Lee County staff report progress using Strong Communities grant to demolish and reuse nuisance properties

County staff reported to the committee that Lee County is moving to use remaining Strong Communities grant funds to demolish selected nuisance residential properties and prepare several sites for reuse or redevelopment.

Jeremy (role not fully specified in transcript) told the committee the county is coordinating with the cities of Dixon and Amboy to process a handful of residential properties for demolition and site remediation using Strong Communities grant funds. Staff said they have less than a year remaining to execute the grant. Jeremy also said the county recently assumed a judicial deed for a former lease center and is in discussions with a developer who may convert the structure to a multiunit residential project; contractors are expected to be brought in later in the week to help establish a development timeline.

The county is negotiating with the owner of another large nuisance property on the outskirts of a community to secure cooperation for clean-up; if that fails, staff said they may pursue legal remedies similar to earlier demolition cases. Committee members asked for updates on timelines; Jeremy said he expects more concrete scheduling information in the coming weeks.

No final board-level approvals or contract awards were recorded in the meeting; staff outlined next steps and promised further committee and board briefings as planning and contractor selection progress.