its overall visual appearance and allow the City to vacate and clean up aging facilities currently located north of Railroad Street between 9th and 10th Streets, enhancing the neighborhood and freeing up those properties for productive future use.
Tune in for more on this project during KGGF News at 7 on The Mighty 690.
