The Newton County Commission is putting up for bid a parcel of land it owns along Malcom Mosby Drive, between Business 71 and Briggs Road.

The land surrounds the Neosho Cinema 6 and the Missouri Department of Transportation offices, and is approximately 148 acres.

The announcement of the county seeking bids for the land sale will go out next week, according to Newton County presiding commissioner Jerry Carter.

Carter said the reason the county is putting the land up for bid sale is that the county shouldn’t be “in the land development business.”

“It is better for the city and private industries to develop,” Carter said. “The sale of the land would provide resources the county could use for capital improvements and building expenses.”

Carter outlined possible projects the money from the sale of the land could go toward:

n Expansion of the Newton County Jail.

n Moving of the 911 call center to the armory building.

n Creating the archive center at the armory building.

n Other expansion needs.

“We would be able to do some of those projects without impeding on our general revenue fund or other tax entities,” Carter said.