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McHenry council approves Windhill gaming license, TIF budget amendment and sale to fire district
Summary
The McHenry City Council on March 2 approved a video-gaming license for Windhill Pancake Parlor, passed a 2025–26 TIF budget amendment tied to a recent property purchase and authorized sale of a vacant parcel to the McHenry Township Fire Protection District; votes were taken by roll call.
The McHenry City Council voted March 2 to approve several ordinances and intergovernmental action, including a video-gaming license for Windhill Pancake Parlor, a budget amendment to the city's tax increment financing (TIF) fund for 2025–26 and an intergovernmental agreement to sell a vacant parcel to the McHenry Township Fire Protection District.
Video gaming license: The council considered a motion to approve a video-gaming license for 4 Eggs Hospitality LLC (Windhill Pancake Parlor) at 3307 West Elm Street, subject to a video-gaming development agreement and an ordinance to increase the number of location licenses. Alderman Vaney moved to approve the license and Alderman Daugherty seconded. Alderman Bassi said residents have told her the city "has too much gaming" and expressed concern about the downtown reputation; she voted no. Phil Sudak, identified at the meeting as the Windhill owner, described plans to invest in the riverfront and said gaming machines would be tucked away behind a deli and not be the business's forefront. The motion passed on roll call, 6–1 (Behney: yes; Doherty: yes; Glab: yes; Bassi: no; Davis: yes; Cook: yes; Miller: yes).
TIF budget amendment: Council then considered an ordinance authorizing a budget amendment to the 2025–26 TIF fund related to a recent property purchase. Alderman Miller moved the ordinance; another alderman seconded. Several aldermen reiterated they had opposed the property purchase previously but supported using TIF funds rather than the general fund to finance it. One alderman cautioned that the TIF will need to be repaid and warned that relying on chip-seal funds could push the budget negative before property-tax receipts arrive. An alderman noted the action "will put the TIF fund over a half $1,000,000 in debt to the general fund," and said that repayment should occur before additional TIF spending. The ordinance passed on roll call (roll-call answers recorded as yes from the voting members present).
Sale to fire district (IGA): The council also approved an intergovernmental agreement authorizing the mayor to execute a sale of the vacant parcel west of Dott Street (PIN 09-28-151-026) to the McHenry Township Fire Protection District for a gross sale price of $52,000. Alderman Doherty moved to approve the IGA; Alderman Cook seconded. During discussion, Alderman Bassi requested that sale proceeds be applied to the city's share of a Route 31 expansion. The IGA was approved on roll call.
Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda (items 5a–5e): approved (unanimous recorded yes on roll call). - Item 6a — Windhill/4 Eggs Hospitality LLC video-gaming license (3307 West Elm St.): approved, 6–1 (Bassi opposed). - Item 6b — Ordinance: budget amendment to 2025–26 TIF fund: approved (roll call recorded majority yes). - Item 6c — Ordinance/IGA: sale of vacant parcel to McHenry Township Fire Protection District (PIN 09-28-151-026) for $52,000: approved (roll call recorded majority yes).
No formal appeals or referenda were recorded; the council moved on to staff reports and then adjourned. The meeting concluded with announcements about Arbor Day and upcoming Shamrock weekend events.
