Hartley's new industrial park on Highway 18 has a new occupant.

Doug Bootsma, owner of Bootsma Storage, recently purchased Lot 5 in the southwest corner of the industrial park for $26,000. He's planning a 20-unit storage facility on the site, which he hopes to open next year.

"I doubt I'll be able to get things done by winter, so if I can't, we'll shoot for the spring," he said.

Bootsma, who lives east of Sanborn, is hoping to start moving dirt and completing cement work this fall. He's no stranger to the storage business, as he also owns just over 100 units in Sheldon and Sibley.

He became interested in branching out to Hartley when the new industrial park opened last year, but didn't get serious about it until three months ago.

"The location is perfect, and it's close to where I live," he said. "I think there's a need in Hartley for more storage opportunities."

Each unit in the new facility will be 10'x20'. With the sale to Bootsma, the new industrial park has only four of the original nine lots still on the market.