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City of Washington council approves Tangle Roots TIF reimbursement, hires finance director and OKs maintenance funds
Summary
At its February meeting the City of Washington City Council unanimously approved a final TIF interest reimbursement for the Tangle Roots project, an employment agreement for a new finance director, a $300 monthly car allowance for the city administrator, and a Motor Fuel Tax maintenance authorization to begin the 2026 program.
At its February meeting, the City of Washington City Council unanimously approved several routine items, including a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) interest reimbursement for the Tangle Roots project, an employment agreement to hire a new finance director, a $300-per-month car allowance for the city administrator, and authorization to use motor fuel tax funds for the 2026 maintenance program.
The council approved consent agenda item 8(b), a TIF pay request for the Tangle Roots project at 140 Washington Square. Planning and development director John Olyphant said, "This is the fourteenth and what we anticipate to be the final request for interest reimbursement as a part of the Tangle Roots project at 140 Washington Square." He said the request is for $8,850.28, bringing the total interest reimbursement to $173,239.38 and the total TIF fund payment to $848,239.38. The motion carried unanimously.
City administrator Jeff Fagan Shue summarized his onboarding and staff outreach before the council voted to approve a purchase authorization for an automatic chlorine feed at Water Treatment Plant No. 1 to address finished-water fluctuations during backwash cycles. Acting staff explained the automatic feed is needed to maintain disinfection during overnight operation; the purchase authorization passed with unanimous approval.
On a personnel matter, the council approved a resolution to execute an employment agreement with Paulette Hurd as the city finance director. Fagan Shue said he sat in on Hurd's interview and "found her to be extremely qualified and fully support the appointment." Alderson Moss asked for clarification that the document is an employment agreement without a defined term; city staff confirmed the agreement does not guarantee employment for a specific period. The resolution passed unanimously.
Fagan Shue also recommended an amendment to his own employment agreement to provide a $300 monthly car allowance rather than a city vehicle. He said paying an allowance is less costly than purchasing a new vehicle and that he prefers using his personal car; the council approved the amendment unanimously.
Dennis Carr, the city engineer, presented the annual Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) maintenance resolution required by the Illinois Department of Transportation, saying the city is "looking to set aside $1,000,000" in the resolution to begin the 2026 maintenance program, noting final project-level spending will depend on pending work such as the Candlewood Bridge. The council voted to adopt the MFT resolution unanimously.
The council moved into executive session under the Illinois statute cited on the record for litigation (ILCS 5/2(c)(11)). The mayor stated there would be no action coming out of executive session. The meeting adjourned at 7:32 p.m.
The transcript records motions, the mover and seconder for votes when stated, and records “unanimous approval” for the motions above. Individual roll-call vote details beyond the recorded "unanimous" statements are not specified in the transcript.
