[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6122455,"mediaKeyId","2694839-a5d2fa99bdf0814e3d46271ca96826f3","parentId",2694839,"title","Votes at a glance: Belleville council approves development agreements, contracts, ordinances and routine city business","audioSeconds",1678,"startMs",762000,"endMs",2440000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694839-a5d2fa99bdf0814e3d46271ca96826f3&start=762&end=2440","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694839-a5d2fa99bdf0814e3d46271ca96826f3/thumbnail_762000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6122455/Belleville/St-Clair-County/Illinois/Votes-at-a-glance-Belleville-council-approves-development-agreements-contracts-ordinances-and-routine-city-business","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122455-90d64c50b05cf9e0f5274d7d8f7f77c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176305&Signature=D7580tcmFxdO5wTPQXHjISM5ZDycySRhlmNjPxUCFkgp26BdxNW1c7ntY9V9p3kXLzsLprTDHeiuBu2GjgFrQfgW6H8IOfoO-GDrKbLZWsFo~yC37mgy25EuIklNSUtML2tlwahzoQRfs~8vLwjz7maS4CcBEQVMHmvVDiVPyoJerdW2OXF7BM6JutaDBbXx93xIBWiJdmn-WZkI1fwHxVZFZYKtqGQ4M00046UpOVJOlqiS0eNMvUVbECPyoJ~EzNHl3z-c9Bhx2zmt1WLQJBhFdsOFbGWT0Hvx011K18Y9OUJchhwiDdcw3FvVbHzVhzx2kF5FqSmOxjpogX6aDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Belleville, IL","date","2025-03-18T02:01:25Z","article","The Belleville City Council on Monday approved a package of motions, contracts and ordinances covering economic development, finance, public events and updates to city licensing code.

Major items approved included:

- A development agreement for Monopoly Boss Market, doing business as Monopoly Beauty, for remodeling at 1723 West Main with an amended completion date of Oct. 31, 2025. The motion passed on roll call.

- Finance committee approvals including: a one-year FOIA software contract with Granicus for $6,165.01 due 04/30/2026; a long-term lease extension with VBS 1 Assets LLC (Vertical Bridge) for a wireless communications tower at 111 South Sixth Street through 06/23/2045 with options to extend; an amendment to an intergovernmental agreement extending the city’s partnership with SIU Simmons Law School through 06/30/2028; a health insurance renewal effective May 1, 2025 with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and life insurance with Standard Insurance Company; and authorization to close funds 59 and 60 related to SSA series 2006 once final expenses are paid.

- Ordinances amending Title 11 — business regulations: updates to the general licensing transfer prohibition and to the adult-use cannabis code to add industrial hemp and CBD oil to the definitions and limitations sections. Council approved these ordinance amendments on a combined vote.

- Park Board request: an increase to the Stonewallodge rental fee to $300 and an amendment to the departmental fee schedule.

- Several event and facility requests were approved, including banners and downtown events (Belleville Main Street marathon banner; Art on the Square; Experience Live Music Row) and a household hazardous waste collection cosponsored with St. Clair County Health Department and the IEPA at the fairgrounds on May 3, 2025.

- Miscellaneous administrative actions: approval of minutes, the treasurer’s report for January 2025, motor fuel claims of $24,912.18, and claims and payroll (claims/disbursements presented at the meeting and payroll totals). These routine items passed by roll call.

Votes were recorded on the record for most motions; where specific roll-call tallies were given in the transcript the clerk read each member’s vote. For items that had substantive debate on the record (for example, the Save the Girls TIF item), the council held extended discussion and recorded individual votes. Several items were moved and approved with no additional discussion.

