I am here so you don’t have to be. Nothing is being voted on today. It’s a public comment type of meeting.
The village has put a statement on all the chairs. Some highlights: The village trustees must look out for what is in the best interest of all village residents.
No growth equals eventual tax increases and higher sewer rates.
The village census numbers are down. The village’s businesses schools, fire department, early learning centers, library will need some kind of growth to sustain current levels of success. The level of services and products that they provide will begin to decline as well.
The village needs the potential to increase our tax base to finance much needed infrastructure improvements and to meet the needs and wants of the village’s parks and recreation departments, maintain the services the village currently provides and the ability to keep our village beautiful and safe.
The community has some long term residents who struggle with change. Sometimes they can be the loudest but also can be the least informed. The village trustees were elected to make informed decisions and do what is best for the village. The board has been working through this process for two years and its time for the village to move forward to change the downward trend.
We can’t afford to wait any longer to make the necessary changes for the village of St. Joseph. Hopefully some of what I’ve addressed will put an end to the exaggerated concerns related to moving forward with the village’s first ever TIF.
It’s a packed, standing room only house.
Fruhling-Voges: I want to thank everyone who is in attendance.
Discussing the rules for speaking. 5 minutes. Don’t be obscene. You gotta sign in with name and address.
If you are speaking they have a podium. #official.
The board will not be engaging as the public is speaking. They will respond at the end after the public comment.
Nick, the TIF consultant, is giving his presentation now. To summarize: A TIF is a way for a village to reallocate property tax dollars in a way for development. It’s 23 years long. As property values increase the change will go into the TIF account. This by itself is not a tax increase. It doesn’t change zoning and it’s not a plot to take your property. The incentives and agreements with developers and taxing bodies are all under local control and determined by the village.
Audience member: How soon will the benefits be seen?
Answer: Project is year one, assessed in years two, money comes in year three.
Question: Can the TIF be extended?
A: If all the taxing bodies support it, it can be extended 12 years. Recently they have added an additional 12 year extension.
He’s going through the TIF plan now.
The project started in 2017. He’s discussing what blighted means. Basically, there are a few ways that properties can qualify. Lack of planning for the most with 579 properties in the TIF.
Former Board member Andy Gherna just posted this comment on the blog and it’s worth pointing out: Already, the village attorney has misspoke regarding the TIF in 2017. It was not put on hold. It was voted down UNANIMOUSLY because of the financial consequences related to how TIFs work. Some of the sitting board members and mayor seem to have forgotten our reasons for rejecting it then. Very unfortunate the previous effort is being so misrepresented.
Now talking about the proposed projects:
PUBLIC: Public improvements like streets, lights, storm water, ect. It comes to roughly $43 million. It’s a wish list. Its not a given.
PRIVATE: Any type of development that could work in our zoning has been included. $25.5 million.
Up to the podium:
Lance Landeck, the grade school superintendent. School board has been discussing the TIF for two years. Meeting regularly with the village. The meetings aren’t really negotiations because the village can just do the TIF without any agreement. As superintendent, it is my job to get the best agreement for the schools. In our most recent agreement, language was introduced that could cause the districts to lose money from properties that they are currently getting money from.
TIF districts do take money from schools because of that I think it is important for the village to work with both school districts to come from an agreement that maintains the quality of our schools.
It’s important to come to an agreement that will be fair for all parties in five, ten, 23 years from now.
Todd Hitt: Township Supervisor
Stressing the strong relationship between the village and the township.
Understands the village needs to grow.
I think every body agrees with that, how we grow, what comes to town is all up to interpretation.
I have been very vocal about this. I absolutely despise the statue that allows a municipality to scrape funds from other taxing bodies to grow an area that is served by those taxing bodies. Your vote will determine how the other taxing bodies will provide these services. Discussing how new residents would effect the other taxing bodies, in particular the library. “We have already decided on the township board side, we will take care of the library. We have always done that. We think it is valuable to have in the village.” Saying the township will always be a good neighbor to the village. Township got the intergovernmental agreement today. “I will be frank. There is some language in there that didn’t sit well.”
Susan McKinney is now talking. She is the librarian. Discussing why she can’t move the library. She’s going into detail about why they can’t move. Basically, they have a trust. If they move they lose the trust. It’s $90,000. Susan is saying she isn’t against the TIF but she wants people to look at the good and the bad and make long term decisions.
Update from Andy Gherna: And we didn’t then either. Difference is that the board I was on heard the concerns and tried very hard to make it work. There was no way to make the money be spread in a way that was fair or even reasonable. I should know. I was the one who did all the math.
