A local electrical union will likely expand its headquarters on a parcel of land it recently acquired just north of Des Moines, an official said. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 55, paid the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church $950,000 for the 1.3-acre parcel at 5345 N.E. 14th St., Polk County real estate transactions show.

The property includes a 3,360-square-foot church building that previously was home to Marquisville United Methodist Church (pictured right). The parcel also includes a single-family house that was built in 1952. The church building was constructed in 1956. The property is valued at $741,000.

The local’s headquarters is at 1435 N.E. 54th Ave., immediately north of the church property.

The recent Northeast 14th Street widening project took about one-third of Local 55’s parking, said Shane Nelson, the group’s business manager. “Our initial use for the property is going to be for parking. When we have large meetings or events, some of our guests have to park down the street near Bomgaars.”

The church and house will be torn down at a yet-to-be-decided future date, Nelson said. The local will either expand its current headquarters or construct a building in which to hold events, he said. Any facility expansion will occur in three to five years, he said.

“We’re expecting big growth in our industry in the next decade,” Nelson said. “With [the planned buildout] of the electrical grid coming, we’re going to be looking for more workforce, which means our membership will be expanding.”

Local 55 represents the people who install and maintain overhead distribution and transmission lines that move electrical power from power plants to consumers’ homes and businesses. They also clear downed lines and trim tree branches near power lines.

“We’re the people who respond to storms, and repair and replace the electrical grid and clear the trees off of lines,” Nelson said.

The federal government is making plans to improve the electrical grid, making it more resilient to storms, adding capacity and making it more secure. To accomplish that multibillion-dollar task, hundreds of additional outdoor power linemen are needed, Nelson said.

Local 55 currently has about 1,100 members. In the coming years, membership could grow to about 1,600, Nelson said. More members will prompt the need for expanded meeting and event space, he said.

The transaction between Local 55 and the United Methodist conference was recorded Oct. 1.

In transactions that occurred in Dallas County:

Cross Country Estates LLC, located in Johnston, paid Springcrest Townhomes Waukee 2 LLC $1.92 million for undeveloped property at 11th and Maple streets in Waukee, Dallas County real estate records show. The parcel includes 20.39 acres. The transaction was recorded Oct. 4.

Pecon LLC, located in Polk City, paid Prairie Fire LLC $1.1 million for undeveloped property south of Interstate Highway 80 and about one-fourth of a mile east of Ute Avenue, records show. The parcel includes 8.5 acres. The transaction was recorded Oct. 4.