By Al Strain, Owatonna People’s Press

ELLENDALE — Ellendale is one step closer to seeing a new gas station come to town and set up shop right off of Interstate 35.

On Thursday, the Ellendale City Council unanimously approved the preliminary platting for a new Casey’s General Store to be constructed on the west side of Exit 26.

“It’s a presence along the interstate, heading up north. Ellendale is a wonderful community, and we’re excited to be part of that,” said Brian DePrez, real estate and store development associate for Casey’s. “We’ve looked around this part of the state to try and find something, especially along the interstate, which is just a natural fit. We’re very excited about it.”

Part of the appeal for bringing a station to Ellendale is the visibility it offers to a lot of traffic, DePerez said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing an interstate sign with our name on it … Every time I drive by here, I can see the site from a mile-plus away,” DePrez said. “I’m just anxious for it to be there. Hopefully we can work on some more along the interstate, but I’m really looking forward to this one.”

The site will feature a building that is about 4,600 square feet with pumps for diesel and regular, unleaded gas.

Casey’s is also working with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to install a center turning lane at the entrance to the station and to slightly widen the road.

“That way, vehicles that want to pull in and pull out, they’re not interfering,” DePrez said.

The site has a vacant gas station and canopies, which will be torn down, DePrez said. If all goes well, it will take roughly four to five months to construct the new store. There is another shed near the site, which will remain as it’s not part of the property.

Ellendale Mayor Roger Swearingen said utility infrastructure is already in place at the site.

“We have a big enough waterline to service you; that’s already out there. The sanitary sewer, the lift station is right there. It couldn’t be any better as far as we’re concerned,” Swearingen said. “We don’t really have to do anything else to facilitate their progress because we’ve got the utilities out there already.”

Casey’s will move forward with the demolition as soon as the council gives final approval, DePrez said. The council will discuss the final plat during its next meeting on July 10.

DePrez said plans to bring another store to Steele County, this one in Medford, are still in the preliminary stages.