The Salem City Council Monday night approved a tax increment financing district project that will provide $5,000 to Alex Williams to rehabilitate what will be a rental home at 201 North College.
Williams estimated the total cost of renovation of under $25,000. The council had some concerns about utilizing TIF money towards rental properties but eventually agreed unanimously to do so to help improve the city’s older housing stock. A program is planned in the future to provide money to homeowners within the TIF-4 district to make improvements.
Economic Development Director Leah Dellicarpini told the council they could expect a quarter of a million dollars a year to be generated in the new TIF district for both commercial and residential projects for each of the next 23 years.
The council was told the city had a clean audit for the last fiscal year. City Finance Director Kelli Barrow noted after the meeting the audit found that all of the city’s utilities, natural gas, water, sewer, and garage, are running in the black.
The council approved the first reading of its tax levy for next year’s property tax levy. It is 3.95-percent more than what was collected this year. Since the increase is under five percent, no truth in taxation hearing will be required.
The council approved a mutual aid law enforcement agreement with the new South Central Illinois Special Response Team that will have a team from various police agencies available to any member to address a major case.
The council agreed to pay $20,428 more on the final bill for the West Whitaker Street Sewer Main Replacement. The council was told a miscalculation by an engineer on the project resulted in more materials being needed.
The board appointed John Stephenson to the Library Board and Lynn Riehm to the Tourism Board.
