The City of Pekin's "simple" annexation of a majority of the 1,000-acre Lutticken property that the city purchased for $14 million earlier this year turned out to be not so simple.
The Pekin City Council voted 5-2 in approving the annexation during Monday's meeting after Groveland Township Supervisor David Horton asked during public comment that a decision on the action be delayed until township officials could meet with city officials and have questions answered, "operating on facts, not hearsay."
The questions revolved around whether or not the land would still be in Groveland Township after the annexation, and concerns about a data center that's planned to be built on about 320 acres of the property.
Pekin will sell the land for the data center to the developer for about $4.5 million after due diligence for the project is done.
Josh Wray, Pekin's economic development director, assured the Groveland Township officials who attended the council meeting that the land will remain in the township.
Mayor Mary Burress pointed out that parts of Pekin are within four townships: Pekin, Cincinnati, Elm Grove and Groveland.
"There are layers of government in our city," she said.
Burress also said she was disappointed about a rumor that Groveland Township was losing the land with the annexation, "because it's just not true."
As for the data center, "we really don't have any information to share yet because we're still getting answers to questions," said Pekin City Manager John Dossey. "People think the data center is much further along than it actually is."
Wray explained the annexation and its ramifications to the city and township officials.
"As the owner of the land with no inhabitants, the city can pass a simple ordinance annexing the property," he said. "Nothing else is happening other than that. That's why there's no reason to hold this over until next month.
"We will have discussions with the township as things move forward with projects."
Wray calculated that township will lose about $180 in revenue annually because of the public purchase of the land by Pekin, not the annexation, but future growth on the property will more than make up the loss.
A parcel on the property at 3501 Sheridan Road is not part of the annexation because it's inhabited by a renter, Wray said, so it must be annexed via an annexation petition and public hearing.
Jake Fletcher and Rick Hilst cast the "no" votes for the annexation.
A motion to table the annexation vote until the council's next meeting on Jan. 12 to allow for meetings between city and township officials failed 4-3, with Fletcher, Hilst and Dave Nutter voting "yes."
Pekin officials said they're willing to meet with their township counterparts about the annexation, but there have been communication issues.
"I tried to call back someone who called me about the annexation and their voicemail box was full, so I couldn't even leave a message," Nutter said.
