KEN EXUM/The Register-MailThis Feb. 2, 2006 file photo shows the former O.T. Johnson (No. 1) and Gross Galesburg (No. 2) properties, currently owned by Dr. Richard and Sally Nelson, and Rugbeater Antiques (No. 3, since demolished), owned by John Robbins. The city is hoping to quickly gain ownership of both properties.
Fire cleanup, property in limbo
Owners of burned buildings have yet to cede land to city
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
GALESBURG - City officials hoped a vote on the donation of the former O.T. Johnson, Gross Galesburg and Rug Beater Antiques properties could come before the Galesburg City Council as soon as Monday's meeting, but time is running short to be able to bring it before the council that soon.Community Development Director Roy Parkin said John Robbins of Bolingbrook, the owner of the former Rug Beaters Antiques building, 137 E. Main St., has returned his signed letter of donation. Rug Beaters was not destroyed by the massive fire that roared through a large part of the 100 block of East Main Street on Jan. 23, but structural engineers determined the building was unsafe and it was demolished.
Parkin said he is waiting for the signed letter from Dr. Richard and Sally Nelson of Clinton, Iowa, the owners of the former O.T. Johnson's building, 125 E. Main St., and Gross Galesburg, 152 E. Ferris St. He said he does not want to take the matter before the council until he has the signed letters of donation back from Robbins and the Nelsons.
"We talked with them last week and they have expressed interest in still doing that," Parkin said of Richard and Sally Nelson's desire to give the property to the city.
Sally Nelson said Feb. 15 she had signed an agreement turning the land over to the city. Parkin said then what Mrs. Nelson signed was basically a letter of intent, not the formal donation agreement.
Once the owners donate the properties to the city, they will not be liable for any of the demolition or cleanup costs, expected to be about $500,000. Parkin said once the signed donation letter is returned by the Nelsons, if the council votes to accept donation of the property, bids will have be let and approved by the City Council for the cleanup of thousands of bricks remaining on the property.
The Jan. 23 fire claimed the life of 23-year-old Michael Olson of Galesburg. No cause for the blaze has been determined. Fire Chief John Cratty said, "We'll continue to leave it open. What we'll list it as in the state fire reporting is undetermined."
Cratty said the department has had cases in the past with the cause initially listed as undetermined but new information became available later that enabled the fire department to determine the cause. He said something could turn up during the cleanup that might lead investigators to a determination of the cause of the blaze.
