"This isn't an Us vs. Them"
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA["Our job isn't to try and say, 'Our hotel is better than your hot or your hotel is better than our hotel," said John Pawloski, one of four partners of a potential new hotel to be brought to Chester, IL. "I'm trying to explain to you that through advertising and billboards and various programs that we intend to put together, we intend to attract people not simply from this very community, but from a regional community."
The Chester City Council, as well as nearly 75 community members present at Monday's meeting, was presented with a proposal informing them of a new hotel to be built on Lehman Drive and explain the benefits to the city if approved for TIF funds.
At the beginning of the presentation, it was disclosed that the group interested in bringing the new business to town was to be a Microtel franchise. Partners on the potential project are: James Best of Chester; James Bergfeld of Sparta; Roger Strong of New Athens; John Pawloski of Godfrey.
The group stated that after hearing comments from the community at the previous meeting, they felt the community was misinformed on the potential project.
Roger Strong then explained that due to Reid's Best Western Inn not regularly reporting to Smith Travel Research (STR), they were unable to get complete and exact statistics. He went on to explain that the numbers [in their presentation] regarding Reid's Best Western Inn were an exact reflection of what Brad Reid, himself, stated at the previous council meeting, as well as what is advertised for the hotel.
John Bergfeld informed the crowd that this potential project could bring over $480,000 over a 10 year span after TIF to the Chester schools. The City of Chester could also see over $200,000 over a 10 year span after TIF, if the potential project goes through with the approved TIF.
The potential franchise, Microtel, is part of the Wyndham group, which is affiliated with such properties as Days Inn, Travelodge, Super 8, and Ramada.
The investors stated that their main reasoning for wanting the TIF was for assistance with the redevelopment of the land.
"All we are asking for are rebates from the taxing district that was set up by the city over 14 years ago," Roger Strong said. "We would never put a property in a location that would harm, we wouldn't do it. In essence we think it will build up their business."
Don Welge took a turn to voice his opinion, "James if you all are so sure that your research is correct, why not just go ahead and build it without the TIF funds…?"
"Don, there's [going to] be a hotel on that property -- period," James Best responded.
"We're not looking to destroy you [to Brad Reid, in reference to his hotel]," Strong said.
Strong appeared confident when stating that the hotel would attract and absorb business from Missouri.
John Pawloski added, "...This is not an us vs. them proposition..."
"We're looking to invest, not to take you out," Strong said.
Further detail and follow-up information, along with the investment group's presentation in full, be sure to visit our website at: www.randolphcountyheraldtribune.com .