Pinckneyville Approves $250,000 for New Shopping Development
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Following significant discussion, the Pinckneyville City Council voted four to one to extend $150,000 in TIF Funds and $100,000 in Business District tax funds to Doug and Carol Kellerman and Jim and Carol Brand for use in the creation of an 18,000 square foot shopping facility on the south end of town. Commissioner Leonard Heisner voted against the project.
Construction of the shopping center which will house Kellerman's Feed Store and JC's Air Conditioning will cost approximately $1 million.
Jim Brand told the council that this is just the first phase of a long-term project. He and his partners hope additional businesses will open in the shopping center.
Doug Kellerman told the council earlier this year that there will be some rental space available in the shopping center.
The Kellerman's and Brands had asked the council to increase their original TIF development agreement from $250,000 to $300,000 and for $125,000 in Business District tax funds. The additional $50,000 was to cover the cost of purchasing land from former partners John and Paula Hubler.
Mayor August Kellerman asked the council to consider a TIF development agreement for $250,000. Both Kellerman and Brand asked for Business District tax funding, as well. TIF funds may not be used for construction. There are no such limits on the business district tax.
The council eventually agreed to a mix of funding, but would not increase the amount.
Commissioner Kevin Hicks said he did not want the council to set a precedent of funding 40 percent of business development projects.
In other business, the council:
agreed to give the Illinois High School Basketball Hall of Fame and Museum $20,000 to tear down the remaining structure, clean up the lot and plant grass on the property formerly occupied by the Antique Mall and Kunz Opera House. Foundation for Pinckneyville General Manager Tibretta Reiman said the Museum has a purchase agreement for the property and expects to close this week. As soon as the sale is final, a lease agreement with the Illinois High School Basektball Hall of Fame will be signed. The lot will be cleaned up and maintained until the funding to build the museum is in place. The Museum has received some funding through a DCEO matching grant and has been working to raise money. The museum was to have occupied the former McDaniel's Furniture Store directly across Main Street from the lot to be purchased. Reiman said DCEO has extended the grant and will approve the change of location.
passed a resolution authorizing an intergovernmental agreement between Pinckneyville and Du Quoin for the aggregation of electric service. The agreement specifies the use of Select Energy as the broker for the municipalities and includes a $7,000 penalty for using another broker.