City of Quincy pulls back properties from Land Bank

QUINCY — Citing that it is not a “requirement” but a “preference” for property owners to rebuild on land they purchase under the city’s Fix of Flatten program, the Quincy City Council pulled back four properties they had intended to turn over to the Two Rivers Regional Land Bank Authority.

At Monday’s City Council meeting, Alderman Jeff Bergman (R-2nd Ward) asked if 14 properties that were to go to Two Rivers were going to have a requirement for property owners to build on the lots after purchase.

City Planner Chuck Bevelheimer said there would not be such a requirement, so Bergman asked that four properties be removed from the list because a previous bidder had interest in the properties, but the City declined to accept the bids because there were no firm building plans yet in place.

The prospective buyer, Todd Eyler, said he still had interest in the properties. He had bid $250 for a lot at 326 Lind, $250 for 328 Lind, $1000 for 535 Lind and $1500 for 824 Cherry.

So those properties will remain with the City until Eyler finalizes the purchases.

The 10 properties that aldermen voted to transfer to the Land Bank were: 314 Elm, 616-618 College, 630 N. 5th, 720 Oak, 904 N. 8th, 924 N. 6th, 1420 N. 2nd, 426 College and 633 State.

The Two Rivers Land Bank Authority was established in 2021 to work with communities and partner with developers to improve neighborhoods and redevelop properties in Adams County, Morgan County, Quincy and Jacksonville.

The Council also heard a report on sales tax receipts for Nov. 2023 of $1,095,441, which were higher than the Nov. 2022 total of $1,041,850. Home rule sales tax receipts were also up in Nov. 2023 from the previous November: $1,062,906 from $1,052,279.

In other action, aldermen approved:

• A Special Permit by Mill Creek Water District to allow for the construction of an Elevated Water Storage Tower at 614-706 North 64th St.
• An amendment to an existing Special Permit for Faith Assembly of God allow for the construction of a prayer and worship chapel at 4000 State.
• The purchase of up to 1,200 tons of road maintenance salt from Compass Minerals America in an amount not exceeding $114,720.
• A five-year retainer contract with Crawford, Murphy, and Tilly, Inc. of Springfield, Ill. for airport consulting services.
• The low quote from Shannon Chemical Corporation for the purchase of approximately 9,000 pounds of sodium permanganate at the cost of $1.393 per pound.
• The bid from William Brothers Construction of Peoria for the Phase 3 Water Supply Improvement Project in the amount of $15,320,000 be rejected.
• The invoice from Richards Electric Motor Co. in the amount of $11,115.63 for a ultrasonic transducer and level controller.
• The proposal from Eurofins Environmental Testing of Savannah, Georgia in the amount of $76,685 for analytical testing services for a two-year period beginning April 1, 2024, and ending on March 31, 2026, with an option to extend the service contract for an additional two-year period.
• An invoice from Republic Services of Quincy in the amount $8,967.30 for disposal of materials that are vacuumed out of the City’s sewer system.

Alderman Glen Ebbing (R-5th Ward) returned to the council after missing a couple of meetings due to illness. Alderman Mike Farha (R-4th Ward) was absent due to illness and Alderman Mike Rein (R-5th Ward) was absent due to a death in the family.