8-27-2008

TIF PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

The City of Greenville took another step towards increasing opportunities for attracting new business to the city. The City of Greenville held two public hearings Monday night. The first hearing was to discuss the formation of a new Tax Increment Financing, or TIF district, in the undeveloped parts of the Wolf Industrial Park. A TIF district allows for increases in property taxes caused by new development to be used for certain infrastructure improvements. TIF's are used to attract new development and the new district is proposed to be set up for the maximum 23 year period.  The second hearing dealt with the expansion of the current Route 127 / I-70 TIF. The city is proposing to add an additional 11 parcels of property to that current TIF. Mayor Alan Gaffner pointed out that so far Greenville TIF’s have resulted in helping to attract three new enterprises including the Love’s Travel Plaza, scheduled to begin construction next Spring, the new Sleep Inn, currently under construction, and Z-One Automotive, now doing business on Harris Avenue.

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COLLEGE SECURITY LAW

 

Just in time for back to school, Governor Blagojevich signed the Campus Security Enhancement Act into law. This law requires all colleges and universities to plan for and practice their responses to emergencies of all natures. It will ensure that response plans are developed in partnership with local emergency response agencies and mental health service providers. Illinois is the first state to pass this law.

 

 

DRYER VENT FIRE AT HOME IN KEYESPORT

 

 

Keyesport firemen were paged Monday afternoon, at 4:32, to a report of a fire at a home on Freeport Road.  According to Fire Chief, Duane Wiegman, a lawn mower hit an electrical line in the yard, causing a spark.  The spark jumped to a gas line, following it into the house and igniting the lint in the dryer vent.  The homeowner quickly shut off the power and gas and put out the fire using a fire extinguisher.  The fire was out by the time firemen arrived, but they were on the scene for about an hour, investigating the cause.  Damage was limited to the dryer vent.

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SCIGA MEETING

 

The South Central Illinois Growth Association met recently in Washington County.  The speaker for the evening was Steve Johnson, Senior Vice President of the RCGA St. Louis.  He spoke of the history of a St. Louis / China partnership, reasons for developing a relationship with China, and their efforts to locate an air cargo hub in Missouri.

 

SCIGA Director Art Borum reported that a new brochure is being developed to provide more information on each of the counties involved with the SCIGA, and that a GIS mapping workshop will begin soon, assisting in attracting more businesses to the region.

 

The next SCIGA meeting will be today, Wednesday, August 27^th.

 

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AVOID CONTACTS WITH BATS

 

State public health director, Dr. Damon Arnold warns people to avoid contact with bats as we approach the time of year when bats are most active.  There have already been 40 bats that tested positive for rabies in 13 counties in Illinois.  Reported in 2007, 113 bats tested positive for rabies in Illinois.  The Illinois Department of Health offers tips that can prevent the spread of rabies; be a responsible pet owner and keep vaccinations up to date, never handle or try to nurse sick or stray animals back to health, and call animal control to remove stray animals in your neighborhood. Never approach or try to catch a bat in your home, instead call animal control.  

 

 

HILL'S FORT LIVING HISTORY DAYS
 

September 6th and 7th will be big days at the Farm Heritage Museum. To get all the details, we had a chance to talk with the Coordinator of this Historical Event, Bill Wilson. Wilson let us in on all the activities that will be taking place. Bring the kids. They’ll have live baby buffalo to get close to, and games and events that date back to frontier days, like the tomahawk throw. Wilson told us they’ll make some noise down there, when the canons are set off. The Hill's Fort Living History Days take place on September 6^th and 7^th at the Farm Heritage Museum in Greenville.

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