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| City Council Will Consider Selling Properties Monday Night |
The Galesburg City Council appears to be okay with the idea selling of a number of pieces of land available in town, after a number of questions were raised centering around whether or not the city should even be in the real estate business.
Aldermen recently had a discussion about a proposed ordinance that would seek bids on the sale of 50 city-owned vacant lots, and two vacant city-owned houses, as has been done in past years; but First Ward Alderman Ken Goad questioned a provision that in order to buy the property, a development plan must be crafted.
Goad says he's got a better idea that might actually get some of the properties sold. "I'm wondering if we could try a one-year trial period of not requiring a...development plan," Goad said, "and more some of these properties off the city's no-tax roll, get them back on to the city (property) tax roll, as quickly as we can."
Goad says that's because he doesn't think the city should be in the real estate business.
Galesburg Community Development Director Roy Parkin, however, wants the plan to stay as is. "This opens up the bidding to individuals who think they'll have an opportunity to make a killing on lots by purchasing lots for $100, and trying to sell it for $1,000," Parkin said. "These kind of individuals, once they own the property, will not maintain the property."
And Parkin says that means sending out weed and debris notices, and could end up meaning the city will be back owning those lands again.
Action on the ordinance is expected at their meeting this coming Monday, and if approved, the deadline to submit bids would be September 15th. |
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| 08 01 08 by Newsroom |
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