Burgers & Beer may be on the menu soon in Tuscola

By Kayleigh Rahn
It’s been more than one year since the former Daylight Donuts property served its last pastry.

The property, located at 909 E. Southline Rd., has remained untouched since local business owner Richard Kidwell sold the property to developer Austin Apgar. However, movement behind the scenes may result in another new restaurant to open its kitchen for the community. 

This time, the community can look forward to the possibility of Burgers & Beer, a brazen bar and grill with a focus on specialty burgers and brews, as the name may suggest. The restaurant chain has spots in Kankakee, Gibson City, Fairbury, and Wilmington.

With the purchase of the former Daylight Donuts, Apgar assumed the remaining TIF loan balance of about $50,000, which he has since paid down to about $35,000. 

“The assumption agreement called for reductions or ‘write offs’ of portions of the loan balance if and when Apgar completed certain redevelopment activities, one of which was the build-out and operation of that property as a casual dining restaurant,” City Administrator Drew Hoel wrote in his bi-monthly report to the city council.

During its Monday, Aug. 12 meeting, the Tuscola City Council approved a modification to the agreement, which suspends the principal payments for up to 12 months during property closing and build-out and, upon the restaurant’s opening, forgives the remaining $35,000 balance.

Hoel told the council that Apgar reported Friday, Aug. 9 that the sale was under contract.

In other business Monday, the council reviewed the Ervin Park project, which is ready for bid. The park updates include the resurfacing of the north and south tennis courts and the two basketball courts (to be completed May 1, 2020) along with replacing the lighting on three of the four ball diamonds (to be completed March 1, 2020). 

The work will include the replacement of all tennis courts and the east basketball court. The west basketball court, the newer surface, will take a thin mill and overlay. During Monday’s Meeting, the council gave the unofficial green light for their preferred color scheme to include dirt red border and green tennis courts with white lines for tennis and yellow lines for pickle ball (on the north court). The basketball courts will be blue surfaces with white lines. The work will also include ADA sidewalk installation leading to each court.

The ball diamond lighting will feature four poles replacing the six poles at the north softball and the middle Little League diamonds. The high school baseball diamond will replace the eight poles with six.

The city has been approved for a matching OSLAD Grant through the state to fund a portion of the project.  

The bid opening will be Monday, Sept. 9. The project manager hopes to attract one general contractor to take on the project.

In other business, the council:

• Approved a resolution to consider adopting the updated building codes. The approval started the 30-day notice to the Illinois Building Commission of the city’s intent to adopt new codes. City building inspector Mike Salmon provided the 600-page report that will update the 2006 version currently on the books. A 50-page review has also been prepared for easier reading. The codes should be adopted within the next 60 days.

• Postponed the vote to consider establishing the Ironhorse Special Service Area in an effort to remedy drainage issues in the subdivision. The ordinance will be considered at the next council meeting later this month. 

• Approved a contract with All-Pro to install ductless heating/cooling units at 100 N. Main (the city-owned building that is home to The Vault) in the amount of $13,775.

“As part of the annual budget in the TIF fund, we planned to supplement the inadequate heating and cooling at 100 N. Main…,” Hoel wrote in his report. “The first-floor retail area is the most impacted, and we have identified a ductless system that can be installed with minimal disturbance of the walls, ceilings, etc.”

• Approved the Tourism Board appointments that will expire may 2020, including: Randy Hastings, Hillard Agency (president, community member at large); Drew Hoel, City of Tuscola; Teri Gerardi, Holiday Inn Express (hotel owner/operator); Donna Kidwell, Winterberry (retail business owner); Michelle Black, First Federal Bank (community member at large); Devon Flesor Story, Flesor’s Candy Kitchen (business/chamber representative); Stacey Rae, Sweet Soul Boutique (retail business owner); Bill Hill (community member at large).

• Approved a craft market, at the request of Anna Nelson on behalf of Cindy Little, to take place Saturday, Oct. 5 at Festival Corner.

• Approved the payment of bills in the amount of $124,616.84.

• Learned the TIF delinquency report included Eddie Boutilier and Red Barn Veterinary Services.

• Approved the minutes from the July 22 meeting. 

• Adjourned until 7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26.