The LaSalle County Board voted Nov. 26 to remove a short segment of County Highway 20 (Champlain Street) from the county highway system and to approve an intergovernmental agreement creating the Peru Midwest Industrial Nexus tax‑increment financing (TIF) district.

County Highway representative Mr. Ernaud explained that the last segment of Champlain Street on the south end of Ottawa should be transferred to the City of Ottawa because the city already maintains adjacent segments after a prior transfer of Aetna Road. The board approved Resolution 25‑30 to delete 0.94 miles of County Highway 20 and authorized the county clerk to transmit certified copies to the Illinois Department of Transportation’s regional engineer office in Ottawa.

Separately, the board considered a multi-party intergovernmental agreement among the City of Peru, LaSalle County and local taxing districts to establish the Midwest Industrial Nexus TIF. Staff described the district generally as north of Interstate 80 and west of Route 251, including large parcels of undeveloped farmland and a railroad spur that could support industrial development. The TIF preamble and agreement explain that the current equalized assessed valuation (EAV) will continue to be taxed by existing bodies while the incremental increase in EAV from new development would be used to finance infrastructure and development within the TIF for up to 23 years. Committee members said the taxing bodies negotiated a 15% surplus-sharing arrangement to allow some distribution of funds back to taxing districts in certain future years.

Board members asked about maps and specific boundaries; staff said a detailed map was not available during the meeting but described reference points such as a commercial intersection near Arby’s and the former Kmart area, and noted that the district was drawn to enable power, water and sewer improvements and potential factory development. The intergovernmental agreement passed on a voice vote after the board waived reading of the full text.

Both items were presented as part of regular county business; the county clerk will file the direction to transfer Champlain Street and proceed with required notifications and filings for the TIF.