City of Pittsfield plans yard sale
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By BETH ZUMWALT
The city of Pittsfield will have a yard sale with several surplus items, plus some properties that are no longer needed.
“Some of the properties are from our fix or flatten program and others are properties we have had for a while and we are anxious to get them back on the tax roles,” Gary Mendnehall, mayor, said. “For example, the city has owned the former race track property behind the Farm and Home Store for years. It’s time to let someone make it productive again.”
Mendenhall said in addition to the properties, the city will sell old equipment, including some trucks, a dump truck, a back hoe and several other pieces of equipment no longer needed by the city.
“We hope to have a list ready soon and will start taking sealed bids to be due after the first of the year,” Mendenhall said. “Those bidding on the properties will have to submit a plan of what they intend to do with the property and if another plan with a lower bid is in the city’s best interest, the bid will go to the lower bidder.”
He estimated approximately six properties would be on the sale bill.
The city also addressed the sale of two vehicles which have been seized in investigations by the Pittsfield City Police.
“We are going to sell those and use the money to get a new squad car,” Mendenhall said. “After the purchase we will have about $10-$15,000 left over.”
The council also agreed to enter into a Nutrient Assessment Reduction Plan with Northwester. The group will help monitor the watershed and creeks in the area.
“There is a severe water contamination problem in the deep south, New Orleans and that area,” Mendenhall said. “They are trying to figure out where it is coming from and how to stop it.”
The company has installed meters in various places around the city’s watershed and will take readings to submit to the Illinois Environmental Association to be forwarded to the federal agency.
The cost was around $100,00, but a looming Dec. 31 deadline, convinced alderman to hire Northwater to complete the assessment.
City workers will save the city money by taking the readings and having Northwester from sending a meter reader from their home office.
