After months of discussion, the Galesburg City Council has decided to transform the former Churchill Junior High School into a community center.
Galesburg City Council on Monday will have on first reading on the sale of the Churchill Junior High property.
Council documents say the sale of the property would eliminate the need for “City maintenance of the properties, and utility costs, and at the same time place the properties back on the property tax roll.”
Council members shot down on May 1 a contract to design floor plans and schematics for a Churchill community center by a 5-2 vote.
The Council acquired the property from District 205 last May on a 4-3 vote with the intent of developing it into a Community Center, knowing that it would take millions of dollars to bring it up to code.
With a new Council sworn in this month, it marked an apparent change in direction in plans for a community center.
With approval of the ordinance at the June 5th meeting, Council documents say that bids would be received and reviewed by July 5th.
All council members have said they believe Galesburg needs a community center, but disagree on the scope of the project.
Council last December passed a .25 percent increase to the home rule sales tax in part to pay for the principal and interest on $5.3 million in bonds issued in March that were restricted solely for a community center.
District 205 has a right of first refusal to repurchase the property from the City.
Council documents from April 18, 2022, say that “If the City has a bona fide offer from a purchaser, District 205 has the right to purchase the property (or portion of the property) on the same terms.”
