The sale of the Bellefontaine Armory, 1021 S. Main St., moved one step closer to reality Tuesday as the Bellefontaine City Council voted 5-1 in favor of selling the building and property to Wawa Midwest LLC for $550,000. Council Member Jenna James was excused from the meeting.

In his report to the council, Service/Safety Director Wes Dodds said that cities selling armories to private owners was relatively commonplace, noting that the City of St. Mary’s sold its Armory for $210,000, Urbana sold theirs for $505,000, and Xenia sold it Armory for $410,000.

Council Member Wes Easton cast the lone “no” vote on the second reading of the ordinance Tuesday. Council Member Mick Lile, who cast a “no” vote on the first reading on the ordinance, told the council that after speaking many of his constituents, he charged his vote on the sale to “yes”, noting that his constituents in general had no problem with the sale of the property, but were decidedly against having Wawa Midwest place a store at that location.

The third reading and final vote on sale of the Bellefontaine Armory will be conducted at the next regular meeting of the City Council.

Also passed on the third readings and final votes were ordinances which will allow the city to ask for bids for the city’s street repaving program, at an estimated cost of $700,000, and an ordnance that will allow bids to be submitted for the street painting program, at an estimated cost of $80,000.

Also in his statement to the council, Dodds also reported that the Hot Summer Nights Cruise-In has been scheduled Downtown Bellefontaine for August 8, during which time DORA will be in effect. 

The Council also waived the third reading on an ordinance that will make supplemental appropriations and amend the permanent appropriations for the Revolving Loan Housing incidentals and approve the West TIF, a measure which passed with out a dissenting vote. 

Also passed on the third and final reading was an ordinance that will allow for supplemental appropriations for the purposes of capital equipment-recreational improvement.

The Bellefontaine City Council is scheduled to meet again in regular session Tuesday, May 26 at 7:30 p.m.