ROCHELLE — The City of Rochelle is taking the initial steps to possibly incorporate another TIF district, following council’s approval Monday evening.

The proposed Northern Gateway TIF District would encompass the east side of Seventh Street beginning at Fairview Drive extending to Route 38 and points east to Turkington Terrace. It would also include Hickory Grove Convention Center and the May Mart shopping center.

Council approved a resolution authorizing city manager Jeff Fiegenschuh to execute an agreement with Moran Economic Development to conduct the TIF eligibility study. The cost of the study is $30,000, within the budget established of $35,000 to fund the study.

Fiegenschuh explained Moran’s responsibility of the study would include all necessary documentation, a redevelopment plan and project documents, and assisting with public hearings and required notices.

Expected timeframe of the process is between six and nine months.

Other items approved include the sale of the fire department’s inoperable 1993 Dodge pickup truck, a resolution approving a credit card and charge account policy and a settlement agreement for the property tax assessment at the landfill.

Fiegenschuh recognized two employees for their years of service. John Orlikowski worked for the city for 42 years, first starting in the steam plant in December of 1975. Orlikowski retired from the distribution division in the electric department.

Also recognized it retiring Lawnridge Cemetery employee John Loggins, who began working for the city in June of 1983. Fiegenschuh credits Loggins for significant improvements to the facilities, grounds, record keeping, and customer service. Loggins officially retires on Feb. 9. A celebration will be held at Rochelle City Hall conference center on Friday, Feb. 9 from 1:30 to 3:30.

Discussion items

A consulting firm will be preparing a nomination for a downtown historic district in Rochelle. The area would include the Flagg-Rochelle Public Library, extending to the U.S. Post Office, Main Street, and Cherry Avenue. The project would involve coordination with the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office and the city to establish boundaries of the district along with the project schedule, preliminary research, survey, photography, and document preparation. The project would also involve the final nomination submission, and the necessary public meetings and presentation to the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council.

Fiegenschuh explained a 20 percent historic tax credit can be obtained as long as redevelopment projects meet the Standards of Rehabilitation. This ensures any projects honor architecture and history of the building. Building owners are not required to participate and are not constricted if the area would obtain designation, but would not be allowed the tax credits if they update their buildings outside of the qualifications.

Michelle Pease, Community Development Director presented council with a summary, including proposed boundaries.

Also discussed is the new marketing plan for the Rochelle Business and Technology Park. Jenny Thompson and Adriana Milan outlined the strategies to recruit potential businesses will now reach a national campaign, versus a more regional approach taken originally. Council earlier approved a purchase option and a listing agreement with Lee and Associates. Part of the strategy will involve Jim Planey with Lee and Associates listing the tech park on several websites, utilizing broker to broker marketing, as well as emailing prospective businesses every 60 days.

Thompson explained a new sign will be placed along Interstate 39 as well as landscaping cleanup to be performed by the street department. Online marketing, updating the tech center’s website as well as brochures, and attending various data center trade shows on a national scale were also discussed.

A lateral transfer option within the police department was discussed. The employee must be a certified police officer within the state for more than two years, in good standing with their department, and is eligible for a basic training waiver from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board to be placed on the lateral list after the interview process.

On Jan. 9 the Board of Police and Fire Commission approved language to make the lateral transfer option possible.

Absent from Monday’s meeting were councilman John Bearrows and Don Burke.