The Vandalia City Council approved two of three TIF agreements on their agenda at Monday night’s second meeting of the month while tabling a third to allow time for the council to seek more information. The council unanimously approved a TIF agreement with the Vandalia School District for $400,000 in the form of five annual payments of $80,000. The TIF money will go towards the district’s project to remove asbestos, and make heating and cooling and ceiling and light upgrades. The council also unanimously approved a TIF agreement with Clayton and Brandi Gathe for $6,760 for rehabilitation costs for their business Little Blue Eyes at 319 West Main Street in Vandalia.
Also on the agenda to be discussed and voted on was a TIF agreement with Dennis and Debbie Grubaugh for $100,000 for improvements to the wall of Grubaugh’s building at 507 West Gallatin Street that was adjacent to the downtown building torn down last year. After Alderman B. John Clark said he wished for the agenda item to be tabled he deferred to Alderman Andy Lester who had questions for Grubaugh including how exactly he would be looking to restore wall.
And Lester stating he has some concerns without more information and wants to see the wall fixed in a way it that it would be long lasting.
After a motion was made and seconded to table the matter, Mayor Rick Gottman said he would like to put a committee together to look at the issue with himself, Andy Lester and B. John Clark being on that committee as well as the building owner, Grubaugh. The motion to table the TIF agreement was then approved.