Beloit council approves $15.8 million notes sale, rezones two Chapin Street parcels; hears CDBG year-end report and a public comment on Johnny Watts commemora

The Beloit City Council voted to award the competitive sale of general obligation promissory notes and approved a rezoning for two Chapin Street parcels, heard the required year-end report on Community Development Block Grant spending and accomplishments, and received a public comment urging a city recognition of local athlete Johnny Watts.

Council President Kevin D. Levy opened the meeting and presided over the roll call and agenda items. In the evening’s most consequential action, the council approved Resolution 2025-038 to issue and sell $15,815,000 of general obligation promissory notes to finance capital projects in the city’s capital improvement program. Greg Johnson of Ehlers, the city’s municipal advisor for the sale, told the council that five bids were received and that the winning bid from BOK Financial Securities produced a true interest cost of 3.759 percent and lowered borrowing costs by $657,122 compared with the city’s presale estimate.

The CAPER — the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report the city must file with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — was presented in a public hearing. Community Development presenters outlined allocations and accomplishments for program year 2024, including $150,000 for affordable housing activities, $56,150 for homeless services, $94,950 for case management, $20,650 for future-ready skills, and $335,000 toward improving the city’s housing stock. Presenters said the program served 1,945 individuals during the year (a stated goal of 1,742) and described neighborhood-targeted work in the Merrill and Hackett census tracts.

During public comment, resident James Simmons urged the council to support a November 13 naming ceremony at Beloit Memorial High School for Johnny Watts, a local high-school athlete featured in historical accounts and in a Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association write-up. Simmons read an excerpt attributed to the WIAA praising Watts as “a trailblazer athlete” and asked the council to encourage broader recognition and attendance by state officials.

Other agenda motions included approval of the consent agenda and a zoning ordinance (Ordinance No. 38-61) to change the zoning for properties at 717 and 725 Chapin Street from PLI to a residential designation consistent with the comprehensive plan; the council suspended the rules and approved the ordinance the same night after Planning Commission recommended approval. Several other rezoning items on the agenda were laid over for later consideration: Ordinance No. 38-63 (1990 E. Bradley St.), Ordinance No. 38-62 (113 Bluff St.), and Ordinance No. 38-64 (1014 Master St.).

Votes at a glance - Resolution 2025-038 (issuance and sale of general obligation promissory notes, series 2025A): approved (roll-call vote affirmed; outcome recorded as 6–0 in favor). Greg Johnson of Ehlers reported a final borrowing amount of $15,815,000 and a TIC of 3.759%. - Ordinance No. 38-61 (rezoning for 717 and 725 Chapin Street): motion to suspend rules passed by voice vote; ordinance approved by voice vote (no opposition recorded). - Ordinance No. 38-63 (1990 E. Bradley St.): public hearing held; motion to lay over passed by voice vote. - Ordinance No. 38-62 (113 Bluff St.): public hearing held; motion to lay over passed by voice vote. - Ordinance No. 38-64 (1014 Master St.): public hearing held; motion to lay over passed by voice vote. - Consent agenda (items 6a–6i): approved by voice vote.

Why this matters The notes issuance funds the city’s multi-year capital improvement program and was sold at a lower cost than projected, offering modest budgetary savings. The approved rezoning for the Chapin Street parcels clears the way for conversion to single-family residential use, aligning the parcels with the city’s comprehensive plan. The CAPER public hearing is the formal local step before submission to HUD and summarizes how federal CDBG funds were spent and who was served. Public comments about local history and commemoration highlight community interest in civic recognition and local heritage.

What the council said Greg Johnson of Ehlers summarized the sale day results: “The winning bid was submitted by BOK Financial Securities out of Milwaukee with a final true interest cost of 3.759%, which is lower than our presale estimate.”

Terry (Community Development staff) noted the CAPER deadline to HUD: “The CAPER must be submitted to HUD on March 31, 2025. There’s no wiggle room on that; it’s hard-coded in the regulations.”

Resident James Simmons read a WIAA statement about Johnny Watts and said the city should help publicize and observe a November naming event: “We applaud Watts for his contributions to high school athletics in Wisconsin and to the sport of basketball nationwide during a time of oppression and segregation.”

What’s next - The city will submit the CAPER to HUD following the 30-day public comment period (materials available at City Hall and on the city website). - The rezoning at 717–725 Chapin Street may proceed toward property sale and housing use consistent with the council’s approval. - The council will revisit the laid-over rezoning requests at a future meeting. - The finance and administration staff will complete post-sale closing activities and incorporate the net debt service plan into the 2025 budget documents.

(Reporting based on the Beloit City Council meeting transcript: public hearings and actions taken; no new facts were invented.)