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Mr. Smith asked if the drives were widened could a fire truck have access to the church on <br /> • Edward Street. Mr. Cochran answered yes. <br /> Mr. John stated that he is a parishioner at St. Thomas Church and has also been.a patient at <br /> Decatur Memorial Hospital. He stated that this step would be irrevocable although the jobs to be <br /> created and the hospital's expansion area very important. Mr. John asked why the vacation <br /> request couldn't be discussed as part of the overall plan. <br /> Mr. Cochran stated that it would be the first time a Planned Unit Development was requested <br /> when a street vacation was submitted. The timing is important to be able to mnstruct the parking <br /> lot and begin construction of the building on Hay Street. Mr.Cochran stated that the vacation <br /> request is one piece of the puzzle. <br /> Mr. John stated that his observation has been that when vacations are received, the petitioner <br /> owns the property on both sides of the subject property, which he would describe as routine. Mr. <br /> John stated that he was not provided with the information needed to make a recommendation to <br /> City Council. <br /> Mr. William Blank, 403 Greenlake,was present and spoke in support of the petition stating that <br /> the expansion of Decatur Memorial Hospital is important to the citizens of our community from <br /> an economic as well as a health standpoint. He stated that many individuals cannot afford to <br /> - make the trip and receive health care services in other cities. Mr. Blank stated that the hospital is <br /> a growth industry in Decatur which will provide employment to approximately 120 people as <br /> well as construction jobs. <br /> Mrs. Anne Bond, address not provided, was present and spoke in favor of the petition stating that <br /> it is best to have the services provided by Decatur Memorial Hospital for the community. <br /> Mr. Darrell Sieplinga, Cobb Avenue, was present and spoke for the petition stating that as <br /> Director of the YMCA he saw the attention, concern and spirit of cooperation that Decatur <br /> Memorial Hospital had with St. John's Church during the vacation of McKinley Avenue north to <br /> Pythian. Mr. Sieplinga stated that he trusted the same level of care would be used with this <br /> request and expressed his support. <br /> Mrs. Linda Kehart, 93 Allen Bend Drive was present and spoke in favor of the petition. Mrs. <br /> Kehart, Executive Director of Community Partnership, stated that it is her job to listen to the <br /> community express where there are gaps in services. Her office was located in the St. Thomas <br /> Community Center for two years and now is on North Edward Street. The services to be <br /> provided by Decatur Memorial Hospital are needed in the community. Many people cannot <br /> afford transportation to Springfield or Champaign. Mrs.Kehart stated that it is hard to find <br /> parking at Decatur Memorial and crossing the street is dangerous. She stated that encouraging <br /> the hospital to move forward is important to the community. <br /> There were objectors present: <br /> Reverend Dennis Kollross, Pastor of St. Thomas Church, was present and spoke against the <br /> petition. Rev. Kollross stated that he lives at 2160 North Edward, one half block south of <br /> Decatur Memorial Hospital. He was speaking on behalf of the parishioners of St. Thomas and <br />