ROSSVILLE —
Village trustees continued their discussions Monday concerning the building located at 107 E. Attica Street.
The building, site of a former ice cream parlor, has been deteriorating rapidly the last few years. The building has a leaking roof and rotted main floor that has partially fallen into the basement.
The village recently had MSA of Champaign take a look at the building to determine whether it still was structurally sound. MSA is a professional structural engineering firm.
According to the MSA report given to the village, the building still is salvageable.
The problem for Rossville officials is the village does not own the building. The building is in the hands of the Vermilion County tax trustee. The village could purchase the building by paying the back taxes of $648. However, the building then becomes the village’s problem.
Mayor Terry Prillaman has said he sent request for proposals to local contractors and advertised in the newspaper seeking cost estimates for repairing the roof and tuckpointing the parts of the building, as well as other repairs to stabilize the structure.
Prillaman said the deadline for the submitting of proposals is March 15. He said the village could go ahead and stabilize the building and attach a lien to the property, but he doubts anyone would buy it with the lien. He said the other option is for the village to purchase the building, make the repairs and then put the building up for sale.
Another option Prillaman explained to the board is the possibility that the village could purchase the building and then apply for a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant to rehabilitate the structure. However, Prillaman said the village would have to retain ownership of the building. The building could be used for civic purposes or rented out as retail space.
Board members decided to make no decisions on anything regarding the building until the cost estimates for repairs are received.
Board members also received a report prepared by MSA on downtown development planning. Trustee Pete Gossett will select a committee to review the report to see if any of the plans are viable for the village.
What’s next
Rossville Village Board members will meet at 7 p.m. March 19 in the municipal building.
California's Foie Gras Ban About to Begin
6-Year-Old Going to National Spelling Bee
Video Essay: Funky Winkerbean Comic Turns 40
On Thailand Trip, Suu Kyi Visits Migrants
Raw Video: Pink Diamond Auctioned for $17.4M
Hurricane Andrew Remembered, 20 Years Later
Sister Says She Reported Brother in Patz Killing
Patz Suspect's Sister: I Went to Police in 1980s
Diplomatic Expulsions Follow Fresh Syria Report
15 Dead in Northern Italy's 5.8-magnitude Quake
Angry Birds Spreading Their Wings
Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise
Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students
Pope's Butler Vows to Help Vatican Investigation
Couple doesn’t let tropical storm ruin their big day
Tori Bares Baby Bump in Monokini
Even Fla. Police Shocked by Face-Mauling Attack
Letterman on Family Life Post-Scandal
Evans: Serena in shock
Pregnant Reese Wears LBD
Volcano covers Colombian cities in ash
Meet the Crew and Good Ship 'Prometheus'
Los Angeles Bar Bans Bachelorettes
Hamster Plays Dead
Beyonce Shows Off 60 Pound Weight Loss at Concert
Drunk Women Breaking Into Houses: A New Trend?
LeAnn Rimes Rocks Short Shorts
Raw Video: Cop Shoots Man Eating Another's Face
Gordon Ramsay Carried Off Field
Man Dies Getting Lap Dance
Kim Kardashian Claims Items Stolen from Her Luggage
Bear cools off in Calif. family's pool
Ep. 3: Chopped Desserts
Air Force dad surprises family at baseball game
