Rock Island City Council recently met to vote on farm lease renewals and the Hauberg Center property sale.
Rock Island City Council recently met to vote on farm lease renewals and the Hauberg Center property sale.
The Rock Island City Council voted on renewing farm leases with three local farmers -- covering nearly 115 acres of land -- during a meeting at Rock Island City Hall on Feb. 24
Andrew Kordik has requested a one-year lease agreement for 17 acres of land at the corner of Illinois 92 and Andalusia Road. Kordik has been farming the parcel for years without official city approval. City officials said they believe Kordik made a handshake agreement with a former official to use the land. The change of use required the city to pay $415 in property taxes on a parcel that would have otherwise been tax exempt.
James Coyne also sought approval to continue farming the 80-acre Big Island property at the interchange of Interstate 280 and IL-92 until the city decides to develop the site.
Todd Stegmiller asked to renew his lease with the city for his certified organic soybean farm at Ridgeview Business Park. Stegmiller began farming the 14.45-acre site last year.
The city has proposed charging all three farmers a rate of $87.75/acre.
The council also voted on a resolution that would declare the Hauberg Center surplus property and make it available to go up for sale via sealed-envelope bids.
Finally, the council considered usage requests for Rock Island's plaza for a number of 2016 events, such as the Tour de Brew and the American Heart Association's Quad Cities Heart Walk.
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