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Elgin council approves water‑plant change order, tax incentive for Axiom, security, grants and several bids
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Summary
Council approved a change order for Riverside Water Treatment Plant work, a Cook County Class 6b tax incentive supporting a planned Axiom Packaging expansion (projected 200 jobs), a parks security contract, athletic facility grants totaling $150,000, a Live 9‑1‑1 renewal and multiple construction bids; most items passed unanimously.
The Elgin City Council on March 25 approved a set of routine and economic development actions recommended by staff.
Key approvals included: a staff‑recommended change order for rehabilitation work at the Leo Nelson Riverside Water Treatment Plant related to motor control center installation and a deteriorated roof substructure (motion approved 9–0); a resolution supporting a Cook County Class 6b commercial property tax incentive for 1717 Gifford Road to enable a contingent purchase by PG Pay Holdings and related occupancy by Axiom Packaging. Staff reported Axiom expects to invest about $10,000,000 in building improvements and about $20,000,000 in equipment and installation, and to hire 200 full‑time employees with preference for local residents; the council approved the resolution (9–0); final tax exemption is subject to Cook County Board approval.
Other council actions included awarding a three‑year security services agreement for parks facilities to Andy Frane Services (9–0); approving six athletic facility improvement grants that matched total requests to the program budget of $150,000 (9–0); approval of a one‑year renewal of the Live 9‑1‑1 software (Higher Ground Inc.) used by police and fire to stream emergency calls to officers in the field (9–0); and multiple construction bids for concession‑stand renovation, Portland cement, asphalt, landscaping supplies and turf renewal, all approved by roll call.
Council members asked clarifying questions during the presentations—one asked how the city protects data collected by the Live 9‑1‑1 system; staff and the chief said contracts are reviewed by legal counsel and the department follows FOIA obligations. For the tax incentive item, staff noted that the 6b exemption would reduce the Cook County tax bill substantially relative to the non‑exempt level and that final approval rests with the county board.
Votes were routinely recorded by roll call and most items passed unanimously. The council also approved a conditional use to convert a two‑story office building at 85 Market Street into a church and several administrative amendments and consent agenda items.
