City trades land to Rumples
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By BETH ZUMWALT
The Pittsfield City council voted at the Aug. 1 meeting to trade land to Steve and Debbie Rumple.
The land in question is a plot of 54 acres owned by the city for a plot of 32 acres owned by the Rumples. The city’s property is to the east of the city’s industrial park, while the Rumple property is to the east of the state police headquarters.
“The property we are trading has a lot of timber on it and a creek runs through it,” Gary Mendenhall, mayor, said. It’s only about 38 tillable acres and it’s hilly.”
The city had originally planned to expand the industrial park onto the 54 acres at a cost $4.4 million, most of which would be covered by a grant.
“But, we found out there were a lot of strings attached to that money,” Mendenhall said “We weren’t willing to take the risks.”
Meanwhile, the city has acquired 32 acres of much flatter land that will be much cheaper and easier to develop as an additional space to attract new businesses.The advantage to the Rumples will be 54 acres of land contiguous to property they already own.
“The property we are acquiring should be much easier to develop and much cheaper,” Mendenhall said. “In the original estimate to expand the industrial park, a lot of that $4.4 million was for excavating.”
On a divided vote with all alderman voting Yes, except Robert Ritchart, the council agreed to allow campers or trailers to park on property near Green Acres Motel on Washington Street in Pittsfield.
“I don’t think we need a trailer park on the main street in the middle of town,” Ritchart said after voting No. “There are other places they can park.”
The property is owned by Jennifer Stendbeck and Jessica Funk.
“I think they are trying to capitalize on lots of the construction workers that should be coming to the area in the next year or so to work on the new bridge at Florence. A lot of those guys have their own campers and need a place to park.”
Mendenhall said the Pittsfield City Lake is not an option because there are no individual tank receptacles nor any way to keep the water from freezing.
“She could build it behind her restaurant,” Richart said. Stendbeck owns the Riverbank in Florence.
The council voted to approve the measure and said they were confident Stendbeck would keep the area neat and tidy and not allow derelict trailers. Any trailer or camper parked there, must keep the axles underneath.
The alley on the north side of the Reach Out Center will be closed for approximately three weeks while the Center’s facade is demolished and new one replaced.
Contractor Joe Petty will let the city know a starting date.
The council also agreed to continue with projects at the airport.
“It is being used a lot more now than it was,” Mendenhall said. “We need to get our airport compliant.
The city is awaiting an airport equipment grant from the Illinois Department of Transportationn.
“We will jump through what ever hoops they want us to,” Mendenhall said. “Next is replacing run-way lights and installing an electrical vault.”
