By Steven Spencer
The Jerseyville City Council approved a motion to purchase property from the Jersey County Trustee at their regular meeting on Tuesday, May 27.
City Attorney William Strang explained that the motion to purchase parcel 04-842-003-00 off of Giddings Street would allow the lot to be conjoined with the adjacent vacant lot the city owns.
“It was sold at taxes previously and so now it’s owned by the Jersey County Trustee and once the Jersey County Trustee owns and then tries to sell it through a tax sale and it doesn’t work then they offer it up,” Strang said. “There’s a standard fee of $750 that the city can pay to then own that and connect it so that it becomes back on the tax rolls and it’s connected to the vacant property there.”
Strong said if the city pays the fee along with the recording fee they can control the property and sell it along with the adjacent property.
City council unanimously approved the motion to enter into the purchase agreement with a total cost of $838.
The council also approved an ordinance maintaining the Municipal Grocery Retailers’ Occupation Tax and a Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax.
Mayor Kevin Stork said it was a matter of housekeeping to maintain the tax that is currently used for a number of things including police, fire, parks and more.
A tourism grant submitted by Steve Pegram with Got Faith? was also approved by the council at Tuesday’s meeting to help with expenses for various events planned by Got Faith? between May and December.
In other business, the council approved a motion to amend the zoning of 209 South Washington Street from R-5 to B-3, with special use for alcohol, as recommended by the Planning and Zoning Board.
Property owner Tammy Shireman told the Planning and Zoning Board the building will be used as an event space, the Bell Haus, for birthday parties, wedding receptions, class reunions, showers and other events.
City Council also approved the reappointments of Kenneth Breden, Jennifer Doody and Jeff Heitzig to the Planning and Zoning Board.
