The Centralia City Council will open bids Monday night on the long vacant Hoffman-Hart building at 122 East Broadway downtown. The city has owned the building for 40 years and is now hoping to find a buyer with a good plan to renovate the structure and put it back to good use. City officials have indicated the future development of the building is likely more important than the price potential buyers are willing to pay.
The council will also be asked to include research laboratories and facilities as a special use in the B-3 Highway Arterial Business District. The move would clear the way for a cannabis testing facility to be located on West McCord near the James Street intersection. The Planning Commission has already approved the special use if the change is made to the zoning code.
Approval of the final union contract will come before the city council. The agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police Union #229 that represents the patrol officers would receive the same four percent increase each of the next four years that the other three police bargaining units received.
The council will be asked to waive the bidding requirements and accept a proposal from Ironhorse, Inc. for repairs to the city’s rail spur in the Centralia Industrial Park. The work will cost $19,466. Mayor Bryan Kuder is asking for approval of the appointment of Bill Agee to the Police Pension Board.
The meeting begins at six Monday night at Centralia City Hall.
