By Todd Wineburner

After Monday's city council meeting, Pontiac Mayor Bob Russell said the property tax relief referendum that failed in the last election might be returning to the ballot. The measure would have provided tax rebates in the city by creating a new sales tax. Russell says the referendum is still being discussed because of some confusion at the polls. Two precincts gave city residents ballots that were intended for township residents, so they never got a chance to vote on the measure. The city has no legal recourse, but Russell says there's enough public interest to jusitfy revisiting the issue. Russell says it’s up to the council to decide when the question might go before the voters again. The council also acquired a fire-damaged apartment building at 718 West Washington. There will be no direct charge for the property, but the city will have to assume the cost of demolition, and a portion of the current property taxes. Once cleared, the property will be part of the new train depot site. In other action, the council approved a measure that will put electrical aggregation on the ballot next year. They also approved a “min-max” liability insurance plan that could save the city 70-thousand dollars in annual premiums.