New London moves a step closer to getting a Dollar General

BY KARYN SPORY

Mt. Pleasant News

NEW LONDON ? New London residents may be able to stop in at Dollar General to pick up odds and ins in the not too distant future.

The New London City Council convened Monday evening in special session for a public hearing regarding the proposed purchase and sale contract with the Overland Group, LLC for 2.41 acres of land. The Overland Group is the leading developer of NNN Dollar General stores.

The public hearing lasted less than a minute, as there was no one to speak regarding the developer or the possible new store. With no questions or comments, the council quickly approved the purchase and sale contract with the Overland Group.

City Clerk Kasi Howard said the group had proposed buying the property for $55,000. Despite the appraised value of the property coming in at $66,000, the council approved the contract of $11,000 less. In a previous meeting regarding the contract with Overland Group, Councilman Tom Davis said he wasn?t as concerned with the money the city would make off of the land sale, but rather the benefits the city would see from having a Dollar General in town.

Paul Lorber, of New London, had worked on a committee to try to entice the Overland Group and Dollar General to build in the city. ?Thank you guys for your vision to get the Dollar General (here),? he said. ?This is a fantastic move for the city.?

Now, Monday night?s approval of the purchase and sale contract does not mean having a Dollar General in New London is a done deal. Howard said the contract gives the Overland Group the option to buy the 2.41 acres at $55,000 for six-months.

During the meeting on Monday, the council also discussed replacing the storm sewer from the school?s football field to Elm and Cleveland streets. The city will be replacing the storm sewer below the football field this fall.

Matt Walker, city engineer, said the storm sewer had been a problem in this area for years and sinkholes are starting to appear. ?It makes since to replace it now,? Walker said, as the city will already be replacing storm sewers in the area.

Walker said his initial estimates for the project would be roughly $55,000-$60,000.

Councilman Greg Malott said the city had to take a ?hard look? at the budget for the current storm sewer project at the school, which took funds away from other projects the city had wanted to do. Malott and Davis both questioned where funds for the additional project would come from.

Howard said the project could be funded through capital projects.

In the end, the council approved fixing the intake valves and ?subbing? additional pipe into sewer that would allow for better draining through the manhole in the area. Councilman Dan Berner said the council is aware of the problem and will plan and budget for it in the future.

The council will meet next on Tuesday, Aug. 2, at 5:30 p.m., at the City Office.