SHELBYVILLE, IL. —
Community members will get a chance to voice their opinion on funding repairs to a century old historic Shelbyville landmark.
The City Council approved the suggestion to survey the community about immediate work that needs to be done on the Chautauqua building. The surveys will be included in an upcoming water bill.
The Chautauqua Preservation Committee re-addressed the City Council last week with an update on the building’s condition and plans for funding the project.
“The building is in a position where something has to be done with it,” said committee chairman Wayne Gray. “There are two or three options with the building, but we need to do something about it. We can’t sit around and wait to raise the funds - we have to do something now.”
Gray noted that a support in the building’s ceiling is showing signs of stress. He added that Shelby Electric Cooperative promised to help with putting in a new support beam.
Gray and Noel Bolinger met with a representative of the Jeffers Foundation who visited the building. The Foundation offers a grant that would pay up to 33 percent, or $135,000, of the repairs. The request for the grant will made in March with the award being made in early to mid-summer.
“But if we get the grant, we have two or three years to raise the match,” Gray noted.
The committee has raised $120,000, and even if the grant was awarded, the committee would still be short $150,000 for the first phase of the restoration project.
The council discussed the idea of a bond referendum to raise the full expense to fully restore the building. The estimate of $1.7 million was made a few years ago and the question of inflation may raise the cost.
“(Consulting architect) Chuck Pell thought the estimate was firm. We could ask for $2 million and use the excess on other improvements in the park such as sewer, restrooms or parking,” Bolinger suggested.
A referendum could not appear on the ballot until 2014.
In other action the council
- Approved a motion to proceed with plans for the downtown mini-park.
- Approved a request for TIF funds by Kevin and Schryll Bersen for refurbishing the property at 119 E. Main
- Approved the zoning commission’s recommendation to rezone specific areas in the city from mobile home districts to residential.
- Authorized city attorney John Freeman to draft an ordinance about the use of neighborhood electric vehicles in the city limits. The ordinance will be voted on at the next meeting.
Commissioner Bill Shoaff reported that one of the city’s wells has been capped and another has been rejuvenated and that maintenance on the water tanks is being planned.
“We’ll have to have a water rate increase at the beginning of the year because this is going to be rather expensive. This is an 8 to 10 year maintenance plan and we don’t have to have a lot of money up front,” Shoaff said.
Homepage
November 13, 2012
Council to Ask Public on Chautauqua Funding
- Local News
-
-
SHS Graduation
Photos from Shelbyville High School graduation May 18.
- Shelby County introduces K-9 unit
- Fire destroys downtown businesses
- Business buildings burning in Shelbyville
- Retirement open house for Connie Smith Saturday
-
SHS Graduation
- Obituaries
-
-
Shirley A. Gaddis
Shirley Ann Gaddis, 79, of Shelbyville, died at 1:45 p.m. Saturday, May 18, 2013 in Shelbyville Manor.
- Nola Friese
- Howard D. Gaston
- Nola Friese
- Harold Glen Allen
-
- Homepage
-
State Representative Adam Brown recently spoke to the Shelby County Landowners Association about the agreement regarding the Ameren power line through Shelby County.
-
Ameren line may bypass Shelby County
Shelby County landowners recently learned that Ameren power lines may not be running through the county thanks to an agreement by Ameren and Moultrie County. Ameren is looking to erect high voltage lines across Illinois from Missouri to the Indiana l
-
Shelby High graduates 76 Saturday
Graduation season began for area high schools as 76 Shelbyville High School seniors joined the school's alumni list Saturday evening. Graduation exercises were held on the school's football field before family and friends. The invocation was given by
-
SHS Graduation
Photos from Shelbyville High School graduation May 18.
-
Fire destroys downtown businesses
Eighteen fire departments battled a late evening fire Monday which destroyed three downtown businesses and upstairs apartments and damaged other adjoining businesses. The Shelbyville fire department was called to Main and Morgan streets where smoke a
-
Shelby County introduces K-9 unit
Two new canine members have joined the Shelby County Sheriff's Office. Hektor and Sito, both trained German Shepherds, make up the K-9 unit that was put into service in November of 2012. Sheriff Michael Miller said the K-9 unit aids in creating a sa
-
Ameren line may bypass Shelby County
- Celebrations
-
-
Dykema, Russell engagement announced
Harry and Peggy Russell of Shelbyville and Doug and Denise Dykema of Morrison announce the engagement of thier children, Blair Russell and Macy Dykema, both of Raleigh, NC. The groom-elect is a graduate of Shelbyville High School and Eastern Illinois
-
Raw: Widespread Destruction in Moore, Okla.
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul
Voters Could Elect LA's First Female Mayor
Raw: Rescuers Pull Tornado Survivors to Safety
Oklahoma Gov: 'Hearts Are Broken' After Tornado
Raw: Walking in a Flattened Okla. Neighborhood
Raw: Rescue Workers Search Oklahoma School
Raw: Witness Describes Scene After Okla. Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Massive Tornado in Oklahoma
Raw: House Burns After Massive Oklahoma Tornado
Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma
Split-second Choice Ended With NY Student Dead
White House Backs 'Shield Law' for Media
Wave of Attacks Kills Scores in Iraq
Pug Life on Display at Wisconsin Festival
Company Promises to Make All Snail Mail Digital
Analyst: Tumblr Fills Void in Yahoo's Offerings
