 The City of Bemidji is looking to the future and is moving forward with plans to with a purchase agreement for some prime real estate for a larger and modern city liquor store. The Bemidji City Council voted to purchase the property that is currently home to an Orton's gas station at the corner of Irvin Avenue and Paul Bunyan Drive Northwest. Building a large and more competitive liquor store has been in the works for some time for the City of Bemidji plans are moving quickly to complete the project in a timely manner. We have our purchase agreement closed date tentatively set for November 1st. We are starting our design work of the store right now this summer at the end of the summer and fall. We hope to have most of the design of it completed by Christmas time and to bid the project at the beginning of the year and for construction next year. We anticipated about a four month build. The City of Bemidji has an agreement with the current property owner to take care of demolition, the removal of gas tanks and taking care of any known pollution that is on-site. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland news please consider making a tax deductible contribution to Lakeland public television.