The former site of Fitzgibbon Hospital will soon have a new owner.

By a 6-1 vote at Tuesday night’s meeting, the Marshall City Council signed off on an agreement to sell much of the city block that previously housed the hospital to Steinmetz, Inc. Mayor Vince Lutterbie says plenty of conversations ultimately led to the $25,000 sale that the city will soon close on.

Councilman Steve Cook voted no, reiterating his desire to see the entire block turned into a park. However, at least one resident told council members at the meeting that he and most of his neighbors just wanted to see more homes. Lutterbie expressed agreement while noting the cost the city incurred to clear the site.

Lutterbie notes that residents already have a park close by that is in need of improvement.

Marshall’s city council also gave final approval to an agreement with Gehm Environmental for asbestos abatement at the Marshall Habilitation Center’s smokestack before its demolition later this summer. Council members agreed to a grant application from Missouri Main Street, accepted a revised bid from Emery Sapp and Sons for the parallel taxiway reconstruction project at the city airport, and executed a task order with Engineering Surveys and Services to engineer improved stormwater runoffs for two areas of the city that regularly experience flash flooding and erosion during heavy rains.