Dixon could take loss on seized property
DIXON – The city of Dixon spent years and thousands of dollars trying to get one Dixon resident to clean up his property.
Now, with the property seized and sitting empty, the City Council will have to decide whether to take a loss. The question is on tonight's agenda.
S&D Construction of Dixon was the sole bidder this summer, offering $9,000 in exchange for 1524 W. Third St.
An appraisal completed by Michael Didier with Art Johnson Appraisal Service in March estimates the market value of the property at $12,000.
That's also about how much Mayor Jim Burke and the attorney who worked on the series of cases estimated was spent in court and attorney fees, although the mayor now says he's not sure how much was spent on the prolonged legal battle.
Burke doesn't know if he's in favor of the awarding of the bid to S&D Construction. He wants to hear what the other commissioners have to say, he said.
If the council doesn't OK the sale tonight, it can put the house on the market, listing it through a real estate agency. It also could continue to hold onto the property.
The Dixon City Council will meet at 6 p.m. today in the council chambers of City Hall, 121 W. Second St., to discuss the sale of the seized property.
Also on the agenda
It also will consider:
– Awarding this summer's 26-block street maintenance project to Northwest Illinois Construction Co., the low bidder that came in just under the engineer's estimate at about $410,000.
– Sending the Sauk Valley Islamic Center's variance request and Habitat for Humanity's petitions to the city attorney, which usually means its approval, Mayor Jim Burke said.
Congregants plan to expand the worship room of the center at 202 E. Fellows St., but that means extending the building to within 3 feet of the lot line, something that requires council approval.
Habitat for Humanity wants to build six homes over the next 6 years on a plot between College and Jackson avenues.
– Temporarily increase the number of firefighters by one.
The Dixon Fire Department has been down a firefighter since firefighter and paramedic Andy Brooks was injured during routine maintenance at the city station.
A retirement is expected around the time Brooks would return to work, which would return the number of firefighters to its current level, Burke said.
– Add the city's new finance director, Paula Meyer, to the list of approved signatories on the city's bank accounts.
