Bockhorn redevelopment a step closer

<p class="p1">Plans for the old Bockhorn Motors property at 1014 W. Broadway St. in Steeleville took a step forward on Monday.

<p class="p1">During its monthly meeting, the Village Board announced no alternate Tax Increment Financing (TIF) proposals had been received for the property, leaving Matt Mevert's proposal as the only one thus far.

<p class="p1">Previously, Mevert, owner of Mevert Automotive and Tire Center, had sent the board a letter stating his interest in the property and a desire to establish a new headquarters for his business at the Broadway Street location.

<p class="p1">That letter also included a rough outline of plans for a 6,000-square foot building, 10 bays, office and customer waiting room.

<p class="p1">Reached Tuesday for comment, Mevert seemed optimistic about Monday's results.

<p class="p1">"It looks like that proposal's going to be accepted, so that gives us a little more of answer," he said.

<p class="p1">Alternative proposals are required when town-owned land is involved.

<p class="p1">"No further action was taken (at the meeting)," said Debbie Thies, Village of Steeleville office manager. "At some point in the future, we'll work on a TIF agreement with Mr. Mevert, but we're not at that point yet."

<p class="p1">Mevert said the Broadway Street property is two and a half times the size of his current location at 210 Massachusetts St. and establishing a new headquarters - while redeveloping the site - would be a "win-win" for his business and Steeleville.

<p class="p1">"The general intent is relocating my current business to there and operating in the same fashion as we do now, but out there," Mevert said. "We don't intend to do anything much larger and we don't intend to have any other businesses at this time."

<p class="p1">Mevert was asked what would happen to his business's current location.

<p class="p1">"We're working right now with some other potential buyers for this place and if that would hold up and work out, they would take ownership of this and we would move out there," he said.

<p class="p1">Mevert said he likes the visibility of the former Bockhorn Motors site, where he once worked in high school.

<p class="p1">"I intend to put a little tribute to what the property previously was in our waiting area in the new building," he said.

<p class="p1">Mevert said the next step in the process would be finalizing a purchase deal with the village.

<p class="p1">"They've got to finish the grade work that they're doing on their end," he said. "On my end, I will be working with an architect to get more specifics on the type of building that we're going to build."

<p class="p1">Mevert added that it could take between 30 and 45 days to finalize plans for the location.

<p class="p1">"There's really no reason to expedite it," he said. "We want to make sure that we've done all the due diligence and get my cost estimates in line to make sure we can do this in budget.

<p class="p1">"We're going to take the time to get it evaluated properly."

<p class="p1">The Bockhorn site wasn't the only development news to come out of Monday's meeting, as Thies told the newspaper that Kim Rasnick has expressed an interest in the former Tom's Barber Shop at 904 W. Broadway St.

<p class="p1">Rasnick also owns Steeleville-based United Ironworkers and bought and demolished the former Bob's Auto Repair near the Steeleville T earlier this spring.

<p class="p1">The board went into executive session to discuss a TIF inducement resolution for demolition and future development of the property and approved it during open session.

<p class="p1">"Right now, we're just passing a resolution that allows (Rasnick) to pursue that and at sometime in the future, we would work on a TIF agreement with him," Thies said.

<p class="p1">Roundup

<p class="p1">&bull; Steeleville Mayor Bob Sutton mentioned during the meeting that the village does not allow dogs to run at large. Dogs must be leashed, penned, or under someone's control when they are outside.

<p class="p1">&bull; The board approved the prevailing wage rates from the Illinois Department of Labor.

<p class="p1">&bull; Thies said the Village wishes to remind its residents that any pools that are constructed require a pool permit and depending on how high they are, also a fence. Pool permits are $25 for above-ground pools and $50 for in-ground.

<p class="p1">&bull; The board approved a recommendation from the zoning board on a petition for variance from Dennis and Kelly Schatte. The couple want to build a deck in their backyard at 502 S. Sparta St. and the zoning board approved their request.

<p class="p1">&bull; The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.