After about a half hour in executive session on Monday, the Belleville City Council reconvened to buy a piece of property for $50,000.
Before the unanimous vote was taken, Mayor Richard Smith explained that the city had the opportunity to obtain the property at 420 Savage Road for $50,000 under a five-year contract, with the option of paying interest only until the total is due.
Mayor Smith said this offer was to settle the city’s law suit against the owner of the property which is cited for being a nuisance.
He said a credit union now owns the property and to settle the law suit, the city was offered the chance to buy the property, as is, for $50,000. The city agreed to demolish the house and buildings on the property and clean it up.
When the Independent asked what the property would be used for, Mayor Smith said they are considering expansion of the DPW yard, since the property adjoins the yard.
The property at 420 Savage has been in a deteriorating state since the woman who owned it died. Since then, there was a yard sale that wasn’t cleaned up, until city crews cleared the yard a few weeks ago.
In other business at Monday’s brief meeting, the council:
* Approved this summer’s move of Music in the Park from its longtime home at Victory Park to Horizon Park, with a caveat that it must be coordinated with the Bridge Walk/Taste of Belleville use of the area on July 12. Music in the Park will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays, June 24-Aug. 12. The Art Colony is also planned for Horizon Park on Aug. 5, 12, and 19. Mayor Pro Tem Rick Dawson, who serves on the board of Council for the Arts, said the move from Victory Park is to try to get people closer to downtown so they can shop. Voting against the approval was Councilman Jim Shrove who said he does not want to see High Street closed for Music in the Park or any other event, since there will be construction on Main Street and parking will be at a premium;
* Approved use of the Victory Park parking area for a fundraising Bottle Drive on Saturday, April 17, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The proceeds from this even will help fund the 2010 BHS Senior Party after graduation;
* Approved accounts payable of $480,583 and the following purchases in excess of $500: to Dive Rescue International, $730 plus shipping, for an ice rescue suit; and to Service Electric, $5,850 to replace damaged poles on Main Street;
* Heard Bill Wolters state the CBC forgot to get permission to have Flop E. Bunny at Victory Park last Saturday. He said the CBC is in charge of the juried art that will be coming to the Strawberry Festival in June and is looking for potters, glass blowers, weavers, wool spinners, wooden toy makers and other artisans. He said there is a Strawberry Festival meeting at 1 p.m. Friday at City Hall; and
* In reply to a question from the audience, heard Mayor Smith say the paddle boat may not be back this summer because the owner wants to move to Texas. City Manager Diana Kollmeyer said if he decided to come back to Belleville, “We will sit down and have a major discussion with him.”