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Editorials
County board looks ahead with purchase : Editorials : Oswego Ledger-Sentinel : Hometown Newspaper for Oswego and Montgomery, IllinoisCounty board looks ahead with purchase
| 8/30/2012
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The Kendall County Board made the correct move last week when it voted 6-2 to approve the purchase of a vacant building across the street from the county's historic courthouse in downtown Yorkville, a block north of the county office building.
The county will purchase the building at 107 West Madison Street from Jim Olson at a cost of $175,000. The county has no immediate plans to use the building for office space or to tear it down. In fact, after voting to purchase the building, the county approved an agreement that will allow Olson to lease the building and use it as a residence and for his land surveying business.
Board Chairman John Purcell voiced support for the purchase, noting that the building and lot could one day provide office space for the county, expanded parking, or both.
"It's easier and less expensive to buy property now then it is to pick up the whole campus, rebuild somewhere else," Purcell said. "Now, that could be 10, that could be 20, that could be 40 years from now but now's the time to buy property."
Purcell is exactly right. It makes perfect sense for the county to acquire additional properties that adjoin the historic courthouse and county office building for later re-development for use by the county and the public.
It's hard to believe, but in the mid-1990s, the county board seriously considered selling the then dilapidated old courthouse. Some board members at that time were not interested in preserving what is arguably the most historic building in the county. They also expressed doubt as to how a renovated courthouse would be of use. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and soon federal and state grants were obtained to pay for the building's restoration. Since its re-opening, the courthouse has housed the offices of the county's forest preserve district, regional office of education, and Kendall Area Transit (KAT). The building's third floor courtroom also provides a needed public gathering space for area civic organizations.
Like Purcell, we can see a day coming when the property at 107 West Madison Street will provide a location for needed parking, or perhaps, as the site of a new building to house county offices.
Two decades ago some county board members didn't see the need to preserve the old courthouse. Fortunately a majority of today's board members understand the need for the county to plan ahead when it comes to its facilities.
While the county is looking ahead with its facilities, we hope the City of Yorkville will one day soon rebuild the streets that adjoin the courthouse. Currently, it appears the streets-which lack curbs and gutters-haven't been resurfaced since the Eisenhower Administration. Perhaps if the city wasn't paying for the health insurance of several of its part-time alderman it could find the funds it needs to repair the streets.
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