Village of Belleville Plan Commission

Re: Zoning Change Related to 130 S. Vine Street

I strongly object to changing the zoning of this location at this time, in the interest of selling the property. I do not personally know the potential buyers, but do assume they are of good character and are reputable people who would be an asset to the community. However, Belleville has had plenty of open buildings on Main Street that could have been purchased for any number of new business enterprises. I think the main focus for revitalization should be Main Street, first and foremost.

I think the Village Board has shown a lack of good faith bargaining with Duppler-Smith Post 460 American Legion. On 3/9/2021, Belleville asked for any interested parties to file a RFP (request for proposals) if they were interested in the building. On 4/6/2021, I did file an RFP and was told by the end of May a decision would be made. On 11/19/2021, I submitted another RFP, with the additional option of buying the property out right, to the Village President and Trustees. I finally contacted Terry Kringle to try to get some answers regarding the building. When Mr. Odell (village administrator) came to town, he met with Commander Hardyman and myself and said he would get some answers as to the disposition of the building. We made many attempts to bargain in good faith with the village, all to no avail.

The American Legion has made an economic impact in the community for many years, and with the old library building there is so much more we could do for the community at large. The youth and middle age, and senior citizens, would all benefit from our efforts.

We were told that the Village doesn’t want to own more property and that they wanted someone in the building to create a large economic impact in that section of town. They also want more tax revenue from tax payers. Some of our original suggestions were to turn our property into a parking lot for the area, however, if the Village sold us the building at 130 S. Vine, we could list both our lots for sale to be used for residential or business, and then there would be additional tax revenue for the Village.

We have reached out many times to work with the village board. Recently we learned that we were the only ones who submitted an RFP. I don’t understand the reluctance of the board to consider selling the building to us. I would hope that the board is not discriminating against a nationally known Veteran organization for any reason. We want the building and we want to work with the Village to make Belleville a better place to live and work.

Wendall Fenstermann, Adjutant-Treasurer,

Duppler-Smith Post 460 American Legion