CoCo's owner asks council to reconsider sale of 309 N Main parking lot

John Cernovich, owner of CoCo's, addressed the Kewanee City Council on April 22 to ask the city to reconsider its decision not to sell the downtown parcel at 309 N Main St.

Cernovich told the council he had believed he owned the parking lot, described improvements he had made (sealcoating and pothole repairs) and said he previously offered to cover transaction costs to avoid the city incurring listing expenses. He said he does not intend to remove public parking spaces and has a verbal agreement with the owner of the building immediately north of the lot to purchase and renovate that property.

City staff had given three reasons the parcel was not part of a sale: the city needs public parking downtown, the city did not want the cost of listing the property, and the adjacent building's door would exit onto the parcel. Cernovich addressed each reason and asked the council to reconsider selling the lot or provide compensation for improvements if the city retains ownership. Mayor Moore said the council would take the request under consideration. The council did not take formal action on the matter during the meeting.

The matter remains unresolved; the transcript records no specific timetable or staff directive for further action.