Council approves property transfer; Church Street to be vacated as county builds new road

The Belleville City Council approved intergovernmental agreements transferring city property to the St. Clair County Transit District and to the Public Building Commission of St. Clair County, and agreed to vacate a block of Church Street so the county can construct a new road.

The action passed on roll call after discussion during the council meeting. Alderperson Steele asked for clarification about the agreement and the road changes; council members were told the county will construct a new hard-surface roadway that will become city property and that the existing Church Street in that block will be vacated.

Why it matters: vacating a public street and transferring property affects traffic patterns, maintenance responsibility and future site access. Council members asked about scope and ownership during the meeting, and staff confirmed the new road would be owned and maintained by the city after construction.

Details: The intergovernmental agreements included an exhibit describing the area to be vacated and the scope of county work to provide new ingress and egress to the city's sewer plant. The county will perform the construction and associated improvements; the finished road will be the city's responsibility for maintenance.

What was decided: The council voted to approve the intergovernmental agreements and the accompanying property transfer and street vacation language. No schedule for construction or completion dates was specified in the discussion.

Next steps: The agreements themselves and attached exhibits will govern the transfer and the timing of any street vacation; the transcript shows the council approved the motions and closed discussion with roll call votes in favor.