Macomb aldermen last week voted to issue $50,000 to re-establish the Downtown Facade Renovation Program in the Downtown/East Side Tax Increment Finance District.
'There's been a lot of interest,' said Downtown Development Director Savannah Ballard. Dorsett added, 'These grants have been very beneficial to the downtown area.'
Also approved were residential rehabilitation funds, $100,000 for the Downtown/East Side TIF and $50,000 for the West Side TIF. Lambert said the money will be available for improvements to owner-occupied single-family homes. She said repairs can be made to portions of the properties facing the street. Lambert said Macomb will host an open house at the beginning of August for eligible property owners. Of the facade and home rehabilitation grants, Mayor Inman said, 'Projects like this are designed to improve our community, and I'm grateful for the staff's commitment to this.'
The city council also voted to declare $14,144 out of the $165,769 in West Side TIF funds as surplus revenue. The money would be sent to the McDonough County Treasurer's Office for distribution to the eight taxing bodies in the district: the Macomb School District, the city, the county, the Macomb Park District, Spoon River College, the Macomb Library District, Macomb City Township, and the Macomb Airport Authority. Inman said the taxing districts have received a West Side TIF surplus in other years but amounts will now be documented by resolution.
Aldermen authorized a request for proposals for creation of a city comprehensive plan. Lambert said $200,000 has been budgeted this year for the beginnings of a long-term plan. The council also voted to adopt an Active Transportation Vision Plan. Lambert said the plan is a guide in developing a bicycle and pedestrian path. 'We'd like to use this document in our application for other federal grants to pay for engineering and public safety expenses,' she said.
The council also voted to approve a side letter agreement with Teamsters Local #627. The letter agrees to a $6,500 stipend for a Macomb Public Works employee to serve as a graphic imaging system (GIS) technician. It also authorizes $85 holiday pay and $170 pay for two-day weekends for cemetery maintenance workers.
Mayor Inman concluded the city council meeting by calling for a moment of silence in memory of Dr. Tom Koch, a former city alderman and a longtime community physician.
