Village buys old bank property

<p dir="ltr"><span>The revitalization of Steeleville continues as the Village Board approved purchasing the old First National Bank of Steeleville property during its meeting on Monday.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>Village Supervisor and Police Chief Lyn Thies told the Herald Tribune that the purchase price was $30,000.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>"That will be done with TIF funds," Thies said. "It's a pretty good deal."</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>The new bank building had its grand opening in November 2015 and First National Bank demolished the old building earlier this spring, leaving a cleared space of prime real estate in downtown Steeleville.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>Thies noted that the city will now take on the task of marketing the property to any potential developers.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>In other action, the board approved TIF financing for renovations to the Steeleville American Legion, Empire Earth and Concrete's expansion into Mevert Automotive and Tire Center and for the future headquarters of Mevert Automotive and Tire Center at 1014 W. Broadway St.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>In Mevert's deal, the village will convey the former Bockhorn Motors property to Matt Mevert for the development of an automotive repair business.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>"He is supposed to construct a 6,000-square-foot commercial building, employ no less than four full-time employees and operate for no less than 10 years," Thies said.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>Thies also stated that Empire Earth and Concrete, which is currently working on the expansion to the Steeleville Village Hall parking lot, will be moving into Mevert's building when the auto business relocates.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>"Now that we've got the TIF approval and the approval to develop on the property, the next phase is to get some plans drawn up and getting bids for the building and move into that phase," Mevert told the newspaper. "I think, with this approval happening now, the idea would be, if everything stayed on a timeline, doing some construction by next spring.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>"Once we get some plans drawn up and a little bit better idea of what it's going to look like, we can talk a little more about details."</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>Mevert also confirmed that Empire Earth and Concrete plans to expand its current operations into his building.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>The company's home office is in Coulterville, but its equipment is in Steeleville.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>"The whole aspect of it is kind of coming together like we had hoped," Mevert said. "That's a good thing for us and all the parties involved."</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>The TIF agreement with Empire Earth and Concrete is not to exceed $75,000 for acquisition of property.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>The company will receive $4,687.50 a year from 2017 to 2032, when the TIF district expires.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>Lastly, the American Legion is planning a series of renovations to its property - including a new parking lot, repairs to its roof and drainage systems, exterior painting and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>Thies said the Legion will receive $130,655 in TIF funds through December 1, 2032. The Legion will receive $2,000 this year through December 1, 2019 before the payment jumps to $9,435 per year from December 1, 2020 to the end of the agreement.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>In other TIF matters, the village board received no alternative proposals for the 900 block of West Broadway, which contains the old Tom's Barber Shop (904 W. Broadway).</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>The board was set to discuss a TIF agreement and warranty deed with Kim Rasnick, who is interested in developing the property, but Thies told the newspaper that item was tabled as the agreement is not yet ready.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>"The meeting was recessed to a later date to be announced," Thies said.</span>

<p dir="ltr">Roundup

<p dir="ltr"><span>- The board approved its annual $1,000 donation to Oktoberfest</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>- The board approved closing Broadway Street on Oct. 7 and 8 for Oktoberfest</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>- Thies said there was nothing new regarding Steve Rodewald's request to look into the water quality at his residence on North James Street.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>"We've got some things we're going to try," Thies said. "Maybe replace a section of line."</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>- The board voted to keep closed session minutes closed from the public.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>- The board concurred with a Zoning Board of Appeals recommendation to approve Charles Yankey to construct a carport at 501 S. Ridge Ave.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>- The board approved agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation regarding resurfacing a section of State Route 150 and State Route 4.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>"I'm relatively sure this won't be until next year," Thies said.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>IDOT will resurface a section of the highway from a tenth of a mile east of the Steeleville T to Locust Street.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>The village is splitting the cost of resurfacing the parking lanes through town with IDOT, with the village to pay an estimated $22,538.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>"That includes engineering costs," Thies said.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>- The board approved establishing two-hour parking in the 100 block of South Charles Street.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>"There was a request from some businesses to limit the parking time period," Thies said.</span>

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