The Vandalia City Council approved three new TIF agreements at their final council meeting of the year on Monday night. The first TIF agreement approved will help a current business in Vandalia improve the building it has been located in. The council unanimously approved the agreement with Tina Kingery of Country Folk, located at 110 S. 3rd Street, in the amount of $6,029.50 for work that will include improvements to both the interior and exterior of the building.
The second agreement TIF agreement on the agenda brought some discussion with it as the amount recommended during a TIF work session two weeks ago was ultimately changed with a larger percentage being voted on by the full council. After reviewing the TIF application from Mike Wehrle for work on the building at 1501 W. Veterans Avenue during the work session, it was recommended that 25% of the total project cost be voted on Monday night. To start discussion, alderman Russ Stunkel said he would like to see a higher amount of TIF money be approved for the work after he personally went and viewed the building and talked with Wehrle about the number of possible jobs could be created by businesses occupying the building after all work was completed. Alderman Mike Hobler agreed he would like to see an amount closer to 40-50% of the total project cost being approved while alderwoman Dorothy Crawford also voiced her support of a high amount. A motion was then brought forth to give Wehrle TIF funds in the amount of $53,715.42 with Stunkel, Hobler, Crawford, aldermen B. John Clark and Joel Rebbe in favor of the TIF agreement while aldermen Steve Barker and Andy Lester voting against the measure and alderman Ken Hubler not present for the vote.
Following the increase in TIF funds to Wehrle, the council addressed a TIF request from Duffy & Associates which had also been recommended to the full board to receive 25% of their total project cost for work on the building at 1501 W. Veterans Avenue, that will allow them to move their business, Discount Tobacco, into the building from their current location in downtown Vandalia. It was again expressed that some council members felt that the 25% amount should be increased and a motion to award TIF funds to Duffy in the amount of $43,365.40, or 50% of their total project cost, was made. The measure was carried with Stunkel, Hobler, Crawford, Clark and Rebbe in favor of the TIF agreement with Barker and Lester voting against the measure and alderman Hubler not present for the vote.