Village board adopts ordinance to buy 12 East Jackson Street after EPA clearance

The Village board approved Ordinance 26-21 authorizing the purchase of 12 East Jackson Street after an official told the board that the Environmental Protection Agency had cleared prior contamination at the site.

An unidentified official (Speaker 3) told the board the property — described as an old gutter-company office across from the Jimmy John business and used for overflow parking — had environmental contamination that has been addressed. "This is something I've been working with, mayor Kaufman on for 6 years," the speaker said, adding, "we have gotten all clear from the EPA." The official moved to approve the ordinance; the presiding official (Speaker 1) seconded the motion.

After brief questions were called for and none were offered, the board conducted a roll-call vote. Members named in the transcript each answered "Yes," and the presiding official declared the motion passed and the ordinance adopted. The transcript does not specify the purchase price, financing source or an exact closing date.

The ordinance was described in the meeting only as "authorizing purchase of 12 East Jackson Street" (Ordinance 26-21). The record indicates staff and an unnamed mayor (Mayor Kaufman was mentioned by the speaker) were involved in earlier work to resolve environmental issues and prepare the property for acquisition.

Following adoption, department heads reported no agenda items, trustees had no additional business, and the board adjourned.

Next steps: the transcript records adoption of the ordinance but does not provide implementation details such as closing date, purchase price, or which department will manage acquisition; those details were not specified in the meeting record.