 Enterprise zoneAldermen agreed to sign off for an
enterprise zone extension to Rail Splitter Wind Farm with the
following stipulations:
-
It provides
Rail Splitter with exemption from sales taxes, but not real
estate taxes.
-
$5,000 a year would
be paid for administrative fees.
-
If construction has not been started in
36 months, they would petition to be removed from the enterprise
zone.
The city attorney said that the above and the fee only come to
pass if:
-
The enterprise zone
is amended.
-
The state of
Illinois approves the request.
-
Sales tax exemption is granted by the
zone administrator.
This must all be approved by the state of Illinois, and if what
is returned meets with Rail Splitter's approval, then the fee will be
paid.
The measure passed 6-2.
Voting yes were Marty Neitzel, Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Verl Prather,
Kathy Horn, Jonie Tibbs and Jeff Hoinacki.
Voting no were Dave Armbrust and Buzz Busby.
No comments were made by the two dissenting voters, nor by any of
the other aldermen, before the vote was taken.
Aldermen Benny Huskins and Melody Anderson were absent.
Property owner responsibility increased to protect sewers
A new ordinance replaces an old one, increasing responsibility of
property owners to keep property clean or in an inoffensive
condition. Gutters along streets and alleys adjacent to property
should be kept free of debris. The new ordinance also increases the
penalty amounts for violations.
The change was made to help prevent ongoing problems with the
sewer system becoming clogged and backing up in homes and
businesses, or creating overloads at the wastewater treatment plant.
Property owners are expected to keep street gutters adjacent to
their property clear of debris and should not place, rake or blow
leaves, grass clippings or landscape waste of any kind into the
streets where rain might wash it to gutters and clog at the street
level or farther down the sewer system.
One change was made since the ordinance reading last week, Bates
said. The maximum penalty was increased from $100 to $400. Violators
could be fined not less than $50 nor more than $400.
The measure passed 8-0.
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The city is also taking measures to make improvements to the sewer
system. Last week aldermen heard a review of how a combined sewer
overflow system would help during heavy periods of rain. The amount
of $100,000 has been set aside this fiscal year for the study and
implementation of a system that aids in allowing floodwaters to pass
more directly to Salt Creek.
The system effectively accomplishes the task by placing overflow
drop boxes throughout the city that would kick in when excess water
levels rise in the storm sewers. Metal weirs would also be used at
discharge sites.
As much as 10.3 million gallons per day of excess storm water
might be diverted from the wastewater treatment, which can handle up
to 33.5 million gallons a day, wastewater treatment manager Dave
Kitzmiller said during last week's presentation to the council.
The implementation portion of the plan would involve purchasing
approximately $34,000 in equipment and monitoring water quality.
Some water testing could be done in-house, but some would need to be
sent out, Kitzmiller said.
No-parking zone on Campus View Drive
The third ordinance passed Monday evening was to add a no-parking
zone along Campus View Drive. There will be no parking allowed on
the railroad ditch side of Campus View Drive, as vehicles parking
there have been creating a traffic hazard.
The no-parking zone would be established beginning 1,063 feet
southeast of Route 10 and extending 560 feet southeast.
The measure passed 8-0.
[By JAN YOUNGQUIST]
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