Published: July 12, 2008 09:20 pm      

City may consider apartment purchase

DANVILLE — An option to purchase the Colonial Apartments building at 220-222 W. North St. and garage behind it at 35 Pine St. is back on the agenda for city council action.

Aldermen earlier this month postponed action on it due to unanswered questions, including whether the property really is needed for the proposed Courtesy Ford expansion.

“It must appear on the agenda simply because the council postponed the item to this next meeting, but it could be withdrawn at the beginning of the meeting,” Mayor Scott Eisenhauer said Friday.

“It was discussed in closed session. It has been talked about generally when the Western Gateway TIF (tax increment financing) was passed. And we are not at liberty to negotiate development deals in a public forum,” he added. “Yes, we are asking the aldermen to have some blind faith …”

He again reiterated that no developer wants to negotiate development deals in the public. Pieces of the puzzle still are being put together.

Eisenhauer said city officials have not done anything different with this development project than with others it’s negotiated.

He said part of the project deals with Courtesy’s expanded Dodge dealership being located off of the Ford property.

Courtesy officials continue to look at options, as the tax increment financing redevelopment agreement discussions are ongoing, he said.

Eisenhauer said the apartment property is important to purchase now, whether for immediate redevelopment use or not.

Since aldermen’s concerns were raised two weeks ago, Public Development Director John Heckler has talked to three or four aldermen on the telephone about unanswered questions.

Under the option, the city would spend TIF dollars to purchase within four months the properties from John Cunningham for $225,000. It’s paying $10,000, nonrefundable, upfront as the option price to be applied to the purchase price at closing.

In other business Tuesday, the council will consider approving:

--East-west and north-south alley vacations in the southwest corner of Fairchild and Gilbert streets for Walgreens on Fairchild Street to move across the street.

--Everett Tims’ request to vacate an alley adjacent to his home at 3 Grace St.

He said the alley has been problematic. Persons have been arrested in the alley and patio furniture and lawn mowers have been stolen in the area.

Public Works Director Doug Ahrens, however, said the alley is one of two options that northbound vehicles can exit Grace Street.

Further discussions would be needed prior to making part of that area one-way south only.

--The termination of contracts with A & P Services of Danville for four building demolitions due to improper documentation provided to the city.

The buildings are at: 331 Harmon, 509 Lafayette, 7 S. Buchanan and 12 Corrine at costs of $8,500, $9,750, $4,000 and $9,750, respectively.

Aldermen also will consider not approving the next lowest bids on the projects, which are about $29,000 higher, but re-bidding the demolitions.

--A $625,370 contract with Cross Construction of Urbana for the 2008 overlay program and a $215,134 contract with Daniel L. Ribbe Trucking of Tilton for the 2008 seal coat program.

Streets to be seal coated with oil and chip include sections of: Beason, Bliesath, Coake, Crawford, Factory, Hill, Hooker, Kinney, Nelson, Nicklas, Ray, Victory, Griggs, Junction and North State.

Streets to be overlaid with asphalt/concrete include sections of: Hazel, North, Seminary, Fairchild, Townway and Sunset Ridge.

--A utility easement to Aqua Illinois for water line purposes through Ellsworth Park.

--A $132,166 contract with Duce Construction Co. of Champaign to complete modifications to the Danville Mass Transit bus transfer zone.

Danville Mass Transit Director Dick Brazda said the entrances and exits will be replaced at a lower grade because buses sometimes bottom out at the steep drives. The work is federally funded.

--Purchasing a new bus wash system for $90,500 from Ross & White Co. of Cary with federal funding.

The current system is 25 years old and not designed for the new wider buses.

--A lease agreement with the Vermilion County War Museum.

The museum will pay the city $1 a year for 10 years as rent for the building. The museum also pays utility bills.

--Herbert (Pete) M. and Beth A. Lappin’s request for a special-use permit to temporarily place a mobile home north of the city at 17147 Stable Lane in the A-2 development reserve zoning district. The zoning commission’s recommendation stipulates that a house must be built on the site within four years.

COMING UP

The Danville City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Robert E. Jones Municipal Building, 17 W. Main St.