The Mayer family, who formerly operated a real estate business in De Soto, recently donated an office building at 111-127 W. Pratt St. to the city of De Soto.
The 7,500-square foot building, which is at the corner of West Pratt and Second streets in De Soto, has been appraised at $410,000, City Manager Todd Melkus said.
“The Mayer family graciously donated it to the city,” he said Nov. 12. “They reached out to us a few months back and asked if we would be interested in this. The stipulation is it does have to be used for city purposes.”
Melkus said city officials are in the early stages of discussing what to do with the building, but it’s possible it could eventually be used for a new De Soto City Hall.
“There is no set plan as to what the building will be used for at this time,” he said. “Some preliminary ideas have been moving the administration and utility portions of City Hall, as well as the council, to that location for better access for the public when they are attending meetings, paying their utility bills, etc. There are no immediate plans for any work to be done on the building, but we are excited about future possibilities.”
Melkus said the current City Hall, 17 Boyd St., which houses city offices and the De Soto Police Department, offers limited parking.
The building the Mayer family donated includes a large parking lot across the street from it.
Ronny Mayer said his parents have moved to Las Vegas, and he is in the process of moving there, too.
He also said the donation is a way to thank the De Soto community.
“My parents – Kurt and Eva – always had our business in De Soto,” he said. “The city of De Soto and its residents always supported us in our business. We wanted to give something back to the city and the residents and donated our professional office building.
“I’m sure the city will put the building to good use.”
Melkus said Mayer family members had the building constructed in 1979 and used part of it as their Farm and Home Realty headquarters office and rented out some office space to other businesses.
The De Soto City Council voted unanimously Sept. 20 to accept the donation.
Melkus said city leaders appreciate the donation. “They’re ecstatic,” he said. “They’re appreciative the family wanted to donate this to the city.”