Hebron council votes against buying former elementary school, cites cost concerns

The Village of Hebron council voted 4–1 on Aug. 28, 2024, to decline securing the former Hebron elementary school property, with members saying the village lacks the funds to rehabilitate and operate the building.

Mayor Valerie Mockus said the village solicitor advised that if council did not act the village could still move forward with acquisition, but she asked council to record its direction tonight. Mockus noted the village’s Comprehensive Plan mentions acquiring the property and said ownership could allow the village to pursue federal, state and county funding that residents could not on their own.

Chief Fiscal Officer Deborah Morgan said the purchase would be “impactful to the general fund,” noting insurance and utilities would be covered but that the village would have to rely heavily on grants for rehabilitation and programming. “Applying for and getting a grant are two different things,” Councilmember Annelle Porter said, arguing the village lacks the resources to fund even partial rehabilitation. Porter moved not to secure the property; the motion passed with Porter, Andrea Chapman, Randy Wolf and Kenney Nauer voting in favor and Jerry Carpenter voting against.

Councilmember Jerry Carpenter suggested making a counteroffer of $1.00 to acquire the building and direct limited funds to future needs, saying he would “introduce the consideration of a counteroffer for the purchase of $1.00, to allow the village to put that money toward whatever we need to do in the future.” The motion failed for lack of a second.

The council did not adopt a follow-up plan to re-open negotiations immediately; Mayor Mockus said nothing prevents the village from later asking the school board if it simply wants to be relieved of the property. The council’s vote records that, for now, the village will not proceed with purchase and remains obligated only to the deposit made on the accepted offer.