www.arcolarecordherald.com Volume 153 — Number 11 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014 TWO SECTIONS — 14 PAGES A ‘Classic’ Nets Major Funds For School’s Playground After several weeks of selling raffle tickets, the big night came on Friday when the winner of the mint-condition 1993 Harley-Davidson motorcycle was announced. The name of the lucky winner, Nidia Garza, was announced during halftime of the Purple Rider football team’s game against Cerro Gordo-Bement. The like-new Harley was donated to the school earlier this year by the Libman Company and the decision was made by the school board to offer the motorcycle in a raffle. The proceeds are to be used to purchase new playground equipment at Arcola Elementary School. Nearly 1,900 tickets were sold and grade school students participated in a contest to determine who sold the most tickets. Pictured above left are the top 12 student sellers. From left are Jackson Lebeter, Addee Mulligan, Jada Medina, Isabelle Hensley, Hailey Trotter, Rachel Sigrist, Morgan Doud, KayLee Hohlbauch, Taylor Churchill, Aiden Smith, Nickolas Dow and Kolten Petrie. Shown in back are Andrew Libman of the Libman Company and Arcola Superintendent Tom Mulligan. In the photo at right, Libman and Mulligan draw the winning ticket. ARCOLA CITY COUNCIL Revised TIF Agreement OK’d By Council •City Administrator: Taxing Bodies Should Have Received Proposed Intergovernmental Agreement By Chris Slack Complete with revisions, the Arcola City Council on Monday night approved an intergovernmental agreement on its proposal to extend the life of the city’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts 1 and 6. The latest revisions came after a joint meeting that was held September 24 between the city and all affected taxing bodies at the Arcola school. It has been five years since the city first proposed the 12-year TIF extension that is geared toward further commercial and industrial development, as well as continued revitalization efforts in the downtown area. City leaders are hoping that an agreement with all taxing bodies can be reached soon so the exten- sion plan can be presented to the Illinois State Legislature. All affected taxing bodies must sign off on the city’s TIF extension plan before it can proceed to the state legislature. Arcola City Administrator Bill Wagoner said Monday night that the latest the TIF extension proposal can be presented at the state level is next year. The city’s current 23-year TIF district expires at the end of 2015. Wagoner also said the revised intergovernmental agreements were mailed out to the impacted taxing bodies last week. He added that if any of these entities did not receive the agreement, they can contact city hall. “Everyone should have the revised agreement,” said Wagoner. The revised agreement approved by the council on Monday notes changes in surplus distributions to the affected taxing bodies based on equalized assessed valuation. The agreement, drafted by City Attorney Andrew Bequette, states that for the tax year 2017 and each year thereafter as long as TIFs 1 and 6 are in existence, and after the parcels with an equalized assessed value of $7 million have been removed from TIF 1, if the equalized assessed value of parcels within TIF districts in the city exceeds 50 percent of the total EAV of the entire city for two consecutive years, the city will declare a total surplus of not less than 30 percent of the total TIF proceeds received by the city each year. The agreement adds that at least $200,000 per year will be declared as surplus for distribution to the affected taxing bodies. The following is stated in the agreement: “Said surplus shall be instead of the 25 percent total surplus referenced in paragraph one of Section VI (of the agreement), not in addition to.” It adds, “The percentage of EAV within TIF districts in the city shall be reviewed annually at the Joint Review Board meeting based on information from the Douglas County Assessor’s Office and in the event that the EAV of parcels within TIF districts in the city exceeds 50 percent of the total EAV of the entire city for two consecutive years, said calculation shall be certified at the Joint Review Board meeting to trigger the increase in total surplus of not less than 30 percent of the total TIF proceeds received by the city each year rather than 25 percent.” An additional revision from the original agreement, according to Wagoner, involves the constitution of the city’s TIF Advisory Committee, which exists to review requests for TIF funding and ultimately makes recommendations