Galesburg City Council on Tuesday night will approve a pair of items that aim to study if an area along Grand Avenue can be turned into a Tax Increment Financing District. Over the last two years, TIF 1 and 2 and a portion of TIF 4 in Galesburg have expired, and TIF 3 will expire at the end of 2023. TIF Districts are an economic development tool to help blighted areas. They do this by setting a base property value at the beginning of the TIF term and as property values rise the incremental funds are used for grants within the district. The Illinois Municipal League says that for a TIF to be created a local government must find that development or redevelopment of the area would not occur "but for" the creation and use of TIF. The Council will vote on a resolution to perform a feasibility study, the required first step in the process. Later in the agenda, there's a contract to approve with PGAV Planners LLC, with a cost of $31,500. PGAV would assist with the required proc
Galesburg City Council on Tuesday night can approve two more grants from the Minority and/or Woman-owned Business Startup Assistance Program and Southside Occupancy Assistance Program. The first grants are for Brittany's Beautique which proposes to lease space at 1580 E Knox Street, Suite 3. Owner Brittany Tate's business will offer fashionable clothing and accessories both in-person and online and has requested grant funds to help build inventory and strengthen the business The KCAP Review Committee also recommends $3,200 in support from the Southside Occupancy Assistance Program for Brittany's Beautique, since her southside business is located in a unit that was vacant for 90+ days prior to her lease. The other grant is for All-Star Sports Academy which looks to re-open the Skate Palace roller rink. Owner Michael Spinks also proposes using a portion of the building for a sports coaching business. Council documents say the startup funds will allow Spinks to purchase nec
Galesburg City Council on Monday will vote on a grant agreement for the Discovery Depot. The Children's Museum is in need of additional funds for operational expenses, and in the past was included in a Tax Increment Financing District. TIF District 1 recently dissolved after existing since 1985 and those funds aren't available to provide financial assistance for capital projects at the museum anymore. According to Council documents this requires the Museum to utilize funding from operations for capital expenses. All the while, costs have increased for staff, utilities, and other operational expenses. Discovery Depot is not able to keep up with these increased costs even though they hold several annual fundraisers and charge admission. The resolution before the Council would authorize a grant agreement with Discovery Depot for $60,000 towards operational expenses in 2023. The amount will be paid on a prorated monthly basis in the amount of $5,000 per month. Discovery Depot sha
Galesburg City Council on Monday night passed a .25 percent increase to the home rule sales tax. The final vote went along an expected route; 4-3 with Kevin Wallace, Dwight White, Jaclyn Smith-Esters, and Sarah Davis voting in favor. Bradley Hix, Larry Cox, and Wayne Dennis were opposed. Aldermen and Mayor Peter Schwartzman had commented that the issue brought out more engagement from the public than any issue they've dealt with on the council. There was almost an hour of public comment before the vote, with many expressing support for the increase but the council also was presented with a petition of 1,400 signatures opposed. The council first took a vote on asking citizens in a referendum a non-binding question in the April consolidated election. Hix and Cox were the only two to vote against the referendum. Hix noted that 88 percent of the Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce members asked in a recent poll were against the increase. Cox commented he wouldn't be surprised if c
The Galesburg City Council on Monday night is set to vote on an increase in the home rule sales tax from 1 percent to 1.25 percent. City administration has brought this plan forward as a way to raise revenue by $950,000, paying for city road improvements and a community center. The vote will pass as long as members Dwight White, Sarah Davis, or Kevin Wallace don't vote no. WGIL has learned that Wayne Dennis, Bradley Hix, and Larry Cox will not vote for the increase. Mayor Peter Schwartzman has advocated for the increase as a way to invest in Galesburg's future. Although the increase has only been rolled out in the last month, there was a public forum last week that heard residents' opinions that lasted over 2 hours. Aldermen can also approve an engineering and architectural agreement for renovations to HT Custer Park. The $76,000 cost of the contract will be split between the City and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The Council also looks to apply for a gra