Aldermen have another round of discussion before next week’s scheduled TIF vote

QUINCY — The vote for a new Tax Increment Financing district on Quincy’s south side is scheduled for next week and the public relations push by supporters continued at Monday night’s City Council meeting.

The heads of the Great River Economic Development Foundation, Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce and The District were among those who appeared before aldermen to state their cases for the city’s third designated TIF zone. TIF districts dedicate a portion of tax revenues generated within the TIF for improvements within those zones, although funds can be moved from one TIF District to another.

Alderman Dave Bauer (D-2nd Ward) said since the 2nd Ward wasn’t a part of the proposed TIF, he would not support it, although Bauer also said he was going to miss next week’s meeting when the vote is scheduled to happen.

Bauer also questioned City Planner Chuck Bevelheimer about moving funds from existing TIF districts to get another TIF up and running, but Bevelheimer said she City has done this with the previous districts to jump start them.

“In TIF West, it literally took about seven to 10 years before we had enough increment (accrued funds) to be able to actually do a project,” Bevelheimer said. “We used a lot of grant funds. We used TIF mainly to match grants before we had enough increment to do a project. One of the things that I’ve suggested to the folks who have come to the public meetings on to South if it gets implemented that the city would allocate funds … to try to get to increment to grow first and foremost, before we could do any type of public infrastructure process”

Bauer’s seat mate, Jeff Bergman (R-2nd Ward) agreed with Bauer about their ward being shortchanged when it came to city infrastructure needs.

“There are $47 million of road projects in the city and only $3 million in the 2nd Ward, which is wrong with a capital ‘W,’” Bergman said.

The lack of retail business in the 2nd Ward compared to other wards is also a detriment to establishing a TIF zone in the city’s northwest quadrant.

Aldermen also gave the green light for the City to work with a solar company to promote the program to qualified residents.

Solar Simplified, which will use the City’s mailing list and logo on its materials, would offer up to a 50 percent on electric bills through power it generates from solar farm in Southern Illinois, which was constructed with funds primarily from state and federal grants. The company is then required to offer the discounts to qualified residents.

The City will receive $50 per client from Solar Simplified.

In other action, Aldermen approved:

• The appointment of Tairu (Tai) Zong as interim airport director.
• The reappointment of Commissioner Barry Cheyne to the Board of Fire & Police Commission with a term to expire on April 15, 2027.
• A skyline horizon mural to be painted on the east wall of Horizons Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen at 224 South 8th Street.
• The purchase of fire hoses from Dinges Fire Company in the amount of $9,215.
• The bid for a one-year contract to supply the City’s janitorial supplies for all categories thereof submitted by Area Distributors Inc. in the amount of $19,247.30.
• To apply for the State Fuel Tax Reimbursement Grant in the amount of $28,788.10.
• A concrete bid from Bleigh Ready Mix in the amount of $205,842 and the patching material bid from Diamond Construction Co. in the amount of $49,300 be accepted subject to approval by the Illinois Department of Transportation for maintenance of streets and sidewalks.