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Beardstown City Council approves four TIF grants, backs bike-path ITEP application; tables IAFF contract
Summary
At its Sept. 17 meeting the Beardstown City Council unanimously approved four TIF grants for local businesses and adopted a resolution supporting an ITEP bike-path grant application, while tabling a tentative IAFF Local 3155 contract; financial and ambulance reports were also filed.
Beardstown City Council on Sept. 17 approved four tax-increment financing (TIF) grant awards to local businesses, adopted a resolution supporting an application for Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) funds for a planned bike path, and voted to table a tentative labor contract with the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 3155.
Alderperson Dawn Seward moved the resolution supporting an ITEP application, saying, “That a Resolution in Support for the Application for Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program Grant (ITEP) Funds for Construction and Associated Engineering for Bike Path be adopted.” Alderperson Mary Davis seconded the motion; the council approved it 7–0 (Alderperson Chris Baer was absent). The action authorizes the city to support an application for ITEP funds but does not itself award project dollars.
The council also considered a tentative contract with IAFF Local 3155 that would cover fire and ambulance personnel. Alderperson Seward moved that the tentative agreement “between the City of Beardstown and International Association of Fire Fighters Local 3155 representing the Fire and Ambulance Employees be tabled.” Davis seconded the motion, which carried 7–0. The minutes record the contract was deferred for further consideration; no follow-up date was specified.
On economic development, the council approved four separate TIF applications by unanimous roll call votes. Alderperson Eric Harbin, seconded by Alderperson Lisa Buhlig, moved approval of a TIF grant for Beardstown E&M Electric not to exceed $10,323.98. Ron Culves moved, and Harbin seconded, approval of a TIF grant for Mary B. Tillitt-Pratt d/b/a Beardstown Plaza for 25 Plaza Drive in the amount not to exceed $36,750.00. Harbin later moved approval, seconded by Shawn Taylor, of a separate TIF award for Mary B. Tillitt-Pratt for 21 Plaza Drive not to exceed $36,750.00. Finally, Alderperson Seward moved, and Harbin seconded, approval of a TIF application for Marilyn Pilger d/b/a 4 All Seasons Flowers & Gifts not to exceed $5,175.00. All four motions passed 7–0.
Council members also approved routine business under an omnibus consent vote and approved the Sept. 3 minutes. City Clerk Brian Ruch and the treasurer reported August financial figures: cash receipts for the period were listed as $1,230,881.80 (year-to-date $5,839,162.99) and cash disbursements $1,375,654.25 (YTD $4,841,499.58). Reported fund balances included a General Fund balance of $3,180,592.49 and an ARPA grant fund balance of $746,207.50. The council reviewed overtime and part-time payroll totals by department and ambulance service statistics: Beardstown reported 63 calls in August with $49,448.00 in charges and collections of $23,944.17 (Virginia ambulance: 34 calls; $35,478.00 in charges; collections $14,770.59).
The meeting ended with a motion by Alderperson Mary Davis, seconded by Alderperson Dawn Seward, to adjourn at 8:05 p.m.
What happens next: the ITEP action is a statement of support to accompany an application; any award of state funds would occur through the ITEP competitive process. The IAFF tentative agreement remains tabled pending further council action.
