Village On Hold to Finalize Former Police Headquarters Property

The former headquarters, 61 W. Main St., was , and the village's project is on hold before the project can be finalized financially.  

Contaminated soils have been completely removed from the site by Champion Environmental, the company awarded the contract in October 2010, but it filed for bankruptcy, creating some difficulties for the village.

“Champion filed for bankruptcy, and it tied up our ability to close up the project financially,” said Village Administrator Bob Vitas. “We have been caught up with the subcontractors due to the company going into receivership. We couldn’t extend the funds to finish paying on the job, but we are close to resolution on that.”

The Lake County Health and Community Services committee recently granted an extension to allow time for the financial ends to be tied up.

, or 50 percent of the cost — whichever is less, in matching funds to complete the roughly $215,000 project.

Champion’s portion was approximately $160,000, while village staff services were budgeted at $52,000. 

Vitas said all of the costs not covered by the grant were funded by tax increment financing dollars.

Underground storage tanks containing fuel, which in 2002 were found to be leaching petroleum-based products into the surrounding soils, have been removed from the site.    

The tanks were at one time used to fuel village vehicles.

The clearing of the site now paves the way for future development of that property in addition to other properties located within the TIF district.

“The site basically has been restored, and is now what is considered a ‘pad-ready site’ for development,” Vitas said. “The whole purpose behind this project was to clear up any problems with the site so it is immediately available.”

The village is still working with consultants to determine the direction the proposed downtown redevelopment should take.

“I expect the first week of November reports from the three firms will be back and that sets the stage so our energy will be focused, defined and meaningful,” Vitas said.

In addition to the old police headquarters, Vitas said the Comet Welding building will be vacant by Dec. 31 and it too will undergo remediation if necessary, which would be the final remediation project included in the Brownfield Grant.

Asbestos removal also will occur at the former Mexico Lindo Restaurant property.

Demolition on both properties is expected to begin in the spring, making two more properties in the TIF district ripe for future development.