Brian Brooks is now speaking. He’s the super from SJO.
Brian and the board appreciate the board serving. “Your work doesn’t go unnoticed by us at the high school.”
Brooks saying we are probably falling behind other communities in the area due to lack of growth.
Brooks saying the district hasn’t made a public comment on the TIF because they didn’t want any statement taken out of context. The board is concerned with the residential part of the TIF.
Brian bringing up the strategic planning from 2023. At the committee it was discussed that “Most families live here because of the schools.” Brian saying he and his wife have lived here for 21 years. The number one thing has been how the community comes together in tough times.
Jim and Lori O’Brien : saying he loves St. Joseph. Jim pointing out that maybe the new board should vote on it since they will be the ones dealing with it.
Jim Page: Future mayor, currently just a resident. Referencing his open letter. He strongly supports the TIF. You can read his letter. He’s basically concerned about the economic health of the village. Saying businesses don’t want to come to towns that are shrinking. “We have had no real growth over 10 years.”
TIF guy saying most municipalities don’t enter into discussions or agreements with the other taxing bodies.
This is my comment: The village keeps talking about how there hasn’t been any growth for eight years since the TIF was voted down last time. That’s true but also kinda negating that we were in a pandemic and there wasn’t a ton of growth anywhere.
Back to Jim Page: “I want to make this work. If this board doesn’t pass it. The next board is going to have to in my opinion.”
Max Painter: saying it’s not going to happen regarding waiting for the next board.
An aside: the final vote was originally scheduled for May 13 on the schedule that the other taxing bodies got.
Tammy V. discussing how she appreciates the “respectful” tones of the speakers.
Terri: “We are taking this seriously and we will work with you.”
Art is saying they turned down the TIF last time because it would be a tax increase on everyone in St. Joseph.
Max is saying they had the chance to pass it eight years ago and didn’t. “In 8 years we haven’t grown.”
Rusty from the fire department pointing out that eight years ago a developer was pushing the TIF and would have benefited financially from the agreement.
A resident from Mahomet is pointing out that residents from St. Joseph are coming to Mahomet to develop property. “What does St. Joseph have to offer developers?”
Resident is pointing out that if she moved here there aren’t amenities like other towns have and the houses are overpriced. #don’tjumponher #don’tweallwantaswimmingpool
Tami is talking about hiring an administrator now and how BJ voted no in 2009 to hire an administrator and that no vote put the town behind other communities who have had administrators for years. She’s also talking about how the mayor position is really part time and only pays $300 per month.
“Mahomet is a different community,” Fruhling-Voges said. “They have a lot of different places to grow.”
Fruhling Voges pointing out that the TIF may not be successful. “We hope it will be successful.”
Mahomet resident is talking about how their schools are busting at the seams.
Tami is talking about the sewer plant.
I wonder if the TIF money can be used to put a sidewalk on Prospect so my kids and dozens and dozens of other kids don’t have to walk in the street and try to avoid getting hit before and after school. #ishallresearch
Art pointing out that only 5.6 percent of property tax dollars go to the village.
Someone is asking how much of the TIF money is going to leave St. Joseph. Meaning paying the TIF administrator, developers, ect.
Lance asked the village board members to explain how the TIF consultant was paid. Joe the administrator jumped in and said the public cannot dictate the terms of the meeting and whoever the mayor wants to answer will answer. Mayor deferred to the TIF consultant.
Tami saying the village is restricted on what they can use the TIF money on. It’s projects, development, not salaries or things like that. She said she saw this on social media but I never saw anyone say that it would be spent on salaries.
Todd Hitt speaking again. Discussing property taxes. He was the tax assessor for eight years. He knows his stuff.
Angela Page discussing how the Mahomet development explosion can’t happen here because the village is too landlocked. Developer talking about 7 to 10 houses a year. Discussing how the TIF can help close the gap between developers and land owners.
Village lawyer, Mark Miller, is discussing how TIFs work in other communities he works with. He’s still talking.
So I am going to take this time to remind you that village garage sales are May 8, 9 and 10. I need your ad by April 30 if you want on the map. I am not making an exceptions this time. (I say that now but will probably cave. It’s how I roll. Please send me your ads so we can make this worth people doing.)
Another reminder, Dumpster Days is May 17 starting at 7 a.m. at the Sports Complex. It’s for the village and the township. Don’t do what I do and wait until an hour before and get in line. It’s crowded. Go early. And don’t put chemicals, tires, brush in the dumpsters. It’s for junk to beautify the town.
The public meeting is closed.
Fun reminder: The regular village board meets next Tuesday. The next TIF meeting is the 29th.
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