NORMAL – Normal Town Council members voted unanimously to approve an ordinance authorizing the 2013 property tax levy, which increased the Town’s individual share of monies collected. Other governing bodies within the county, such as the Normal-based Unit 5 School District and the City of Bloomington also needed to vote on the levy as well.

Town administrators and Council members tried to explain that by approving the 11 percent increase, Normal residents were not being asked to shoulder the entire amount they would pay, but rather a portion of the 11 percent. “People assume their taxes are going up 11 percent,” City Manager Mark Peterson explained, which he said is not the case.

“In truth, the tax is going up $5 a month. A person with a $300,000 home would see an increase of $10 per month. A person with a $150,000 home would see an increase of $5 per month,” Peterson explained after the public hearing that began before the regularly scheduled Council session.

But as the evening began with the public hearing, it was clear some residents did not want to see their taxes increase. Normal resident Jim Woodward told Council members, “I do feel we need to scale back on what we spend money on.” He added he was currently battling cancer and that, excluding his illness as an explanation, he has cut back on personal expenses and “hopes the Town would also cut back.”

Joseph Zompetti, a retired Illinois State University employee, told Council members, “An increase in the property tax is misguided. I think there are other revenue streams that could be looked into.” He cited Unit 5’s desire to seek a tax increase, then added, “We all have to do belt-tightening to get by and I hope the Council will take this opportunity to vote no on this increase.”

“We need more cooperation between governing bodies within the state,” explained Ron Ulmer, a candidate for Town Council last spring, when he addressed Council members. He suggested the Town consider imposing a tax on packaged liquor before considering approving a property tax hike.

Rhonda Coyle, a 13-year Normal resident, said, “The fiscal decisions of the Council are making me question my decision” to settle in town. She cited the Town considering construction of new fire stations to replace aging facilities, and the Town pondering construction of a new library as reasons for her concern.

Coyle also took issue with the Council’s decision in the spring to pledge and contribute $500,000 to help pay for a new video scoreboard for ISU’s Hancock Stadium. The total would be paid over a five-year period per an agreement between the Town and the University, and the amount would be nearly half of the $1.2 million price tag for the upgrade.

“My water bill continues to increase,” Coyle added. “I have two kids in college. I don’t see what I pay going down. It just goes up,” she said. “We seem to want to be special and exceptional as a community until it comes to taxes. Then, we want to be like any other community.”

A total of 10 people addressed the Council, with only one man in person addressing Council members to support the tax. But he was not alone. Mayor Chris Koos asked that an email he received prior to the meeting from a resident who could not attend the hearing be read into the record as part of the discussion.

“I wanted to convey my support for the action of the Council to increase property taxes in Normal,” wrote resident Carl Teichman. “The Town needs to operate from a position of strength and this small increase will allow an already lean operation to provide needed basic services to the citizens of Normal. I do not mind paying a bit more each month to maintain the momentum from the Uptown projects.”

The public hearing was required by state statute because the amount of the total increase over last year’s levy was more than five percent.

In addition to approving the tax levy, Council members also unanimously approved ordinances authorizing abatement of 2013 property taxes for debt service. A total of nine ordinances totaling $5,466,076 in property taxes for general bond issues from 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013 were abated. State law requires the county to levy property taxes for paying of these bonds. Communities are permitted to discard the tax if sufficient funds are available to pay off the required principal and interest.

Agreement With Economic Development Council Approved: Council members unanimously approved execution of a memorandum of understanding between the Town and the Economic Development Council to enter into an abatement incentive program which would aid economic development. EDC officials hope the agreement helps to create or retain 50 or more full time jobs in the community and increase the area’s tax base by $5 million if not more.

As of Monday’s meeting, the Town of Normal is the fourth area governing body to approve the agreement with EDC. The others were Unit 5, Bloomington School District #87, and the City of Bloomington. Normal’s approving the agreement leaves the McLean County Board as the only entity left to vote on the agreement.

Public Works Update Given: Peterson gave Council members an update on how Normal fared following the severe weather central Illinois encountered on Nov. 17. He explained the Town’s Public Works Director, Robin Weaver, and Town crews worked to get streets cleared following the storms. He said the Town had four crews on duty collecting brush after the storms, double the number usually responsible for the job.

“Hopefully, this is the last windstorm of 2013 and we’re ready for snow,” Peterson told Council members. Monday’s session was also the last one attended by Weaver, who is retiring Nov. 22. She will be succeeded by Wayne Aldrich, currently Uptown Development Director, beginning Nov. 25.

Omnibus Agenda Items Approved: Omnibus agenda items approved by the Council included:

• Approval of minutes of regular meeting on Nov. 4, 2013.

• Approval of Town of Normal expenditures for payment as of November 13, 2013.

• A motion to approve annual street resurfacing priority list for FY 2013-14.

• A resolution authorizing an extension and rate adjustment to a contract with Towanda-based Laesch Electric, Inc. for traffic control equipment and highway lighting maintenance.

• A resolution authorizing Amendment Number One to the intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for the pedestrian overpass, south boarding platform, and improvement to the old Amtrak Station.

• A resolution waiving the formal bidding process and authorizing an agreement with Dayton, Ohio-based International Display Systems, Inc., for the installation of an upgrade to the Passenger Information Display System (PIDS) in the Uptown Station in the amount of $47,347 and approving an associated budget adjustment.

• A resolution authorizing a license agreement with Connect Transit for the implementation of a Passenger Information Display System (PIDS) in the Uptown Station.

• A resolution conditionally and partially approving a final plat within one and one-half miles of Town Corporate Limits by expedited process –Hartley Subdivision (Old Peoria Rd.).

• A resolution accepting an easement for public water main and related utilities – Trails On Sunset Lake.

• A resolution conditionally and partially approving an amended final development plan for Lot 3 in the resubdivision of Lot 3 in the Omni Sports Planned Unit Development (1531 Fort Jesse Rd.).

• An ordinance amending Chapter 18 of the Town Municipal Code (Personnel).

• An ordinance amending Section 7.20-11 of the Town Municipal Code – Altering Date of Requirement of Overhead Sewers.

• An ordinance amending Sections 11.4.3-3, 11.4.3-7, 11.4.4-1, and 11.4.4-2 of the Town Municipal Code – Adopting the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code.

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