De Soto Moves Forward With Downtown Demolition as Council Approves Infrastructure Projects, Holds Tax Rate Steady
The De Soto City Council moved forward with the demolition of two city-owned properties on North Second Street during its September 21 meeting, following years of discussion over whether the larger of the buildings could be saved.
The council also kept the city’s property tax rate unchanged, awarded bids for work at the athletic complex and Hickory Hills Drive, delayed a proposed expansion of the city kennel and received an update on plans for De Soto’s Amtrak improvements.
Council Approves Demolition of North Second Street Buildings
Much of the meeting’s discussion centered on the city-owned properties at 116 and 120 N. Second Street, near Second and Boyd streets.
City officials said the city purchased the property in 2019 after a foreclosure and has spent years exploring whether the larger brick building could be preserved and redeveloped.
The city manager told the council that officials had met with multiple developers and investors, including people involved with the renovation of the former Central School, but had been unable to find a financially workable redevelopment plan.
An investor who had recently expressed interest in the property also ultimately backed away, according to the city manager.
Officials estimated that renovating the building could cost approximately $6 million to $7 million.
Todd Melkus, De Soto's city manager, emphasized that the decision to pursue demolition was not made quickly.
“This council has made me look at every different avenue possible to save this building,” he said during the meeting.
City officials said they had also contacted state historic preservation officials and explored possible grant funding, but the available assistance would not come close to covering the cost of restoring the structure.
The building is often referred to locally as historic, but officials noted during the discussion that it is not currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Officials also described significant deterioration inside the structure, including mold and other problems that developed before the city acquired the property.
The city recently completed asbestos abatement in preparation for the possibility of demolition.
The city budgeted $100,000 for demolition work. Four contractors submitted bids, with the lowest coming in at $96,500. The council voted to move forward with the demolition.
City officials said there are no permanent plans yet for the property once the buildings are removed, although additional downtown parking is considered a likely short-term use.
Officials said parking continues to be a challenge for Main Street businesses and downtown events.
Property Tax Rate Remains Unchanged
The council also approved Bill No. 13-2026 setting the city’s 2026 property tax rate.
The rate will remain at 0.8469, unchanged from the previous year.
City officials explained that De Soto’s assessed valuation increased slightly, from roughly $94.7 million to approximately $95.1 million, with much of the increase attributed to new construction rather than reassessment.
Officials noted that property reassessment typically has a larger effect on tax-rate calculations during odd-numbered years.
The ordinance provides funding for general municipal operations, the city’s free public library and public parks.
Kennel Expansion Put on Hold
A planned expansion of De Soto’s animal kennel will not move forward in its current form after construction bids came in substantially higher than expected.
The city had budgeted $250,000 for the project based on an earlier architectural estimate.
The proposed expansion included 10 additional kennels on the east side of the building along with office improvements on the west side, including a restroom and waiting area for people visiting or adopting animals.
When the project went to bid, however, officials said the bids were nearly double what had been anticipated, with the highest bid exceeding $619,000.
City staff recommended holding off on the project rather than committing to the substantially higher cost.
Officials said the city may reconsider the project during the next budget cycle and could divide the improvements into separate phases, potentially focusing first on either the additional kennel space or the office and adoption area.
The council agreed to hold the project and revisit the scope before going back out to bid.
Athletic Complex Concrete Project Approved
The council approved a $25,000 bid for concrete work at the city’s athletic complex.
Officials said gravel near a roughly 90-degree turn at the complex has repeatedly washed out, creating ongoing maintenance problems.
The project will install approximately 3,400 square feet of concrete along with a rolled curb.
The lowest bid and was recommended for the project, and city officials said the contractor expected to begin the work within the next several weeks.
Hickory Hills Drive Repairs Moving Forward
The council also approved approximately 2,500 square feet of concrete street repairs on Hickory Hills Drive.
The road, located behind Walmart, has needed repairs for several years. City officials said they intentionally waited until nearby development was completed so heavy construction equipment would not damage newly repaired pavement.
The work will include saw-cutting and removing deteriorated sections of the existing roadway, replacing them with six-inch concrete and matching the existing curb line.
The lowest bid for the work was $25,740.
Officials said the project will not address every section of Hickory Hills that needs repair, but the work fits within the city’s budget for this year. Additional repairs could be considered next year.
Because Hickory Hills has only one primary way in and out, officials said the street will remain open to one lane during construction and residents will be notified about parking restrictions.
Council Discusses Street Closure for Mel Bay Foundation Event
The council also considered a street closure request connected to an upcoming Mel Bay Foundation event to be held on November 7th at 6pm at the former community center on Boyd Street.
The original request called for closing Boyd Street between Fourth and Fifth streets to accommodate food trucks and other activities.
Council members raised concerns about traffic circulation and access for emergency vehicles if Boyd Street were completely closed.
Officials instead discussed using portions of Fourth or Fifth streets around the property, which they said could provide additional event space while creating less disruption on Boyd.
The council approved moving forward with an alternative closure plan that would avoid closing Boyd Street for the time being.
Fire Department Looking at Used Ladder Truck
The De Soto Fire Department is also exploring the possible purchase of a used ladder truck.
Fire officials told the council that a group planned to travel to Louisiana to inspect a 2005 Ferrara ladder truck equipped with a 100-foot platform.
The asking price was described as approximately $170,000.
Officials said a mechanic would travel with the group to inspect the truck, particularly because it has been operated in a saltwater environment where corrosion could potentially be a concern.
The discussion came with a significant price comparison: officials noted that a comparable new truck could cost roughly $2.3 million.
Amtrak Project Reaches 60 Percent Design Stage
City officials also provided an update on De Soto’s long-running Amtrak project.
The city has now submitted its 60 percent construction plans to Union Pacific and Amtrak for review.
Officials said earlier comments on the project included several ADA-related changes, which have now been incorporated into the latest plans.
The city hopes the new submission can move the project closer to bidding.
Officials said the review process is expected to take approximately four weeks, which could put the next response from Union Pacific and Amtrak in early to mid-October if the review stays near that timeline.
The city’s best-case goal is to have the project out to bid and a contractor selected before the end of the year.
Part of the urgency involves remaining county ARPA funding that must be spent before the end of 2026. The city also has state funding connected to the project, with officials saying that funding has a later deadline.
“We’re getting closer to the finish line,” Todd Melkus told the council, while acknowledging that the process has been long and frustrating.
Council Praises Fall Festival
Council members closed the open portion of the meeting by recognizing the recent De Soto Fall Festival.
Officials thanked the city’s police, fire and public works departments, along with volunteers and community organizations that helped with the event.
Council members also praised the decision to move the festival from Walther Park to Main Street, saying the downtown location has become an important part of the annual event.
One council member jokingly suggested moving the festival into October next year after this year’s event brought unusually warm weather.