By MEGHAN DURBAK, Kokomo Tribune staff writer
Just days after German transmission company Getrag Corporate Group purchased 145 acres of property in Tipton County for the expected construction of a new manufacturing facility, two bulldozers and a front-end loader were unloaded at the site Wednesday.
Tipton County officials have said work at the site could begin yet this week.
Getrag purchased the 145 acres, located at the intersection of U.S. 31 and Ind. 28, on May 11, for approximately $3.4 million. The company is working in conjunction with DaimlerChrysler to construct a $560 million transmission plant expected to employ 1,200 people.
Mitch Reeves and his family sold their home and 2.13 acres of land located at 5816 W. Ind. 28 to Getrag.
The family was busy packing up their belongings on Wednesday.
Originally the family had 60 days to move. Reeves said they wanted to leave sooner to avoid dealing with construction.
"[Getrag] did the best they could to accommodate us in a way we could move out faster," Reeves said.
Reeves said Getrag gave him an approximate time frame for signing over the deed to the land, so he was able to plan the move in advance.
"Everything fell into place," Reeves said.
The family will take up a temporary residence in Kokomo while they look for a new house in Tipton.
Other families will also be looking for a new place to live soon.
Rita Gall and Mary J. Tragesser had ownership of the crucial piece of property, which included 107 acres at the northeast corner of the intersection.
Getrag also purchased 34 acres from the Dick Johnson family.
Neighbor Kym Stroup has already secured a new place to live in the event Getrag should buy her property in the near future. The option on Stroup's 80 acres at 1547 S. U.S. 31, was transferred from the Economic Development Foundation to Getrag Friday.
"I anticipate something to happen this summer," she said.
Stroup said she understands her land will probably be used for utilities and future expansion. Whether she sells or remains, Stroup said she will be OK.
"Some people think we're selling just for the money," Stroup said. "But we've had offers before and wouldn't do it."
She said she and her late husband wanted to make sure that a new development would be good for the people of Tipton County and bring back jobs and industry.
"My husband said. 'I want to do something that I can walk through town and hold my head up high,'" Stroup said.
Now that the sale papers are signed, Reeves said he is also enthusiastic about the new development.
"We think it's going to be a wonderful thing for the county," he said.
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