Galesburg was set to lose out on $35,000 if they renewed their farm lease on a portion of city-owned land with Triple T Farms.
The City Council voted 1-5 last night to turn down the lease renewal under Triple T’s proposed new rate of $300/acre down from the previous rate of $507.77/acre.
Five aldermen rejected City Manager Todd Thompson’s recommendation to accept the offer, Third Ward Aldermen Russell Fleming voted to accept the offer and Seventh Ward Alderman Jeremy Karlin was absent.
Thompson’s recommendation to take the lower offer was because of dropping grain prices and his opinion that a better bid could likely not be found with planting season right around the corner.
Wayne Allen was one of five council members who thought the process should be left to the free market.
“If we put this out for bid, it won’t be one person determining the price, it will be whoever the high bidder is,” Allen says. “I think that’s the fair way to do it.”
First Ward Alderman Angela Bastian acknowledged the bids could come in lower than Triple T’s offer, but thought it was worth the risk.
“It’s late, but there may be farmers out there that are willing and are interested in this property and may be interested in the next go around for a three-year contract.”
In other business the council voted unanimously to approve the purchase of two heavy duty diesel hybrid electric transit buses that were purchased in entirety from an Illinois Department of Transportation grant in a joint procurement with Grand Rapids, Michigan.
