City Council approves marketing plan for Tuscola Outlets

By Kendra Hennis
The meeting of the Tuscola City Council was called to order on Monday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m. The largest order of business was the approval of $55,000 to PGAV Planners in an effort to revive Tuscola Outlets. The agreement will provide a marketing analysis, marketing materials, and some development concepts to propose to the current owners with hopes to revitalize it. 

In other agreements, the council approved a $6,526 purchase to repair the leaking water meters. City Administrator Drew Hoel presented to the board that there is something wrong with the current water meters. They have been working trying to isolate an issue with the meters but have come up unsuccessful. The approved price allows for the repairs of twenty meters. 

The council also passed Ordinance 2020-O-4 authorizing the ceding of private activity bonding authority. This means that Tuscola will be allocating a small portion of the state’s tax-exempt bonding authority. Since the allocation is only about $450,000 in bonds annually, it normally goes unused. However, the authority can be reassigned to agencies that aggregate amounts from several jurisdictions and in turn use it for regional projects instead of the money going back to the state. Tuscola will be allocating this to the Eastern Illinois Economic Development Authority as they have in years past. 

The board also:

– Approved the minutes from the February 24 regular board meeting. 

– Approved the payment of bills in the amount of $88,128.24.

– Approved to lease the Community Building with alcohol on April 4 for Becky’s Buddies Trivia Night. 

– Approved street closures for Wheels Car Club on June 6, 2020.

– Approved street closures for Belz 5K Run on April 18, 2020.

– Approved the Municipal Emergency Services agreement for new Turnout gear. 

– Adjourned until the March 23 meeting at 7:30 p.m.