Dec. 26—MITCHELL — The Mitchell City Council will consider approving a land purchase agreement on Wednesday that would result in the city gaining 6.7 acres of land and giving up 4 acres.

The 6.7 acres of land the city is seeking to acquire neighbors the 4 acres of land where the new groundwater storage tank sits, about 2 miles south of Mitchell along Highway 37. In addition to swapping 4 acres of land, the city would also spend $10,000 to purchase the 6.7 acres of land.

Mitchell Mayor Bob Everson said the land swap will allow the city to build new water distribution pipes that were planned for the area.

The 6.7 acres of land the city is pursuing is privately owned.

For city projects such as the water distribution pipes, a municipality can utilize easements to access nearby land that is privately owned. An easement allows a city or utility company to use private land for a respective project. The landowner typically receives financial incentive when an easement is allowed on their land.

Everson said the consultant for the city's water distribution project did not map out the necessary easements needed to build the pipes that would stretch through the land the city is eyeing to purchase.

According to City Attorney Justin Johnson, the 4 acres of city-owned land was once used for crop production prior to the city acquiring it for the ground water storage tank project.

Everson said the land is not being used by the city.

The groundwater storage tank was built this year. The tank will provide the city with 2.5 million gallons of backup water supply.

Although it's located near the soybean processing plant along Highway 37, Everson said the city's water storage tank is not connected to the soybean plant in any way.