Thursday July 23, 2015 Vol. 3, No. 20
The Weekly Post
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Farmington council OK’s Peterson TIF agreement By JEFF LAMPE
FARMINGTON – With a large audience and a steamy room as a backdrop Monday night, the Farmington City Council approved a TIF agreement with Peterson Health Care. The TIF agreement had been twice delayed due to concerns about waiving $30,000 in building fees and not requiring Peterson to follow the Prevailing Wage Act in construction of a 32-unit asWeekly Post Staff Writer
sisted living facility in town Several in the crowd of more than 40 citizens at the meeting spoke out against the agreement, saying Peterson would only hire local workers if required to do so. “This community has been built on the backs of blue collar workers and is still supported by them,” said Tim Allen of Farmington, an operating engineer. “I am strongly opposed to waiving the permit fees and also want to have our commu-
14 area lots available in County sale
nity members prosper by earning a fair wage.” Allen said he did not think that would be the case under Peterson, which he said has hired the Iowa-based Frye Builders & Associates to oversee the project. “They have no intention of hiring local contractors,” Allen said. Mike Staley, a Farmington resident since 1978, also voice opposition. “You want to beat (local tradesmen) out of a fair wage to give this multi-million
Festival a nod to farming of the past
For The Weekly Post
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PRINCEVILLE SUMMER HARVEST
By BILL KNIGHT
Area real estate is included in an auction of “surplus property” where taxes have not been paid for at least three years, according to the Peoria County Treasurer’s office. Sale of the parcels, which go to the highest bidders, is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Aug. 11 at Packard Plaza in downtown Peoria. The process is conducted by the Peoria County Board, which acts as trustee for the taxing districts involved. “We hope this sale will return the properties to productive use and ensure the taxes are paid in the future,” according to the Edwardsville real estate company Joseph E. Meyer & Associates, which is the County’s tax agent in the auction. “Proceeds from this sale are distributed to the taxing districts.” Buyers that night will be required to pay 20 percent of the final sale price or $600, whichever is greater. Parcels from The Weekly Post circulation area are: • Vacant lot (33 x 247.5 feet) off Hallock Hollow Road in Millbrook Township; • Vacant lot (17.9 x 11.3) behind Dunlap’s Maplewood Boule-
dollar company a tax break,” Staley said. “Because they are millionaires they’re better than us?” Mayor Kent Kowal said after the meeting that was not the intention of the agreement, which asks Peterson to consider any bid by union or non-union contractor. “This just says some (workers) can be union but they don’t all have to be union, which is the American way,” Kowal said.
By JEFF LAMPE
PRINCEVILLE – Watching huge combines and tractors speed through fields today, it can be hard to imagine what farming was like just a few generations ago. This Saturday (July 25) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. offers a firsthand look at the “old days” during the Summer Harvest Antique Tractor & Equipment Show at Princeville’s Heritage Museum. In addition to 40-50 antique tractors on display, Weekly Post Staff Writer
John Ely drives a 1944 International M while Sid Stahl operates a 90year-old grain binder last week (above) to get ready for the steampowered threshing machine that will visit Princeville’s Heritage Museum grounds Saturday for the Summer Harvest Antique Tractor and Equipment Show. Events centered around old-time farming run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the museum.
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Brimfield board cool on grade school AC costs By TERRY BIBO
BRIMFIELD – They may warm up to air conditioning eventually. But the Brimfield Board of Education is not cool with cost estimates so far. “We need to have more discussion,” Scott Bauer said at the July 15 regular meeting. In February, the school board was told a For The Weekly Post
potential $1.4 million upgrade to HVAC systems at Brimfield Grade School could save enough in energy costs to pay for itself. But Trane energy consultants’ final report in June included items like energy-efficient windows, dropped ceilings – and a much higher tab. “The total cost was well over $2 million,” said Superintendent Joe Blessman.
Bauer was not the only board member confused to see the matter back on the agenda in July. He wanted assurance that approving a motion to “continue with investigation of Air Conditioning at the Grade School” did not obligate the board in any way. Chairman Dan Heinz said there was no obligation. Continued on Page 11