Group seeks city funds ahead of school vote

Chenoa Mayor David Shane, left, speaks with City Attorney Steve Mann Tuesday night.

A group wanting the Chenoa school to stay open is asking the city for funds to help them send out information ahead of the upcoming April school referendum.

Dalton Campbell and Joe Moreland, both running for the Prairie Central Board of Education in the upcoming election, appeared before the Chenoa City Council Tuesday night.

Moreland said they would just send facts out without saying yes or no to the upcoming vote. Campbell noted they are asking to stop what he referred to as false information out there.

“We cannot be for or against another taxing body in a referendum,” stated Mayor David Shane.

According to Moreland, they would be “correcting misinformation” with pamphlets and mailers, which he estimated is $2,000 to $2,500.

“You know shutting a school down in this town is not good for the town,” Moreland said.

Moreland even suggested the city’s Silliman Trust Fund as a possibility of funding.

City Attorney Steve Mann can get an Attorney General advisory opinion on the matter. Mann pointed to prohibited political activity under municipal affairs but questioned what they can support.

“There may be some educating that needs to happen to educate all sides,” Mann observed.

“We have a whole page of dos and don’ts for elections and referendums,” explained Mayor Shane. “If we could figure it out, I’d love to do it.”

The mayor said they would look into the matter further.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the Chenoa City Council approved a Zoning Board recommendation to grant a special use permit for Zachary Anderson for a multi-family dwelling in an R-2 District.

A business district redevelopment agreement between the city and The Beefcake Factory, LLC and Jason Keeling was approved.

Shane instructed the council to look over a commercial lease subsidy grant program within the Chenoa Tax Increment Financing Districts and Chenoa Business Development District before the next meeting. The old agreement had a requirement to move a business to a downtown building after a certain time and the city wants to change that.

“We just decided to do away with the old one and redo the one we had,” explained Shane.

Two new members were suggested to fill vacancies on the Economic Development Commission, including Kim Davis who works at the pharmacy and Stacy Eilts, the wife of COUNTRY agent Marlon Eilts who has a new office in town. A vote on the two is expected at the next meeting.

Discussion was held on the formation of a three-person committee to verify findings of a commissioner regarding a building in poor shape. This is the old cannery in Chenoa that caved in, resulting in a pile of bricks. According to the mayor, if a structure is over 50 percent destroyed, there is a provision in the code that asks to remove a building. It could be condemned with an ordinance violation sent to the owner.

During public comment, Commissioner Zack Lopeman was asked about trimming a tree on Fuller Street. He said it is Ameren’s responsibility from pole to pole and the homeowner’s responsibility beyond that. Lopeman told the man the city can get him a permit to get it trimmed.

The same person asked if the council and mayor could give progress updates on projects and happenings around town.

“I have been pushing for accountability on this stuff,” replied Shane.

Shane revealed they are getting tablets for council members and city employees so they can communicate.

Another person asked if there is parking for the proposed multi-family development from Zachary Anderson. Shane noted he will have a gravel parking lot there with plenty of green space around the four units.

Attorney Mann updated the council on a solar lease which he would have at the next meeting.

Lopeman reported workers did some hole patching around town and have been picking up brush and hope to cut down trees, work on stumps and work on the salt shed with the nicer weather.

Shane informed the council that about a third of the design phase is done for water main replacement. He said the city is applying for a 40-year zero percent interest loan to replace all lead lines in town.

Minutes were approved from the regular Feb. 11 meeting along with the Feb. 11 executive session. Bills were approved as well.