The Fairfield City Council met in regular session last (Tuesday) night at City Hall. Before the regular meeting, a public hearing was held with Jeff Vaughan from the Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission speaking to the council regarding a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application for infrastructure improvements. Vaughan explained that the city is applying for $1 million in CDBG funding for various improvements. The project area has a 53% low to moderate income population, meeting the 51% threshold required for the grant. Following Vaughan’s presentation, the council approved the resolution for support of a Community Development Block Grant.
The council approved a business district redevelopment agreement with Samantha Baker from 6-juan-8 Bakery in the amount of $750, Baker has renovated the building by putting an exterior sign on the outside of the building. The amount of the project was $1,500. The council then moved to approve routine business items, including minutes from previous meetings and bill payments. A resolution was approved authorizing destruction of audio recordings of closed session meetings.
A TIF redevelopment agreement with M Pressions Dance Productions was approved. Owner, Meghan Grieve built her new studio along with a parking lot on Leininger Road directly east of the Fairfield Police Department. Alderman Cody Atteberry said Grieve used alot of local construction workers and also did quite a bit of the work themselves. The total cost of the construction was right around $100,000 and it is was the recommendation of the TIF committee to approve $24,000 for the redevelopment agreement.
Mayor Gary Moore says the Illinois Department of Transportation recently completed the Motor Fuel Tax Audit Compliance Report advising officials did not find any errors and recommended the council accept the report as is. The council unanimously approved the motor fuel tax audit.
Mayor Gary Moore proposed transferring the entire parcel of land rather than just the initially discussed four acres for a hotel development project. Moore says the city will transfer the parcel to an unnamed developer from St. Louis who will build a 4-story Comfort Inn & Suites just off Williamson Drive. Moore says the developer would like to have access not only off Williamson Drive to get into the hotel but would like to have access off West Delaware. Mayor Moore indicated the developer is also working on placing two restaurants on the property with the hotel and told the Mayor they are ready to begin groundwork and construction. The council approved this ordinance, recognizing the potential economic benefits of the $10-12 million hotel project and associated restaurants.
Mayor Moore presented the annual tax levy discussion, focusing on contributions to police and fire pensions. The fire pension is requesting $222,837, while the police pension needs $545,013. Mayor Moore recommended a 7.99% increase in the tax levy to address pension funding shortfalls and meet state minimum requirements. The total proposed tax levy is $1,055,876, with significant portions allocated to police and fire pensions. The increase is on the Fairfield corp part of your taxes
Moore noted that the tax levy vote would occur at the first meeting in December, with the possibility of a special meeting if not passed then.
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