City Council Public Hearing
August 20, 2007
The Mt. Vernon City Council held a Public Hearing on Monday, August 20, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Building at Veterans Park.
The purpose of this Public Hearing was for Consideration of the Homestead Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Plan and Redevelopment Project and Redevelopment Area of Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
Mayor Mary Jane Chesley called the Public Hearing to order and referred comments to City Manager Ron Neibert.
Mr. Neibert confirmed that this would be the final Public Hearing as it relates to reviewing the eligibility requirements and the proposed Redevelopment Plan, not specifically the Homestead Project, which authorizes the use of tax increment financing for the proposed Homestead area. He also stated that the Plan includes an eligibility area and the findings of the study that conducted and certified via the joint review board meeting that the area did qualify for tax increment financing. Discusses the actual redevelopment plan in terms of the eligible expenses and cost and projects that are authorized under the plan. The implementation strategy of the Redevelopment Plan and proposed amendments to the plan should they be necessary in the future. Mr. Neibert pointed out that it also shows the boundary map, the existing land use map, the blighting factor’s matrix, the general land use map for the area and an estimated budget of redevelopment cost for the area. The City Manager concluded the proposed and authorized eligible costs for the redevelopment area are a total budget of six million dollars and that would be throughout the authorized twenty-three year life of the district. Any change is that amount upward would require a restudy and redevelopment plan to be modified. At this time Mr. Neibert opened up the Public Hearing for questions or comments as it relates specifically to the Redevelopment Plan and not the Homestead Project specifically.
Mayor Mary Jane Chesley stated that if anyone would like to address the Redevelopment Plan to please step forward, state his or her name and voice his or her concerns, ideas and/or comments.
Mr. Dan Lucas of 16 Homestead Drive stated that if it is the TIF proposal that is being referred to, he is offended by the term “blighted” being used to describe his neighborhood. He also has concerns with traffic patterns and safety for pedestrians.
City Manager Ron Neibert explained the Homestead Property is a blighted area in terms of the TIF statutory language.
Melvin Moore of 17 Fairway Drive questioned how the City plans to spend the money generated by the TIF agreement. The City Manager stated that any money generated through the TIF would be spent within that area.
Marvin Oglesby of 23 Edgewood Road had concerns about the upkeep of the streets and roads in the area with all the heavy equipment being driven on them.
Mr. Neibert reassured him that regular maintenance would be done on the streets and roads, but new roads or sidewalks would not be put in until TIF revenues are generated.
Irma Schalter from the Homestead area feels that a project this size needs its own entrance. She also thinks people will have trouble is they want to sell their home because people will want a nice quiet neighborhood and with the new development it will not be like that anymore. At this time Mayor Chesley stated that we are getting off-track. This Public Hearing is for the consideration of the redevelopment plan and redevelopment project. Mayor Chesley said issues concerning the Homestead project would be addressed later.
Jim Augustine spoke concerning the sewer system in the Homestead area. He thinks there may be problems when the new development has to be hooked up to the old system.
Jean Rettig of 16 Edgewood Road discussed the point about the redevelopment plan stating that Homestead Drive will be 40 feet wide. The City Manager said that is right of way. Mr. Rettig said that Homestead is only 18 feet at the “s” curve and 21 feet at Adam’s Court. He asked if anyone had been out to his neighborhood and measured how much 40 feet would be. He thinks if they would do that then they would understand what he is talking about.
Patrick Williamson who owns and manages some apartments that are just down the road from the proposed site asked if the two million dollars that was spoke of was for improvements to the infrastructure within the complex. He also asked how much revenue the community will benefit from income wise from people who are going to work at this development after the construction is completed. City Manager Ron Neibert explained that the development itself is going to generate property taxes for the City.
At this time Mayor Mary Jane Chesley closed the Public Meeting.