The Centralia City Council Monday night will be asked to allow demolition of eight more homes that have been condemned due to their deteriorating condition. They are at 160 Washington, 618 North Beech, 1124 South Hickory, 529 North Cherry, 905 South Hickory, 909 South Hickory, 504 North Beech, and 1208 Case Street. If approved, the city will pursue demolition of the properties and place liens against them for the full amount of the cost of tearing them down. Money for the work will come from the 2023 Community Development Demolition Fund.
The council will also be asked to amend an ordinance to allow current billboards to be updated to monument signs with approval of a special use permit. No high rise electronic signs would be allowed under the proposed change.
An ordinance will be presented to allow the Centralia Community Youth Center Association to continue to occupy its facility at 1224 East Rexford for an annual lease of $1. Under the terms of the lease, the youth center will have to provide minimum liability insurance of $1-million and will be responsible for all utilities as in the past. City Manager Korey Smith says the lease benefits the city by releasing it from liability and claims.
The council will be asked to disperse the first funding from the #5 Tax Increment Financing District of $27,188 to Re:Purpose Development, LLC under its downtown development agreement with the city. The payment will cover professional services, property assembly, and financing costs.
At the start of the meeting, two new Centralia Police officers will be sworn in. They are Tyler Crawford and William Henegar. They will start their training at the Southwestern Illinois Law Enforcement Academy on December 22nd. Following graduation, they will complete a 12 week field training officer program at the Centralia Police Department before working on their own.
The meeting begins at six Monday night.
