BELLEVILLE, IL (KTVI - FOX2Now.com ) -
You Paid For It confronts the mayor of Belleville over a questionable land deal. The property that cost nearly $1 million to Belleville tax payers had been vacant for 10 years.
Belleville Mayor Mark Eckert thought it was a perfect place for a new city park. The problem is Belleville paid the owner more than six times what the land was worth according to St. Clair County Assessors.
The County Assessors office valued the land at $3,765 an acre, and Belleville paid $24,155 an acre. Having bought 40 acres, the land it is costing taxpayers nearly a $1 million.
The mayor said the owner wanted even more money than the city ended up paying.
Elliott Davis: "But it's been vacant a long time if he could have sold it for that much, why didn't he sell it to somebody else? Mayor Eckert: "We feel it's the perfect place for this new park."
To have your say on this deal here's the person to call, Belleville Mayor Mark Eckert at phone number 618-233-6810. After all, You Paid For It.
Belleville Mayor Mark Eckert thought it was a perfect place for a new city park. The problem is Belleville paid the owner more than six times what the land was worth according to St. Clair County Assessors.
The County Assessors office valued the land at $3,765 an acre, and Belleville paid $24,155 an acre. Having bought 40 acres, the land it is costing taxpayers nearly a $1 million.
The mayor said the owner wanted even more money than the city ended up paying.
Elliott Davis: "But it's been vacant a long time if he could have sold it for that much, why didn't he sell it to somebody else? Mayor Eckert: "We feel it's the perfect place for this new park."
To have your say on this deal here's the person to call, Belleville Mayor Mark Eckert at phone number 618-233-6810. After all, You Paid For It.
