City reviews parking lot surveys
by Marion Best
mebest@newsprogress.com
Julie Standerfer and Aaron Kirk presented results of the downtown parking survey to the city council Monday night.
The survey, prepared and distributed by the Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development, drew 124 responses, Standerfer said, with 97 percent of them in favor of seeing the municipal parking lots (located behind Jibby’s, behind O’Malley’s and behind the theater) upgraded.
Council members agreed to study the materials Standerfer and Kirk presented, and Mayor Ann Short invited them to return to the next meeting with names of persons interested in working on a task force to come up with possible costs of parking lot improvements as well as helping to create a comprehensive plan addressing the parking needs of the entire downtown community.
Several businesses were represented at the meeting.
Another concern addressed during the “strategic retreat” held in late February was also addressed by Short. The city’s deputy treasurer is compiling information for Short about communities who have a city manager or a city utilities director. She said Marshall is a community similar to Sullivan in that it has a commission form of government and also owns its three utilities. Other communities from which information is being sought are Clinton and Tuscola.
The council approved signing an agreement with the Decatur engineering firm of Chastain & Associates to proceed with the study, design and construction of the Worth Street extension project that will connect Chad Avenue with Hawthorne Drive. Commissioner Jeff Lane said costs of the agreement are not to exceed $81,188, and he expects work to begin later this summer.
Two ordinances concerning the new CVS store were adopted. The first approved and authorized the execution of a TIF District Redevelopment Agreement between the city and Hooks-Suprx, LLC that calls for 100 percent tax rebate back to Hooks for one year and then 75 percent a year with an $825,000 cap up to tax year 2017 payable in 2018.
The second calls for Cedarwood Development, Inc. to pay the fees for a professional service agreement for the 2008 amendment to TIF District 1.
The proposed 12-step timeline for the amendment opened Monday night when the council set the date for a public meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, June 9 and close with the introduction of final ordinances amending TIF 1 set for August. Letters will be mailed May 23 giving TIF 1 residents notice of the meeting.
The city also adopted an ordinance annexing the property at 7 N. Market Street into the city.
Fees were waived by the council for proposed raffles from the Sullivan Singers Booster Club and the Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development.
Commissioner Mike Kirk reported that he has contacted the Environmental Protection Agency to obtain approval for another hazardous waste cleanup day. He said the request is pending.
Commissioner Bill Hagen reported that 20 warning tickets have been issued to clean up yards and that community service students have been helping clean up other properties. He also read a letter from a student asking the city to consider building a BMS bike park adjacent to the skate park. He then turned the letter over to Commissioner Mike Mossman.