Town rebates store's sales tax
Board approves 50% cut to help planned grocery
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
WOODHULL - The Woodhull Village Board on Monday approved a resolution for rebate of the retailers occupation tax for Todd and Cheryl Terrell.The couple has been in the planning stages for a 30,000-square-foot grocery store at the southwest corner of Second Street and Illinois 17 for nearly a year.
Mayor Dave Holmes said the business at the site, presently vacant property, will provide employment opportunities and further development of adjacent property, and a rebate of the sales tax will increase business projections and strengthen and enhance the retail tax base for Woodhull.
The board approved the resolution to rebate 50 percent of the sales tax for a period of five years.
"The Terrells have progressed well on financing, this document will assist with the rest of the funding," Holmes said, "and this is a big step to bring a grocery store back to Woodhull."
Woodhull has been without a grocery for several years.
Trustee Lloyd Carlson reported the town hall construction work is progressing well, with lights and kitchen cabinets installed and flooring to be installed. The board approved a sidewalk for the west and north side of the building.
The south side will have a gravel parking area to be shared with the fire department, Carlson said.
Wayne Mileham, street and sidewalk superintendent provided figures for work, including gutter and storm drain work on the west side of the building.
The work, including flooring, will be covered by funds earmarked for the project, an estimated $5,600.
The move to the new building will take place within a few weeks; volunteers are needed to assist with the project.
In other business:
- Resident Charles Smith offered to design and provide a Web page for the village. He had a prototype for board members to view, and said he would take care of updates and add information, including information on the 2007 village sesquicentennial. The board approved his proposal.
- The Sesquicentennial Committee will meet at 7 p.m. March 23 in the library community room, according to Trustee Rabecka Jones, chairwoman. She said community residents are welcome to attend the meeting.
A "walk around town" will be conducted April 22, requesting financial and volunteer support for the celebration, Jones said.
- Holmes reported on a meeting he attended March 2, regarding wind farms in Henry County.
Invenergy is one of the companies pursuing this development, Holmes said, and contracts to lease 16,000 acres with landowners between Wooodhull and Galva, allow for up to 100 towers.
Each tower takes up two to three acres of land, and farmers are paid for crop loss.
The cost for each tower is $1.7 million. Each tower powers 300 to 500 homes.
- Holmes informed the board about the All Kids program to provide comprehensive health care for hundreds of thousands of families across the state.
Families can contact Holmes for more information on the insurance plan, offered through the state.
Parents pay monthly premiums for the coverage, but rates for middle-income families will be significantly lower than on the private market.
Pre-registration for those families who do not have insurance for their children will be conducted June through July 1.
