South Central Reporter

Macoupin County Board Economic Development Committee met Jan. 8.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

I. CALL TO ORDER

PRESENT: Armour, Starr, Blank (Remote), Kilduff, Klausing, Rosentreter, Duncan, Garrison

ABSENT: Payne

II. AGENDA ITEMS

1. Update on Business Park Potential Sale

Garrison said the county's procedures are based off the municipal code and require the county to receive no less than 80% of the appraisal price. In 2021, the county offered property for sale as surplus property as opposed to selling it for economic purposes. There was a discussion about what the difference was which boiled down to the county usually required more information such as a business plan, number of jobs created, expected tax revenue, etc whereas surplus property would be just the sealed bid. There was also a discussion about the length of time to advertise the sale and when the property would be available to the potential buyer.

Motion by Kilduff, seconded by Klausing to offer both pieces of property up for sale as surplus property.

RESULT: MOTION TO RECOMMEND [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Ryan Kilduff, Member SECONDER: Holly Klausing, Member AYES: Armour, Starr, Blank, Kilduff, Klausing, Rosentreter ABSENT: Payne

2. Update on Energy Grant and Decision of Grant Manager Job Description 

Duncan said that the state had requested a few clarifications on the grant budget after it was approved. They would need to be completed before the grant reimbursements could be processed. Klausing said she believed she could get a grant manager position job description that had been recently used that the committee could use to develop their description. There was also a discussion about the salary and the salary needing to be competitive to attract someone who could do the job. The committee said they would discuss it further next month.

3. Update on Broadband BEAD Grant

Armour said he had attended an online meeting regarding the BEAD grant and from what he understood it would be about 9 months before the next round of funding is released. The county did qualify and his understanding is that Frontier is still very interested so it's just a waiting game at this point.

4. Resolution in Support of Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau

Armour said this was the annual resolution in support of the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau that they need for their renewal with the State of Illinois

Motion by Kilduff, seconded by Klausing to adopt the resolution.

RESULT: MOTION TO RECOMMEND [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Ryan Kilduff, Member SECONDER: Holly Klausing, Member AYES: Armour, Starr, Blank, Kilduff, Klausing, Rosentreter ABSENT: Payne

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