Metro East Sun

City of Troy City Council met Dec. 6.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

A. Agenda Items

1. Call to Order

A public hearing was held in the Council Chambers in the City Municipal Building, 116 East Market Street, Troy, Illinois, 62294. The hearing was called to order by Mayor Pro-Tem Nathan Henderson at 6:30 pm. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Alderman Troy Turner.

2. Roll Call in Alphabetical Order

Present: Dan Dawson, Tim Flint, Elizabeth Hellrung, Nathan Henderson, Debbie Knoll and Troy Turner.

Absent: Sam Italiano and Tony Manley.

Others Present: City Administrator Jay Keeven, Chief of Police Brent Shownes, City Engineer Tom Cissell, Public Works Director Rob Hancock, City Clerk Kim Thomas, Deputy Clerk Andrea Lambert, and 14 members of the public.

3. Presentation and Discussion of Proposed Business District V Blight Analysis and Development Plan Keith Moran, president of Moran Economic Development LLC, gave a short presentation to the council and the public on the proposed Troy Downtown TIF Redevelopment Plan and Project. Troy TIF District #1 has been in existence since 1997. This TIF will close-out on December 31, 2021. The new TIF will begin on January 1, 2022. The boundary of the new TIF #5 is approximately half the size of TIF #1. Taxes will not increase by being in the TIF. This is simply a program to redevelop the downtown area. The TIF does not impose any zoning requirements, so property use will not change. There is also no eminent domain associated with the TIF. The TIF is simply a program where revenues are redistributed into a TIF fund. Those revenues must be used within the TIF to make improvements in the area.

In order to create a TIF, the area must qualify under the state’s TIF law. Troy Downtown TIF District meets these requirements. (The “Troy Downtown TIF District Redevelopment Plan & Project Synopsis”, which is attached, outlines the conditions under which a TIF may be established and also lists the conditions within downtown Troy that qualify the area for TIF establishment.) The primary areas of concern are: inadequate utilities, buildings and parking lots that are deteriorating, stagnant or declining property values, obsolete platting, and portions of the TIF area that are undermined. The bottom line is that the downtown area has issues that TIF #1 did not resolve. Some of the improvement projects planned under TIF #5:

- Replace water and sewer mains and upgrade manholes

- Bury overhead power lines

- Improve streets, parking lots, and sidewalks

- Restoration of commercial buildings

- Make the area ADA compliant

- Installation of lighting in the downtown area

4. Request for Anyone Wishing to Speak to Sign In and Be Sworn-In. Mayor Pro-Tem then asked that anyone wishing to speak be sworn in by the city clerk. Those sworn in were Anthony Avers, Gary Byrnes, and Patrick McAley.

5. Citizen Comments/Questions

Mr. Avers asked about the process for obtaining monies from the TIF fund. Mr. Keeven explained that the TIF is funded through property taxes. This money is used for infrastructure projects and incentivizing owners to improve their properties. Improved properties generate more revenue for the TIF due to increased property value. Proposed improvements are presented to the city and an agreement is made for partial reimbursement. The agreed-upon percentage of the cost will be reimbursed incrementally to the owner to help cover the cost of the facility improvements. Mr. Byrnes asked how much money is in the TIF fund and if there is a time limit on distribution of the funds. Mr. Keeven responded that this is a new TIF and there is no money in the fund yet. Property owners would need to have their project approved by the city before work begins. Available funds will be redistributed to approved projects for the entire life of the TIF (23 years). Mr. Ayers asked if the funds are only for exterior projects. Mr. Moran replied that funds could be used for anything at grade level or below on new construction. For existing buildings, funds can be used for anything rehab-oriented.

Mr. McAley asked who is eligible for the TIF – specifically landlords/tenants. Per Mr. Moran, whoever funds the improvement project would be eligible for the reimbursement. However, tenants must work through their landlord (the property owner) and get their approval before investing in a project.

5. There were no questions/comments from the city council.

6. Adjournment

Motion: To adjourn the public hearing.

Moved by Hellrung. Seconded by Turner. Vote: 6-0

Ayes: Dawson, Flint, Hellrung, Henderson, Knoll, Turner.

Nays: none

Hearing adjourned at 7:02 pm.

http://www.troyil.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_12062021-498