City, WTA closes on buildings

SIDNEY -- Worldwide Trophy Adventures has taken possession of the building at 13th Avenue and Illinois Street and the City of Sidney has taken ownership of the WTA building at 1200 Pole Creek Crossing.

City Manager David Scott said the title company was at the county office about 9:30 this morning filing the paperwork on the purchase. He said the WTA will take some time.

The City plans to move the police department to the WTA location.

"We do know that Ryan (Watchorn) at WTA has asked us for a couple months, until March first, to get everything moved out of his current building, and we're OK with that," Scott said.

Scott said retrofitting the WTA building for the police department is expected to take minimal work.

"We need to put a secure entry way in, so that will be one thing we need to do, and it will need to be a double entry way. Coming into the building right now, there's just one door and you're into the whole building. The police department would like a double entry. That way when someone comes they have to be buzzed in," he said.

WTA inquired about the building after UST Global approached the city in late 2022 asking to end their agreement with the City. The City and WTA negotiated a proposal with WTA purchasing the 13th Avenue building for cash, ending the LB840 commitment and title of the Pole Creek Crossing building. 

Two public meetings were held in August 2023 for the public to speak to the subject.