JOINT REVIEW BOARD RECOMMENDS TIF DISTRICTS TO COUNCIL
The joint review board whose responsibility is to review two proposed TIF districts for Greenville has voted to recommend their acceptance. The districts would be located in downtown Greenville and at the Interstate 70/Route 127 interchange. A TIF or Tax Increment Financing district places the property tax revenue attributed to an increase in the value of the property within that district into a special fund. Only the additional revenue generated above the base established when the TIF district was created can go into this fund. The revenue in the TIF fund can go for infrastructure improvements, land acquisition, and other costs associated with promoting economic development.
Prior to the vote, Bond County Supervisor of Assessments Don Albert asked why the downtown area qualified as a TIF District. Willey explained that it is considered a “conservation area.” This designation is contingent on the property within the TIF qualifying under several eligibility factors including declining or subpar Equalized Assessed Valuation or EAV growth, deteriorating buildings, and street and sidewalk condition. There was also discussion on a question by the Unit 2 School District on how it could be impacted.
The I-70/Route 127 TIF proposal passed on a 5-0 vote while the downtown TIF was approved 4-1 with Albert voting “no.” The recommendations go to the Greenville City Council who will host a public hearing on the issue.
UNIT 2 BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVES INSURANCE
The Unit 2 Board of Education met Monday night and heard a presentation from Steve Bushue with Bushue Human Resources, Inc. in regards to bids on the district's insurance. A bid of a $207,855 premium plus earthquake liability not to exceed $3,000 was accepted by Patrick Insurance Agency and passed by the board.
Meg File, member of the Technology Committee, recently attended the Illinois Education and Technology Conference. She supplied information for the district to consider on free videoconferencing in the classroom offered by the University of Illinois. Gary Brauns, Greenville Jr. High Principal provided a demonstration on the ISAT Wizard used by his school for the last 3 years. The program is designed save time when grouping and individualizing Illinois Standard Achievement Test scores.
Under the Asbestos proposal, Unit 2 Board of Education members approved a new contract with KAM Solutions for a three-year asbestos inspection costing $1,950. The fall application for the school library grant was completed on-line, and members Monday night passed a motion to submit it. Members reviewed the prospective tex levy changes for next year, and set the official levy hearing for December's meeting.
Also approved by the board was an overnight trip to Springfield for the high school boy's basketball team, the treasurer's report, bills and the resignation of the Sorento girl's volleyball coach.
FIRST DAY OF SAFETY BELT CHECKS NETS 30 CITATIONS
Monday was the first day of the Greenville Police Department’s periodic safety belt checks. Police established vehicle stops at the intersection of College and Eastern and later at College and Elm. Greenville police Chief Lou Lorton told WGEL that a total of 30 citations were issued. Twenty-eight were for seat belt violations with four of those being written to passengers. One ticket was issued for driving while license suspended and Greenville officers also conducted a warrant arrest. The safety belt checks will continue over the next two weeks.
LIFT DESIGNED BY GREENVILLE MAN TO HELP THOSE IN WHEELCHAIRS
Individuals who are wheel chair-bound will soon have more options on the types of vehicles they can own, thanks to a Greenville man. Scott Darnell, with Further-Options has spent many years designing a wheelchair lift that can be installed in certain trucks. Darnell has been wheelchair-bound since a spinal cord injury in 1991 and spoke to WGEL about his determination to get his product available to others.
He said he still had the same types of thoughts about accomplishing different things and making other avenues open, it was just that he didn't have hands or the capabilities to do himself. Darnell stated there was a lot of patience involved, but he had a lot of support from a lot of people. He believes that he was very fortunate and blessed that despite having a terrible thing happen to him, he had wonderful people around.
Until now, individuals in wheelchairs had to drive vans, as it was really the only vehicle capable of being installed with lift equipment. Darnell's DMS-3 has arms that fit under the wheelchair, lift it into the truck and swing the chair right up to the steering wheel. Currently, the lift is available for most full-size, two-wheel drive pickups with extended cabs and "suicide doors", however, Darnell is working on modifications to give people more vehicle choices.
He believes that when we get on the road, everything is even. If everyone is driving a vehicle that reflects their personality there are no disabilities, no difference. Darnell explained, that by having a product out there that allows you to own a vehicle that doesn't look disabled is huge and means a great deal to someone in his situation.
WGEL will have more with Scott Darnell in a future Public Affairs Program.
GREENVILLE REGIONAL HOSPITAL HOSTING 13TH ANNUAL LUMINARY PROJECT
Greenville Regional Hospital Auxiliary is sponsoring the 13th annual “Light a Luminary for a Loved One or Friend” program. For a donation of $10, given to the Greenville Regional Hospital Auxiliary, a holiday luminary featuring the die-cut design of a Christmas tree or snowflake will be placed and lighted along the driveway and sidewalks surrounding Greenville Regional Hospital and Fair Oaks “in honor of" or “in memory of" a family member, loved one, or friend. The luminaries will be lighted the evening after Thanksgiving and displaced through January 7. Donations to the “Light a Luminary Project” may be made at the 49th annual Greenville Regional Hospital Auxiliary Holiday Bazaar. Contributions may also be sent to Greenville Regional Hospital or Fair Oaks in care of the “Light a Luminary Project.”
