Taylorville council approves $71.97 million appropriation, multiple redevelopment deals and new code updates; synthetic kratom ban recommended

The Taylorville City Council voted July 9 to adopt the city’s appropriation ordinance for the 2026–27 fiscal year and approved a string of redevelopment agreements, public‑works contracts and a proposed ordinance banning synthetic kratom.

The council approved the appropriation ordinance after a brief discussion about supplemental appropriations and a possible DCEO grant for the Route 48 water‑main project. A speaker identified supplemental line items from a prior February appropriation and recommended adding a $1,500,000 item for the Route 48 project; the engineer, James Morris, had said the project could be about $1,100,000. The speaker reported total appropriations at $71,969,510 with expected revenues near $54,269,000. The ordinance was adopted by roll call; the mayor’s affirmative vote was recorded and the motion was carried unanimously in the vote tally reported by council.

Council members also approved an amendment to the Taylorville City Code (title 9, chapter 2, section 9‑2‑1) to add the 2026 edition of NFPA 855. The vote on the code change was unanimous.

A series of Business Development District No. 1 redevelopment agreements were approved: with David Brummer (137 E. Main Cross St.), Will and Courtney Bland (107–109 W. Main Cross St.), and Robert Geckner/Geckner Inc.; each passed on roll call. A separate BDD agreement with Bikim Lanetcu for 1025 West Presser Street passed by a 7–1 vote (one dissenting vote recorded).

Council authorized several public‑works contracts and purchases, generally by roll call. Motions included: authorizing Benton Engineering to begin engineering design for the downtown pavement, sidewalk and curb project; accepting an $85,078.37 contract with UCM Inc. for resurfacing West Mancross Street (pending signed contracts, insurance and bonds); and accepting a $276,979.50 bid from Earthwork Solutions Limited for Adams Street reconstruction (pending standard contract documents). The street & sewer committee also approved a small equipment purchase (surveillance camera wheels, not to exceed $3,500).

Other administrative actions: approval to advertise for a full‑time dispatcher position in the police department (backfill), acceptance of several special‑events permits (Old Timers Boogie; 2026 homecoming parade; 2027 graduation), and approval of bike‑route signage for $6,886.87 funded from the hotel‑motel tax (roll call 6–1 on the signage purchase). The council also accepted the treasurer’s report and ratified payment of bills totaling $439,373.38; council discussion noted the cyber/pollution insurance item in the bills at roughly $29,549.

City attorney Rocky told council he had received a new proposal from American Tower offering a lump‑sum payment of $285,000 as one of three options; Rocky asked council to send the proposal to the finance committee for review.

The council directed the city attorney to prepare an ordinance prohibiting synthetic kratom within city limits and voted to recommend that measure. Several items discussed at committee were placed on upcoming committee agendas for further review.

What happens next: ordinance drafts (including the kratom prohibition and the requested code amendment) will be prepared by the city attorney and referred to committee as appropriate before final reading and adoption.