to the city council. Wagoner said the new makeup of the TIF committee — if the agreement is approved — would include a representative from the city, the Arcola Community Unit School District, Douglas County, Arcola Township, the Arcola Public Library District, the Arcola Fire Protection District and Parkland Community College District. These representatives would be appointed by the mayor of Arcola, who is currently Larry Ferguson. The agreement drawn up by Bequette notes: See City Council...p. 7A WHAT’S ON THE COMMUNITY AGENDA? Trick-Or-Treat Hours In Arcola ed to the food pantry for distribution. Anyone wishing to be a volunteer in this project should contact Butch Guennewig at 268-3139. Trick-or-treaters can now save the date. The Arcola City Council set Friday, October 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. as the official trick-or-treat hours. Local residents who would like trick-or-treaters to stop by their homes for some Halloween goodies are advised to leave the lights on in front of their houses. The Douglas County Health Department has scheduled another flu shot clinic for Tuesday, October 28, from 2 to 4 p.m. This will be a walk-in clinic (no appointment necessary) for children 3 or older and adults 64 and younger. The high dose vaccine for people 65-plus has still not been received, but delivery is still anticipated. Announcements will continue to be made as other clinics are rescheduled later in the month of November. For further information, please contact the Douglas County Health Department at 253-4137. Additional announcements are included below: Lions Pack-A-Sack For Food Pantry The Arcola Lions Club, along with the Arcola Food Pantry, will sponsor a community project entitled, “Pack-A-Sack.” On Saturday, October 25, the Arcola Lions Club and their volunteers will canvass the city and leave a marked sack at each residence with instructions to fill the sack with nonperishable food items for the food pantry. The following Saturday, November 1, the Arcola Lions and their volunteers will pick up the filled sacks which residents should have on their front steps or porches by 9 a.m. If the sack is not picked up by 11 a.m. on November 1, please call 268-4197. The food items will then be sorted at the Arcola United Methodist Church basement and transport- Health Department Flu Shot Clinic Volunteers Needed For Chamber Santa Parade The Arcola Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the annual Santa Parade at 5 p.m. on Saturday, November 22. Volunteers are needed to help with the special event. Anyone interesting in helping is encouraged to call the Chamber office, located in the Arcola Depot, at 268-4530. Walnut Grove Trunk or Treat Walnut Grove Christian Church will sponsor its annual Trunk or Treat activity Sunday, October 26, at Moore Park in Arcola. Free hot dogs will be served from 5:30 to 6 p.m. and the trunk walk is planned from 6 to 7 p.m. IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE Annual Veterans Day Assembly The annual Veterans Day assembly at Arcola High School will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 11. The theme is “Voices from the Homefront.” Veterans and their families will be honored. There will be a luncheon provided. More information will follow. RSVP for the luncheon by calling 268-4962. American Legion Meeting The next meeting of the Arcola American Legion Post 639 will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, October 27, at the Arcola Public Library. All veterans are welcome. R-H Newsstand Locations The Arcola Record-Herald is available each week at these area locations: In Arcola: Casey’s General Store, Arcola IGA, Browne’s Pharmacy, Arcola Country Store & Gas, Vyverberg’s, Dutch Kitchen, Country Charm, Hen House and Jack Flash. Rural Arcola: Country Salvage. In Chesterville: Korner Cafe. In Hindsboro: Quick Gits (formerly Five N’s). In Tuscola: Tuscola IGA. Classifieds ........................................4B Courthouse News ..........................4A Obituaries ........................................6A Sports ..........................................1B-3B PAGE 1B Undefeated Purple Riders Outright Little Okaw Champions HOW TO REACH US • To fax news and advertising materials to the Record-Herald, please call 217-2684938. The deadline is 5 p.m. each Monday. Find the R-H on the web at www.arcolarecordherald.com • The street address is 118 E. Main. The newspaper’s mailing address is P.O. Box 217, Arcola, IL 61910. Phone 268-4950. • E-mail the newspaper at: [email protected]
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