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CIty readies to demolish Masonic Temple
Monday, March 02, 2015 - Posted 9:27:22 PM
City Administrator Gary Brennan said he will be letting bids for the demolition of the old Masonic Temple building at the corner of Sixth and Walnut streets. Brennan said the City had budgeted $85,000 for the demolition but received an unofficial bid of $98,000. He said the City will now let competitive bids to see if the bids will come in within budget. The building has been condemned by the City and is now controlled by Woodford County due to unpaid property taxes. The City will first have to purchase the building from the County for $638 before it can proceed with the demolition. Brennan said bids should be received by the middle of April. The council voted not to approve a TIF award to Small Time Enterprises for repair and expansion of a building at 444 Chestnut Street. The project cost was $38,500 and the TIF award could have reimbursed up to half of that amount. The goal of the repairs was to bring in a prospective commercial business into the building and to develop a lodging facility for overnight visitors. Alderman Larry Fortner made a motion to award a TIF grant for 50% of the cost payable over two years. However, there was not a second for the motion and it was dismissed. City Administrator Brennan said he is revising the budget for next year in anticipation of a cut in tax revenue that will be passed down to local governmental bodies by the State of Illinois. Governor Rauner is proposing a cut of the percentage of sales tax that goes back to local governments from 8% to 4%. Brennan said no one knows how much of a cut there will be but he revised the budget to reflect a 25% cut in sales tax revenue to the City. Currently, the City receives $227,000 a year in sales tax revenue from the State. That could be cut to $113,500 if the Governor's proposal goes through. City Administrator Brennan discussed some of the budget items that need to be resolved by the end of March. The Ambulance Squad is requesting $13,000 to train two basic EMTs. In addition, the proposed budget includes $15,000 for landscaping around the north side of City Hall, $1000 for the July 4th Celebration and $7,000 for the City Wide Cleanup this spring. Brennan said estimated wages will increase by $25,000. The budget must be completed by April 2. The stand pipe in the City water tower has developed a leak from the inside. Brennan said workers will be starting tomorrow to fix the leak. It will require the water tank to be drained down below the leak which means a temporary pressure system will be in place to provide enough pressure for the water until the leak is fixed. In public comments, reporter Dave Uphoff asked if money will be budgeted for the completion of the proposed park at the corner of Fifth and Chestnut which is the site of the October 2011 fire. Mayor Koos said nothing has been included in the budget for that site since there are other issues that are facing the City now that the Fieldcrest School District is contemplating the construction of a new education plant that would require 80 acres of land.
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