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Page A8 • Friday, June 18, 2004AreaFANCY WHEELINCommission OKs land annexationBy CYNTHIA M. ELLISThe TelegraphWOOD RIVER - City officials approved a recommendation to annex nearly 16 acres of land Thursday night amid heavy criticism by residents who oppose a plan for Wal-Mart to develop the property.The Planning Commission unanimously voted 7-0 to recommend the annexation of 15.21 acres of land owned by Howell Sumner and 1.56 acres owned by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The board also voted to recommend 7-0 to zone the property into B-3 Highway businessChairwoman Tommie Myers informed the public before the meeting proceeded that the public hearing was for the annexation and zoning of the property, not to discuss the development of a Wal-Mart Supercenter.City Attorney Merle Bassett acted as the board’s administrative officer and listened to testimony for andstating that the Wal-Mart Supercenter would be bad for the community. Although questions about the annexation were to be directed about the property itself and its use, many of those who spoke condemned the large corporation.against the annexation and zoning. After hearing the parties, either in favor or against, Bassett closed the public hearing and turned the meeting back over to the commissioners for discussion so they could vote.Several residents spoke against the annexation and zoning, stating that the Wal-Mart Supercenter would be bad for the community. Although questions about the annexation were to be directed about the property itself and its use, many of those who spoke condemned the large corporation“A lot of my friends ownsmall businesses, and I feel this will hurt them,” one woman said.The woman asked whether the property was being annexed to build a Wal-Mart Supercenter.Thomas K. Walker, with Retail Realty Group, the developer building a $44 million, 435,000-square-foot shopping complex at 1501 Vaughn Road, said the newly annexed land would be used for retailpurposes.“Does that retail strip include a Wal-Mart?” the woman askedBassett told the woman the question was answeredRandy Geisler, of the 500 block of Fifth Street, argued that since the application for the annexation and zoning stated the property owners want the land within the city for the development of the Wal-Mart Supercenter, the public should be allowed to talk about the project.Bassett said regardless of what the application states, the board only makes a recommendation to the council.Geisler said he is against the annexation and zoning and doesn’t understand why the board could not answer the questions being asked of them.“You just annexed Wal-Mart into the city and screwed its citizens,” the woman said before leaving the meeting.Myers told the public before adjourning they were welcome to attend the City Council meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday night and make comments at that time.cynmell@hotmail. comArts Council to hold open houseALTON — The Madison County Arts Council will sponsor an open house of the new Jacoby Arts Center, 627 E. Broadway in Alton, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. It will feature free hands-on art activities for kids, free hot dogs, cake and soda, free class raffle registrations and class discount couponsClasses scheduled for children for the next nine weeks include activities related to Mexican, American Indian, African and Australian arts, followed by art from nature through printmaking, art and design, painting and drawing. All activities will be age appropriate and will includera variety of media. Instructors are well-known area artists.Weekly, half-day art camps will be divided into two age groups — 5 to 9 and 10 to 14 years of age. Morning sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to noon and afternoon sessions from 1 to 4 p.m. The $150 fee for the weeklong, three-hour sessionswill include materials and a light snack.For adults, three six-week evening classes will be offered from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m: Landscape drawing with Kathryn Nahorski; painting with Brenda Schilling; and Digging It Up, a beginning pottery class with Susan Bostwick. Fees are $120 per session.Infinity® from Mar Some replacig LUMBemail us at window:Associated PressTaylor Siegmeier, 3, of Kingston, III., gets some instructions from her mother, Gina, during the Gehoa Days Decorate Your Wheels contest Wednesday in Genoa, HI.
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Alton Telegraph
Alton, Illinois, US
Fri, Jun 18, 2004
Page 8
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Hayner P.
IL, USA 20 Dec 2023
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