Kewanee approves TIF agreement for new carwash after member abstains

The Kewanee City Council on July 14 approved Bill 25-55, an ordinance authorizing a tax-increment financing (TIF) redevelopment agreement with KTown Real Estate for a new carwash near the intersection of Tenney and W. McClure Streets. The Council amended the agreement to reflect a seven-year cumulative TIF arrangement before voting to approve the ordinance.

Councilmember Baker moved approval of the ordinance; Councilmember Colomer moved, and Councilmember Komnick seconded, an amendment to change the TIF verbiage to a seven-year cumulative arrangement. The amendment passed and the ordinance passed with a recorded vote of 4-0-1; Councilmember Cernovich was recorded as abstaining due to a family connection.

City staff indicated the final document was still pending at the time of the meeting but that all parties agreed to the seven-year cumulative language. The project proponent, identified in the ordinance as KTown Real Estate, is listed as responsible for the carwash currently under construction at the stated intersection.

The Council took the action as part of its economic development agenda; no additional financial figures for the TIF increment were included in the meeting record. The Council did not vote to withhold approval pending further public hearings; staff will finalize the agreement language for execution.

The meeting record shows the amendment and final passage occurred during the same agenda item and that the abstention was recorded on the Council floor. The Council moved on to subsequent agenda items after approving the ordinance.