The DeKalb City Council Monday approved the $32,000 sale of about five acres of land in the Wurlitzer Industrial Subdivision located on East State Street.

E.B. Inc. has agreed to pay DeKalb $15,580.75 for about 2.4 acres of land in lot two of the subdivision. The firm plans to build a 12,000-square-foot facility and offer 18 new jobs during the next two years, City Manager Mark Stevens said.

Bollinger Construction Co. is purchasing about 2.6 acres from the city at a cost of $16,802.56. Stevens said the firm plans to build a 4,000-square-foot facility in lot 4 of the subdivision. Stevens said it is unknown whether the Bollinger expansion will create more jobs.

The city purchased the 32-acre Wurlitzer property for $150,000. The city has conducted site improvements on the property and plans to sell 25 additional lots in the subdivision, Stevens said. The entire project is funded through Tax Increment Financing, he said.

Under TIF, DeKalb receives 5 percent of the state’s 6 percent sales tax collected in the TIF district. Due to the recent override of a line item veto by Gov. James Thompson, DeKalb will get about $670,000 in TIF funds this year, Stevens said.

Both lots were sold at a rate of $6,500 per acre. Stevens said the $32,383.31 the city will receive for the two lots will go into the TIF fund to be used for eligible TIF projects.

In other business, Loren Galbraith, a Jewel Food Store representative, reported Jewel, 1320 Sycamore Road, was unable to purchase land behind the store to use for a truck turnaround. With a turnaround, trucks would not have to use 13th Street. Galbraith told the council Jewel is working on site plans for a restricted exit on 13th.

DeKalb Mayor commended Galbraith for Jewel’s attempt to purchase land to be used as a turnaround. “I certainly appreciate your efforts in going the extra mile to try to get it (the sale) worked out.”

The council at its Sept. 14 meeting approved a zoning change allowing Jewel to use land behind its store for a truck turnaround.