City discusses property sales, lead service line replacement

Helen Spencer
·3 min read
Real Estate
Real Estate

MACOMB — The city's committee of the whole on Monday heard a proposal to sell several city properties, and who is responsible for the replacement of lead service lines.

John Bannon, Community Development Coordinator said the City of Macomb has acquired 11 properties through the Blight Reduction Program. The three years the city was required to keep the properties expired in December 2021. He proposed selling the properties so the City would not have to pay for mowing, as there are currently no taxes on the parcels.

The properties are located in the Southwest quadrant and would not be used for parks or other City use. He said at least three neighbors have come forward and are interested in purchasing some of the properties.

The properties are as follows: 609 W Woodbury S.t, 502 W Kelly St., 1003 E Carroll St., 314 W Chase St., 341 W Carroll St., 720 W Jefferson St., 415 W Jefferson St., 457 S Madison St., 517 W Kelly St., 810 S Garfield St., 501 W McDonough, 633 W Woodbury St., and 321 W Woodbury St.

Bannon said there are funds left in the Strong Communities Grant which allowed the City to demolish buildings that have significant building condition issues and are not being taken care of by the owner. He anticipates there will be enough funding to demolish five to nine buildings. There are 13 on the list, with the ones in the worst condition at the top of the list. They include: 722 N. Pearl, 118 Harmony Lane, 408 S. MacArthur, 250 N. Bonham, 129 Chandler, 421 N. Lafayette, 302 W. Calhoun, 720 E. Carroll, 521 E. Pierce, 421 E. Jefferson, 530 W. Orchard, 407 W. Orchard, and 420 W. Orchard.

Lead service line replacement

According to Alice Ohrtmann, Public Works Director on January 1 the State of Illinois passed new lead service and replacement regulations that do not allow partial lead replacement. Current City policy is that the homeowner is responsible for the cost of replacing the water service from the curb stop to the home.

The state regulation does not specify if the homeowner or City is responsible for costs associated with replacing the entire lead system. Ohrtmann is asking the City Council to use remaining grant funds this time for the Dudley Street Water Main Project to remove lead lines and in the near future have the City make the final determination on responsibility.

Ohrtmann also presented the same issue with the South Johnson Water Main Project, except the funding source would be Rebuilding Illinois, which was money received during the pandemic. This water main project contains six homes that are connected. She is waiting to hear from IDOT whether they can use the remaining funds to replace lead lines.

Updating Chandler Park

Marcia LeFante, Committee Chair of Flags of Love made a presentation to the committee of the whole Monday about updating the area north of the fountain in Chandler Park.

The entire project, which would make both ends of the park look similar, would be funded with money left in their budget, she said. It was mentioned the concrete is cracking in the park and needs to be replaced. Bricks and benches would be also added.

Action from the City Council will be taken at the first meeting in February on these issues.

This article originally appeared on The McDonough County Voice: Macomb real estate water infrastructure