FARMER CITY - An advisory vote on Farmer City using eminent domain to take ownership of South Park appears dead - at least for the remainder of the year.

Farmer City Council members have not passed a ordinance that would be needed to place an advisory referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot. The deadline to get a referendum filed with the county clerk is Wednesday, so unless the council calls a special session before then, it will not be on the November ballot.

The council's next regularly scheduled meeting is set for Sept. 8, a five days after the filing deadline. A special meeting could be called by either the mayor or three members of the council, but Mayor Buster Kirby did not anticipate that happening.

"It's pretty much dead unless someone calls a special meeting, and nobody has done that yet," Kirby said Monday. He added he has "no plans" to call such a session to consider the eminent domain question.

The mayor confirmed the issue was discussed in closed session at the council's Aug. 18 meeting, but could not comment since it was an executive session item. He did feel the council would "have a statement at the next meeting," scheduled for 7 p.m. on Sept. 8.

Council members voted 3-2 on April 21 to place a non-binding referendum on the ballot, which would be the first step in the eminent domain process. At the time City Manager Trent Smith said cost for completing the process would be "in excess of $50,000" in attorney's fees, plus the price of the land, which the attorney felt would start at $110,000. The estimated price to get it on the Nov. 4 ballot was $5,000.

South Park, a 45-acre recreational area just south of the city limits, houses two ball diamonds, soccer fields, a BMX track and two pavilions. It is currently owned by the Farmer City Fair Association and leased to the city.