Three big-money projects took center stage at Monday’s Sycamore City Council meeting

The first involved the demolition of Harvester Square on South Avenue, a building city officials have longed to rid themselves of.

The state of the building is nearly beyond description. Vines have spread across its outer walls and climbed into its broken windows. The once-concrete walls have turned to dust in some sections.

Barrels of assorted acids have sat inside for years and the company that will eventually demolish the building, Rockford Blacktop Construction Company of Loves Park, was not able to fully inspect the building for fear of the roof collapsing.

It is suspected that large drums of acids have laid dormant beneath the floors that were once used for cleaning wire, said Thomas Managan, senior project manager for Marlin Environmental, Inc. of Clare.

He said the project will likely see completion by the end of March.

City manager Bill Nicklas stressed the importance of completing this project as soon as possible so as not to hinder nearby businesses during their prime selling season.

The second big-money item brought good news for the park district, or as executive director of the park board David Peek said, continuity with another Sycamore institution.

When the park district sells an acre of land, it will now be worth $110,000, $35,000 more than its current value. The decision brings the park district in line with what an acre of school district land is worth.

“An acre of land is an acre of land,” Peek said. He said which entity holds the land should not matter.

The park board passed the ordinance to the city council on a 4-1 vote and the council voted unanimously to pass it.

As the land-per-person ratio is decreasing over time, it is important for the park district to be proactive and pursue a dollar amount that more accurately reflects what Sycamore land is worth, said Larry Steczo, president of the park board.

The third item involved providing Fullco Industries of St. Charles with a tax abatement in order to attract their business to the city.

In exchange for purchasing a 34,600 square-foot building and adjacent land in Sycamore Prairie Business Park on Peace and Bethany roads, the city is looking to abate the first-year tax by 90 percent, the second by 75 percent and the third by 50 percent.

The council has only considered this option, but it received general approval at the meeting and will likely come back as an ordinance for the next city council meeting.