COTTONWOOD?- Cottonwood is the site of a new Dollar General. The plans were shared in December when KLD Surveying representative Sam DeLeo of St. Cloud appeared before the Cottonwood City Council for the building permit.

The Overland Group from West Plains, Missouri had acquired the land at the intersection of Lyon County Road 10 and Highway 23, northwest corner, to build the new discount store and hired KLD Surveying to lead off the construction project.

DeLeo also attended the subsequent council meeting to request a new plot be approved as well.

Construction began in late April, according to City Clerk-Administrator Charlie Seipel, with a an anticipated competition date of July 4. They tend to catch as many passers-by as they do local residents that way. And, they used local construction and/or service companies whenever possible.

According to DeLeo, Dollar Generals have a high success rate when placed along a major highway, even if the location is near a small town.

In spite of DeLeo’s assurances to the council that these stores do not intentionally detract from Main Street businesses, some residents disclosed in an anonymous survey that they do fear that it will take away from the mom and pop stores downtown.

The survey also revealed that 100 percent of the respondents planned to at least check out the bargains. If it saves a trip to Marshall and can save the purchaser some money, they would patronize the new store.

Some of the items they anticipate purchasing include household cleaners, small gifts and party supplies. Others were interested in canned goods and pricing Dollar General’s dairy products.

Twenty percent of the respondents hazarded a guess as to the percentage of their grocery budget they would spend at the Dollar General, that being 2 to 25 percent of their budget.

Prior to the beginning of this week, the store already had its foundation poured, all four sides and roof are in place and the exterior doors are installed. Buffalo Ridge Concrete was pouring the concrete for the parking lot and side slab for loading/unloading and garbage dumpsters already. The interior is still a mystery, but the goal is to have the store ready by the Fourth of July.

It must be noted that about half the surveys were not returned, which may have skewed the responses somewhat.