Arlington ? The leaders of a south-central Kansas town have decided to buy a former school property, despite a citizens’ petition seeking a public vote on the issue.

Arlington Mayor David Anderson says the city council voted Monday night to stand by a November decision to buy the former Fairfield East Elementary School property for $1. Anderson says he is confident the property can eventually be self-supporting.

Opponents say they are concerned about the potential expense and impact on property taxes. The Hutchinson News reports that opponents also don’t want the city to relocate City Hall and the city library and the senior center from downtown into the former school.

The Fairfield school district closed the elementary school at the end of the last school year in a budget-cutting decision.