This week, Marseilles residents received a short update on the council’s proposed purchase of the Illinois Valley Cellular building, 200 Riverfront Drive, from Mayor Jim Hollenbeck and City Engineer Mike Etscheid.
The city had received an appraisal of $1.6 million on the building. Streets Commissioner Mike Scheib requested a second appraisal during one of the public hearings.
“We’ve received a second appraisal,” Hollenbeck said, “for $2.26 million. And that’s without any furniture or equipment.”
The estimated cost of building a similar building is nearly $4 million.
After a tour of the 23-year-old building built by Phalen Steel, Mendota, Etscheid said he “found a few minor repairs but overall, the building is in pretty good shape.”
A purchase price of $1.45 million has been discussed at several public hearings and regular council meetings.
At the October 6th council meeting, the city council declared its willingness to borrow up to $2.3 million for the purchase and renovation of the building. The city hopes that if the building is purchased, the 100-year-old city hall building and police station can be relocated.