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Elgin councilman: 'back door deal' with St. Joseph Church

St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elgin wants to buy city property to build a much larger church next door - but one councilman objects to what he calls a "back door deal" in the works.

The church at 272 Division St. wants to buy two vacant parking lots at 115-121 Center Street to build a new church that would be connected to the existing building via the sacristy, the Rev. Jesus Dominguez said.

But the city moved too fast when council members OK'd setting the sale price at $95,000 in an 8-1 vote during closed session Wednesday night, Councilman John Prigge said. He cast the only "no" vote because he wanted the property to be listed for sale first, he said.

"If the church wants to buy it, fine. But let everyone know it's for sale," he said. "Who knows who might want to buy that property and turn it into something that would generate sales taxes, or maybe bring jobs."

But parishioners bring plenty of indirect sales tax revenues to the city, Dominguez said. A total of 4,800 people attend 11 services on weekends, he said.

"Every time people come, they eat at Los Comales, they eat at Burger King, they come to Casa de Estilos (salon) and even the casino and Al's Cafe," he said. "All those places."

Prigge said other council members did not share his concerns. On Thursday, he said, he was told that the city will notify the public that the parking lots are for sale, based on state law pertaining to city property within tax increment financing districts.

Corporation Counsel Bill Cogley declined to comment on executive session matters.

Councilwoman Rose Martinez, a member of St. Joseph, dismissed Prigge's claims about impropriety. "If we go (advertising property sales) lot by lot, we're never going to be getting anything done," she said. "Here is a great opportunity for the city."

If the city doesn't sell its property to St. Joseph, Dominguez added, the new church will have to be built elsewhere, and then "the whole downtown will be dead,"

Martinez agreed. "It's going to be devastating to that area, because there isn't much going on in the East side," she said, adding she spoke with the city manager about the church's interest in the property in April and July.

The new church would hold 1,200 people compared to the current 300, and would be built on about an acre, including green space owned by the church. A three-year, $3 million capital campaign will launch in late October, also the 130th anniversary of the church foundation, Dominguez said.

Kaptain pointed out that St. Joseph is growing at a time when many churches are downsizing or even closing.

"They are going counter current," he said, "and I think this is a great thing."

Martinez questioned why Prigge disclosed information about a council discussion that took place in closed session.

"The reason I am talking about closed session is because this is a major violation of public trust," Prigge said.

  The Elgin City Council has OK'd a plan to sell two vacant parking lots at 115-121 Center Street to nearby St. Joseph Catholic Church. Later, city officials realized a state law requires the property first be advertised as for sale, a councilman said. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
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