The City of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, led by City Manager Michael Spurgeon, has successfully acquired the iconic grain elevator located in downtown Broken Arrow. The announcement came on Monday, April 22, 2024, after the city's bid of $250,000 was accepted by Hansen-Mueller, the current owner and a commodity trading business.
The bid was part of an online auction that concluded on April 18, with the city's offer being one of two identical bids submitted simultaneously at 11:07:40 AM. Following deliberation, the Hansen-Mueller board of directors decided to accept the city’s proposal, as conveyed to Norman Stephens, Assistant City Manager of Administration.
City Manager Spurgeon expressed his enthusiasm for the acquisition: “This is incredibly exciting news for Broken Arrow and the citizens who work and live in BA. The grain elevator has become an iconic image standing tall over downtown Broken Arrow, and therefore, the City Council and I felt it was vital to acquire the towers to preserve the historical and cultural character of our community for future generations.”
The city's primary goal for the grain elevator is preservation, reflecting the community's desire to maintain this part of their local heritage. Historical significance of the site is underscored by contributions from The Museum Broken Arrow, which noted that the current grain elevator, built in 1962, is the last of several that once stood along the Katy Railroad tracks. It has since become a defining feature of the city's skyline and a symbol of the connection between Broken Arrow's past, present, and future.
The Broken Arrow City Council, in its capacity as the Broken Arrow Economic Development Authority, is scheduled to review the purchase agreement during a regular meeting in May. Approval of this agreement will lead to the city taking formal ownership of the grain elevator after the closing process is completed.
