Willow Springs announces Gilmore Building acquisition; board approves minutes, warrants and IPOP agreement

The Willow Springs Village Board on June 20 heard a report that the village is the new owner of the Gilmore Building, and the board approved routine meeting business including minutes, warrants and an IPOP agreement extending from May 1, 2024, to April 30, 2030.

The Village Administrator told the board that, "as of the eleventh, which was last Monday, the village now owns the Gilmore Building" after the court awarded the property for back taxes and the Cook County record shows the transfer. The administrator said village officials will now determine how to return the downtown property to viable use.

During the same meeting the board approved the May 23 minutes after a motion by Trustee Kosh and a second by Trustee Kennedy; a roll-call vote recorded trustees responding "Aye." Trustees also approved the warrants for the described payment period after a motion by Trustee Harris (seconded by Trustee Kennedy), with a roll-call vote recorded as "Aye." The board later approved an IPOP agreement effective 05/01/2024 through 04/30/2030; a trustee who supported the agreement said it removed nuisance provisions and was acceptable on salary terms.

A finance update at the meeting referenced roughly $500,000 in a reported account and cited a stated payment figure of $568,000 (transcript phrasing on exact totals was unclear). The building/permitting update noted that for the first five months the village issued 117 permits totaling 2,483,700 (transcribed figure). The board had no public commenters and did not enter executive session; the meeting adjourned at 7:41 p.m.

The village will pursue next steps on the Gilmore Building and bring any contract or redevelopment proposals to the board for future action.