The city of Brookings is getting into the home-rental business, at least temporarily.

City officials have approved the purchase of two homes in an area where it may be necessary to build an overpass if the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad begins running coal trains from Wyoming. 

One home will be bought for $149,900 and the other for $172,500. 

City Manager Jeffrey Weldon says the two homes could be leveled at some point if the land is needed for an overpass. 

In the meantime, Brookings officials want to get some income from the homes by renting them out. 

DM&E announced a decade ago that it would extend its tracks to the coal fields of Wyoming and run as many as 34 loaded coal trains daily across South Dakota and Minnesota. 

The railroad has negotiated deals to acquire expansion land from some ranchers in southwestern South Dakota, but the firm still needs legal authority to use eminent domain to take land from those unwilling to sell.