Centralia’s new fire chief is scheduled to be sworn in at the Centralia City Council Monday night.
City Manager Kory Smith earlier announced Acting Chief Jeff Day as his choice for the position to replace retired Fire Chief John Lynch. Day started his career with the Centralia Fire Department in 1996, he was promoted to Lieutenant in 2013 and then Captain in 2017.
The council will also be asked to sell five properties as surplus, including the Hoffman Hart building at 122 East Broadway. The council is being asked to approve the proposed sale and redevelopment plan by Purposed Development which will pay $60,000 for the long-vacant building. The council will also be asked to finalize the purchases of property at 902 South Marion, 508 and 510 East Kell, 1015 Franklin, and a lot on Raccoon Lake.
The council will consider a six-year renewal of a lease with the Illinois Central Railroad Company for just under an acre of land on Old US 51 which is the site of Centralia’s water treatment plant. The current lease at $825 a year will remain n effect until 2024 when it will increase to $950 a year.
The meeting begins at six Monday night at Centralia City Hall.
