By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

A Marion couple has agreed to purchase a building in the industrial park to open a diesel repair center with mobile service operations.

After negotiating back and forth with the city for property at 828 N. Roosevelt formerly under a lease-purchase agreement with previous owners who defaulted, Jesse and Symba Newman, who live at Marion Reservoir, struck an agreement with the city to purchase the property for $175,000.

City council members on Thursday accepted their offer, contingent on an earnest deposit of $1,000 and closing on or before July 11. Council members authorized economic development director Randy Collett to execute the sales agreement.

On Monday, the Newmans agreed to the city’s contingencies.

The Newmans are working with the Small Business Center in Emporia to draw up a business plan, and then will work with Collett to develop capital and financing, he said.

Two years ago, the building was purchased under a lease-purchase agreement with John and Amy Minor, doing business as JALM Business Group. The Minors originally operated the business as Power Track Sliding Door Systems of Kansas and later added Central Plains Perma-Column to their services.

The Minors vacated the building earlier this year and the city is suing them for $28,327.63 in unpaid rent, plus interest, costs of the lawsuit, and compensation for any damages to the building.

The Newmans could not be reached for comment before the newspaper’s print deadline.