Ending: The meeting concluded with a reminder from council leadership about decorum during campaigns and a motion to adjourn.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting 3-17-25","oneSentenceSummary","At its March 17 meeting the Belleville City Council approved two development agreements, several finance committee items (contracts, lease extensions, insurance renewal), amendments to business licensing and adult-use cannabis rules, and routine claims and reports. Several motions passed by roll call with little debate.","taxTitle","Belleville, St. Clair County, Illinois","taxId",55061,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6122460,"Belleville council approves 25% TIF for Save the Girls after debate over precedent and tax base",792,878000,1670000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694839-a5d2fa99bdf0814e3d46271ca96826f3&start=878&end=1670","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694839-a5d2fa99bdf0814e3d46271ca96826f3/thumbnail_878000.jpg","/articles/6122460/Belleville/St-Clair-County/Illinois/Belleville-council-approves-25-TIF-for-Save-the-Girls-after-debate-over-precedent-and-tax-base","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122460-af3da85689c7fef9fd456c2b569d3926/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176305&Signature=JK3ffQYsGBKxb-LaJYC6JLqkq1IGOKszKat8e61rDQPRoRy~LRTXoWCDcIGIMaMTfwCAltlnD39qAz3XCM7OfdLndwb04HbUw9CoAzwMvzZJxQu6hPw1W-GAFmqsp-V~y81TDEQaQeLRglrioJYlwUySg8oMmEFHe4Qc7-aQ21WHOwB8-wAgxcZFUoWYMK4xg-Sq0KHJkSkFj17rRMVj5PvOkVe012PeIlt2Lk8XULEhEOBbmIr5pmiRTqLogNNKewTbTh0Bqz-T4q6U-l6PYa~9J01Hxy3wJCM59MxJcUsT9k3tAUh3zlXGA0EJa0DzHM5sN9AHh8jZ-yMlWm1Xbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Belleville City Council voted Monday to approve a development agreement and 25% TIF incentive for Lang Enterprises LLC, doing business as Save the Girls, to remodel a building at 9300 West Main.

The motion to approve the development agreement, brought by Alderson Alstoff, passed following a lengthy discussion and a failed amendment to reduce the TIF to 10%. The council recorded 13 votes in favor and two votes opposed.

Council members said the project aims to retain an existing business in the city’s West End and create local jobs, but some members questioned whether the requested TIF level set a problematic precedent and whether the city’s TIF policy was being applied consistently.

“Alderson Whitaker” said the council should be cautious: “This company is asking for a 25%, TIF assistance on their project,” and he noted much of the company’s sales occur online and therefore do not generate sales tax for the city. He urged more consistent standards for future TIF awards.

City staff and other aldermen responded that TIF revenue derives from property tax increments, not sales tax. A city staff member explained that TIF is calculated on the increased assessed value of property and that the city evaluates each request on its individual merits.

Representatives of Save the Girls spoke in public comment before the vote. Tammy Trover Lang, who identified herself as the owner and a Belleville resident, said the company employs 13 people (eight full-time in Belleville) and described the business as family-owned and expanding. During council discussion, city staff reported the project currently shows seven full-time equivalents with two additional positions projected in the first year.

Council members also discussed metrics commonly included in development agreements, such as commitments for number of local employees and verification requirements. City staff said agreements typically require the developer to complete the work, provide receipts and cancelled checks, and that “clawback” provisions exist if a recipient fails to meet performance requirements.

Roll-call voting on the original 25% request produced a majority in favor; Alderson Whitaker and Alderson Schneider voted no. The motion carried.

The development agreement requires the owner to complete the remodeling work and comply with the terms recorded in the agreement; failure to meet those terms may trigger recovery actions per the agreement’s clawback provisions.

Council members also said the debate highlighted a broader need to develop clearer TIF standards and thresholds to guide future decisions.

Ending: The council approved the development agreement and the TIF assistance; staff will finalize the written agreement and monitor compliance per the city’s standard procedures.","The Belleville City Council voted to approve a development agreement granting Lang Enterprises LLC, doing business as Save the Girls, a 25% tax-increment financing (TIF) incentive for remodeling at 9300 West Main after members debated precedent, the project's local economic impact and how incentives are structured.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Belleville council approves development agreements, contracts, ordinances and routine city business

Belleville council approves 25% TIF for Save the Girls after debate over precedent and tax base