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| Abingdon Secures Grant for Demolition of Downtown Buildings |
A plan to tear down condemned buildings in Abingdon apparently won't cost the city a dime.
The buildings, eight of them in the 100 block of South Main Street, have all been purchased by the city in preparation for the wrecking ball in an effort to redevelop the downtown area. The city budgeted money to have the buildings razed, a cost estimated at between $150,000 and $200,000. But now that money might be freed up for other improvements.
Abingdon Mayor Steve Darmer tells WGIL the the Western Illinois Regional Council will make an announcement about grant money in two weeks that will fully fund the demolition.
"Shannon Duncan from WIRC, that we're a member of, is having a hearing on commmunity development funds, that we (Abingdon) have been accepted for a grant for redevelopment of the 100 block bacically for its demolition and everything."
Bids are going out to demolition companies this week, Darmer says, "so we have them on the 20th." He says the bids will be open the morning of April 20th. The public hearing will be at 6:45 that night prior to the regular city council meeting.
Darmer says money the city set aside for the demolition work can instead go for other infrastructure projects, like sewer and power to prepare for redevelopment.
In other business, the council plans to adopt an ordinance at the next meeting to accept a $550,000 loan from the Illinois E-P-A to replace around 150 fire hydrants and 1,200 residential water meters in town. The city would be on the hook for paying back 75 percent of the loan over a 20 year period at 0% interest.
The city council also recognized long-time Abingdon resident Clarke Sherman, who received a plaque for his many years of community service, including volunteering for the Abingdon Senior Bus and the New Horizons program.
Mayor Steve Darmer (right) poses with Clarke Sherman (left) after Monday night's Abingdon City Council meeting. The city recognized Sherman for his many years of community service.
(Story and photo by WGIL's Mike Perry) |
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| 04 06 09 by Newsroom |
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