Peoria Standard

City of Chillicothe Economic Development Committee met April 9.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Present: Chairperson Trish Connor, Jeff Jenkins, Alderpersons Courtney Gehrig, Gary Sharp, Mayor Hughes and Economic Development Director Amanda Beadles

Absent: None

Public Comment:

Tina Lessukas Caulfield and Shawn Yarger and Becky Schossler were in the audience so the committee moved their agenda items to the top.

PURPOSE:

HELP loan - Sweet Finds

Upon request from Sweet Finds, Director Beadles reviewed their HELP loan term and requested City consider changing the 5-year term of HELP loan to 10-year to follow suit with other HELP loans of similar value. This change would make the monthly payback more reasonable for Sweet Finds and help them run their business more efficiently. The consensus of the committee was to approve the 10-year term and to forward to council for approval.

HELP loan - Shawn Yarger

Director Beadles presented Shawn Yarger's HELP loan application. Committee reviewed. The consensus of the committee was to move to council to have attorney draft an agreement with the contingency that the property appraisal and financial background checked out.

Approve Closed-Session-Minutes September 12, 2023 - Director Beadles withdraw this agenda item per the City Clerk directions.

Budget Review

Director Beadles reported the balances on the TIF Central, HELP Façade, interest on TIF and HELP loan accounts and Consultant Budget. She reported that the HELP loans for the business formerly at 701 4th Street and the business at 930 N 2nd Street have been paid in full.

Delinquent HELP Loans

Director Beadles reported sending a late payment reminder email to the business at 1040 N 2nd Street and stopping by the business formerly at 806 N 2nd Street and reported a payment to be made on Friday.

Director Beadles read the attorney's email regarding the business at 1249 N 4th Street. In his email Attorney Day attached the Agreement for Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure and the Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure. He stated we would receive and executed title to the trailer from Mr. Myers and would keep the committee updated.

Façade Application - 1042 N 2nd Street

Director Beadles presented a façade application for the business at 1042 N 2nd Street. Committee reviewed. The consensus of the committee was to forward to council for approval.

Request for Proposal - City Property First and Walnut

Director Beadles presented the empty lot of city property located on Walnut and First Street. Discussion ensued. The consensus of the committee was to move forward with the RFP and take to council for approval.

Rehab Wilmot & Chestnut wells as ARPA Expenditures

On behalf of Director Shawn Sutherland, Director Beadles presented the Rehab of Wilmot & Chestnut Wells project line item and requested the expenditure be approved as an ARPA expenditure. Discussion ensued. The consensus of the committee was to move forward to council for approval.

Approve expenditure Chestnut Well – ARPA funds

The committee reviewed the Brotcke Well & Pump invoice for $24,209.50. Director Beadles stated Director Sutherland reported the invoices would be coming in a few at a time instead of waiting for the project to be finished. The consensus of the committee was to move forward to council for approval.

Install-&-Incerta valves Estimate as ARPA Funds --Director Beadles withdrew this agenda item.

Wooden Chalets Estimate - Wendler Construction

Director Beadles updated the committee on the wooden chalets for the Nikolausmarkt. She discussed the options to rent the huts from Peoria Heights and price to build. The consensus of the committee was to rent 5 from Peoria Heights and getting 3 appraisals for building the chalets.

Grant Updates

DCEO HR220075 - $400,000 - Director Beadles reported the February reports had been submitted and approved by project manager.

DCEO SR220071 - $250,000 - Director Beadles reported this grant has not entered the reporting stage but would begin in a couple of months.

ARPA --- Director Beadles reported the ARPA yearly report was due by April 30th and the projects would need to be committed through council by December 31st, 2024. The last council meeting of the year is December 9th. EPA Lead Service Line Inventory Grant - Director Beadles reported that the Illinois EPA Lead Service Line Inventory Grant was completed by Dr. Culbertson and submitted by herself on March 22nd. She received an email on April 2 from the IEPA project manager stating it was received and would be submitted through processing.

Updates:

Economic Development - Director Beadles reported:

The Peoria Journal Star by Leslie Renken about Chillicothe. "Historic Vision: How downtown Chillicothe has become a busy spot for businesses, tourism." The read the first line in article "Historic downtown Chillicothe is experiencing a renaissance."

She reported on the continued involvement of the CEDS Annual Report of 2023

Marketing & Tourism

M&T meeting for the month of April

Tri-fold changes have been sent to Sarah Sights of ODG for an update

Comprehensive Plan

Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee would be meeting April 25th, 2024

List of the 2014 Comprehensive Plan accomplishments had been sent to Tri-County Regional Planning Commission

Bike Path

Land where the bike path will go

Connect City attorney and IVC's attorney with TWM to see next steps for Intergovernmental agreement

$30k gap between what the city has approved and the ITEP grant submission. That will be addressed in next fiscal year's budget.

SUMMARY

Chairperson Action - None

Council Agenda Items

Approve HELP loan term update - Sweet Finds

Approve HELP loan application and direct City Attorney to draft a HELP loan agreement - Shawn Yarger Approve Façade Application - 1042 N 2nd Street

Request for Proposal - City Property First and Walnut

Rehab Wilmot & Chestnut wells as ARPA Expenditures

Approve expenditure to Brotcke Well & Pump for Chestnut Well - ARPA funds

Meeting adjourned at 5:50pm

 https://cms9files.revize.com/chillicothe/04092024%20edc.pdf