More progress for Fulton

March 02, 2007 11:24 am

— There’s a lot going on in our neighboring city to the east. Fulton, Ill., is a neat-as-a-pin, active community, with volunteers ready to stand by to help in whatever way needed.
Now, the Fulton City Council has paved the way for great things for two groups. One is the Fulton Fire Department, which is actively on the path to building a new fire station; the other is made up of supporters of the Fulton windmill, de Immigrant.
At the Fulton City Council meeting last week, the council decided to prepare an agreement for the exchange of city-owned property located east of Illinois 84 and south of Illinois 136 for the fire station located at 912 Fourth St. The agreement would include the city as being responsible for running sewer to the 2.12-acre building site.
What it means is the city can look forward to the possibility of a new fire station, which got off to a great start with a recent $100,000 grant. Also, a public hearing will take place at 5:30 p.m. Monday to receive public comment on possible uses of the fire department building.
That same night the council decided to proceed with removal of the existing Cramer building and the construction of a new building to house the planned windmill museum.
The motion is contingent upon a review of the current historic preservation ordinance, with changes made to facilitate the demolition of the existing structure; receipt of a matching grant from the state and a review of funding that could be raised by the Friends of the Fulton Windmill in the next 90 days.
Both of these items are good news for the city and its residents: A fire station will enhance public safety and the windmill will help enhance the experience of tourists who visit the authentic Dutch windmill each year, especially during Dutch Days. These are good moves by the council.