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Lemont board approves replacement grocery‑tax ordinance, TIF study and several contracts
Summary
At the meeting the board approved an ordinance to replace the state grocery tax with a municipal equivalent, a professional services agreement for a Main/Malley Road TIF study, purchase of a salt conveyor, and a sidewalk contract. The votes were unanimous on the recorded roll calls.
The Lemont Village Board approved multiple administrative and capital items in one meeting, including an ordinance to implement a municipal grocery retailers’ occupation tax to replace a state‑level 1% grocery tax being repealed by state law, a TIF study for the Main and Malley Road corridor, a salt conveyor purchase and a 2025 sidewalk improvement contract.
Grocery tax ordinance: The board adopted Ordinance O‑41‑25 to implement a municipal grocery retailers’ occupation tax and a municipal grocers’ service occupation tax. Village staff explained that Illinois legislation repealing the state 1% grocery tax takes effect January 1, 2026, and the ordinance is intended to replace the revenue locally so the village’s general fund does not lose an estimated $400,000 to $500,000 annually. Village staff emphasized the measure is not an additional tax but a local replacement; the village noted the state will continue to collect the tax and remit it to municipalities under the new arrangement. The ordinance was moved by Trustee Kittredge, seconded by Trustee Snagowski, and passed by roll call (Stapleton, Forsley, Kittredge, McClafferty, Shaughnessy, Smirgenowski voted yes).
TIF study: The board approved Resolution R‑57‑25, a professional services agreement with Ryan LLC to perform a three‑phase study (eligibility, redevelopment plan, financial analysis) for a potential tax‑increment finance (TIF) district in the Main and Malley Road area. Staff said the study will take about six months and is intended to examine redevelopment options, contamination remediation, floodplain constraints and utility gaps in the corridor. The resolution passed on roll call.
Procurement and contract approvals: The board approved R‑58‑25 to purchase a salt conveyor from Kimco for $109,612.64 and R‑59‑25 awarding the 2025 sidewalk improvements to TCD Concrete Works for $123,736 (low bidder). Both were approved on roll call. Earlier the consent agenda included R‑56‑25, an intergovernmental agreement for tax appeals defense, which the board approved as part of consent.
Votes at a glance: - R‑56‑25 (intergovernmental tax appeals defense agreement): approved (consent agenda). Vote: unanimous on roll call. - O‑41‑25 (municipal grocery retailers’ occupation tax / grocers’ service occupation tax): approved; vote recorded as unanimous among trustees present. - O‑42‑25 (annexation) — discussed elsewhere; approved. - R‑57‑25 (Ryan LLC Main/Malley Road TIF study): approved; staff estimated a six‑month study timeline. - R‑58‑25 (salt conveyor purchase, Kimco): approved; $109,612.64. - R‑59‑25 (2025 sidewalk improvements award to TCD Concrete Works): approved; $123,736.
What it means: Village staff said the grocery tax ordinance is meant to preserve existing revenue for police, public safety, public works and infrastructure after the state repeal. The TIF study is a planning step — not an authorization of funds for projects — to identify whether a TIF district could support redevelopment; further public hearings and financial analyses would follow before any TIF is created. The procurement actions provide equipment and contractor services included in the current capital budget.
Ending: Trustees emphasized the public process for future land‑use decisions and encouraged residents to monitor posted notices on the village website for upcoming hearings and staff reports.
