Sunday, November 13, 2005

City to sell railroad right-of-way land

Sunday, November 13, 2005 - Posted 8:54:42 AM by Editor

The Minonk City Council approved a recommendation by the Economic Development Committee to sell railroad right-of-way property to local businessmen.  City Administrator Trent Smith reported that the EDC had met prior to the City Council meeting at 6 p.m. to discuss the sale of a portion of the railroad right-of-way in the 300 Block of Chestnut Street.  The strip is 50 feet wide by 400 feet long and has the City storm sewer running through the entire length.  As such, an easement would be placed on the entire strip disallowing any structures to be built.  The most the area could be used for is a parking lot or an outside fenced storage area.  Because of these stipulations, it is worth far less than our going rate of $0.60 per square foot.

Rick Uftring would like to purchase 10 feet on the West Side of the strip and Mike Gerdes would like to purchase the remainder of the strip, which is 40 feet.  The 10 feet requested by Rick Uftring would provide access to the rear of his building on Chestnut Street.  Mike Gerdes plans on fencing a portion of his requested property for a secure storage compound and the remainder would be used for parking for his business on Oak Street or another potential business that may be interested in the property. 

The EDC made a recommendation to the City Council that it sell Mike Gerdes a strip 40 feet wide by 400 feet long at $0.10 per square foot and also made a recommendation that they also sell Rick Uftring the other 10 feet of the right-of-way 10 feet by 400 feet long at $0.10 per foot. 

City Administrator Smith said the reason the price is less is because of the stipulation that the land can never be built on.  It will always be open land and we will put an easement on it so that we can go in if the storm sewer ever fails and make repairs on it. 

Rick Uftring also requested that he be allowed to purchase the Southern 20 feet of property on Chestnut Street.  This would square off his lot with the proposed extension of Third Street that goes from Oak Street to Chestnut Street.

This request was also recommended by the EDC to the City Council that it be approved and the price on that would be $0.60 per square foot because that area can be built on if he ever wants.

City Administrator Smith said he would do the necessary documents and ordinances and bring them to the next council meeting on November 21, 2005.

Jason Gerdes donates 63 trees to city

Mayor Koos announced that Jason Gerdes from Gerdes Wholesale Nursery in Harvard, Illinois has given the City of Minonk a gift of 63 evergreen and ornamental trees and extended a big thank you to him.  Koos said that the city will send him a box of Cunningham Chocolates and a box of Zivney Cheese as a token of our appreciation for his most generous donation. Mayor Koos said that this is a lot of money that he has donated to the City of Minonk and it is the third year in a row that he has made this type of donation.

Other business

Mayor Bill Koos announced that Tim Sanders has resigned from the Parks & Rec Board.

Mayor's Comments

The mayor thanked the public works department on the nice job on the first phase of the sidewalk replacement on Oak Street.  He said the project is coming along and looking good.

 The mayor also thanked the public works crew for getting the trees ready to be planted from the donation that the City has received.

City Council Comments

Alderwoman Keri Carls had a constituent who drives and uses a walker  and asked why the ramp was on the right side of the handicapped parking space in front of the IGA grocery store.

City Treasurer Steve O’Riely responded that the reason the ramp is on the right side of the parking space is because of handicapped accessible vans that use the right door to exit the vehicle.

Mayor Koos said we could have Trent talk to public works and see what would be involved if we cut a ramp on the left side of the parking space.

Alderwoman Carls then asked if we do that could we have two handicapped spots in front of IGA?

Trent Smith responded that you could do that but they might complain that you are taking up too many spots.  Mayor Koos told Trent to talk to the IGA.

Alderwoman Carls also asked about the handicapped parking spot in front of the restaurant in the South block of Chestnut Street and said that there is not a ramp for that spot.

City Administrator Comments

Thanked Jason Gerdes for his donation of trees to the City of Minonk  The public works crew will continue with the other half after the trees have been planted.

Hydrant flushing was completed last week.

He has been in contact with Randy Kleen concerning the Christmas lights on the downtown businesses.  

The annual Christmas parade of lights is on Saturday December 3rd.

As per Mayor Koos’ suggestion Brian Kirkton look into installing power down the middle of Suttons Park and the cost was more than expected and it will need to be budgeted.  There is a power supply along Oak Street between the first and second light in the park and above ground drop cords will need to be used this year.

The City has purchased another squad car for the police department for $5300.  It is a used 2001 Ford and upgrades the old car by five years and 30,000 miles.  Radios and an exterior light bar have been installed and the car was put into service last weekend.  The City has $6500 budgeted altogether and will try to obtain a grant for a new car next year.

The auditor will be making his final presentation for the 2004-2005 audit at the next council meeting in November.