Oglesby to annex IVCC ag center

Illinois Valley Community College’s forthcoming agricultural education center likely will be annexed to the city of Oglesby.

On Monday, the Oglesby City Council voted 5-0 to place on file petitions to annex and rezone the land where the agricultural education center will be built. Before Christmas, the Planning Commission had recommended that the petitions be approved.

“This is phase two of the project, and the hope is that we will be able to be in the building for fall 2025,” IVCC President Tracy Morris said before Monday’s meeting.

Final action won’t be taken until an annexation agreement is prepared.

Last year, IVCC received a $3.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Economic Development Administration to construct the facility.

In other matters:

• The council extended maternity benefits to the Fraternal Order of Police.
• The Illinois Attorney General’s Office ruled that the city did not violate the state’s Open Meetings Act last year when commissioners directed a letter to outside counsel.
• The council met in closed session for about 2½ hours, without action, during consultation with Brad Cole, executive director of the Illinois Municipal League.