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A dilapidated building on a parcel of land purchased in November by the Morton Village Board will be removed so the village won’t have to pay for its demolition.
Board members agreed Monday to give the building to Morton resident Pete Holman at no cost. Under the terms of the agreement, Holman must remove the building by Feb. 1 and clean up the site.
“We appreciate Mr. Holman’s offer because it saves the village money,” said Mayor Norm Durflinger.
The parcel is in downtown Morton. It was purchased for $75,000. It’s a 25-foot strip of abandoned railroad property that is adjacent to a larger parcel purchased by the board for $161,000.
The larger parcel contains a former Comcast office at 300 S. Main St., and a closed car wash at 119 Washington St. Purchase agreements for the parcels specify that the office, car wash and building on the railroad property must be demolished or removed within six months.
A downtown development plan approved late last year by the board calls for a downtown plaza. The parcels purchased by the village could be used for that plaza. In fact, the parcels can only be used for a plaza for seven years.
Also Monday, board members:
• Received from resident Bob Bright a printout of an email that contradicts an assertion made by Morton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jennifer Daly that the Morton Kiwanis Club, not the chamber, was behind a decision not to put hay bales along the Morton Pumpkin Festival soap box derby course last year.
Bright criticized the chamber’s handling of the Pumpkin Festival at the Jan. 2 board meeting. Daly responded to Bright’s numerous concerns in a letter to the board.
• Heard a statement by Durflinger concerning the death Friday of former public works superintendent Bob Wraight.
“We need to thank Mr. Wraight for his service to Morton,” Durflinger said. “Every time we drive on a smooth street, get a glass of water, flush a toilet or turn up the heat on our gas furnace, he’s the reason.
“We can’t repay Bob for the countless hours he dedicated to our community. His love of the village was second to none. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Denise, and their family.”
A dilapidated building on a parcel of land purchased in November by the Morton Village Board will be removed so the village won’t have to pay for its demolition.
Board members agreed Monday to give the building to Morton resident Pete Holman at no cost. Under the terms of the agreement, Holman must remove the building by Feb. 1 and clean up the site.
“We appreciate Mr. Holman’s offer because it saves the village money,” said Mayor Norm Durflinger.
The parcel is in downtown Morton. It was purchased for $75,000. It’s a 25-foot strip of abandoned railroad property that is adjacent to a larger parcel purchased by the board for $161,000.
The larger parcel contains a former Comcast office at 300 S. Main St., and a closed car wash at 119 Washington St. Purchase agreements for the parcels specify that the office, car wash and building on the railroad property must be demolished or removed within six months.
A downtown development plan approved late last year by the board calls for a downtown plaza. The parcels purchased by the village could be used for that plaza. In fact, the parcels can only be used for a plaza for seven years.
Also Monday, board members:
• Received from resident Bob Bright a printout of an email that contradicts an assertion made by Morton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jennifer Daly that the Morton Kiwanis Club, not the chamber, was behind a decision not to put hay bales along the Morton Pumpkin Festival soap box derby course last year.
Bright criticized the chamber’s handling of the Pumpkin Festival at the Jan. 2 board meeting. Daly responded to Bright’s numerous concerns in a letter to the board.
• Heard a statement by Durflinger concerning the death Friday of former public works superintendent Bob Wraight.
“We need to thank Mr. Wraight for his service to Morton,” Durflinger said. “Every time we drive on a smooth street, get a glass of water, flush a toilet or turn up the heat on our gas furnace, he’s the reason.
“We can’t repay Bob for the countless hours he dedicated to our community. His love of the village was second to none. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Denise, and their family.”
