1999: $1.6 million deal turns farm fields to home sites

April 14, 1999: Mel Foster Co. purchased 100 acres over four tracts of prime development land, known as the Muhs property, for $1.6 million. A fifth tract of land, containing a farmhouse and outbuildings, was purchased for $316,000 by Norman and Lois Muhs. The property was located west of Mel Foster’s Townsend Farms addition. The North Scott School District said it was interested in purchasing 20 acres for new athletic field and a possible new elementary school, and the city of Eldridge was also interested in five to seven acres for a new park.