A potential future sports complex will take center stage Tuesday as the Geneseo City Council gets its first public look at a development concept during its Committee of the Whole meeting.
The “Future Sports Complex Development Concept” is scheduled for presentation and discussion Aug. 25. However, the publicly released agenda packet provides no supporting documents or details about what is being considered.
That means several significant questions remain unanswered ahead of Tuesday's meeting, including where a sports complex could be located, what facilities it might contain, how large it could be, what it might cost and how it could potentially be funded.
The agenda also does not identify who will make the presentation or indicate whether the concept originated with the city or another organization.
While the sports complex is likely to draw significant attention, council members have several other substantial matters before them Tuesday during a special City Council meeting and the Committee of the Whole.
$924,598 Ford Road Sewer Contract
During the special meeting, council members will consider awarding the first phase of the Ford Road sanitary sewer project to Central Excavating.
Central Excavating submitted the lowest bid at $924,598.10 following a bid opening conducted by IMEG Engineering.
The proposed resolution also authorizes $22,000 for materials to relocate existing city electrical service underground and up to $54,000 for construction engineering and inspection services if those services are deemed necessary by the Public Works Director.
Together, those items would authorize up to approximately $1 million in expenditures associated with Phase 1.
The expenditures would initially come from unencumbered balances in the city's General Fund.
Ford Road TIF Development
The sewer work is part of a larger economic-development project involving approximately 19 acres at 15248 Ford Road and 220 S. Chicago Street.
According to city documents, the Ford Road TIF Redevelopment Project is associated with up to $8 million in private investment by JFECC — $4 million approved for Phase 1 and an estimated additional $4 million for Phase 2, which remains subject to corporate approval.
Phase 1 calls for a new 20,000-square-foot commercial facility at 15248 Ford Road, including an industrial mechanics shop, dedicated wash bay system and overhead crane network.
The public infrastructure portion includes a dedicated wastewater lift station and approximately 900 linear feet of sanitary sewer main along Ford Road.
A potential second phase would expand the existing commercial facility at 220 S. Chicago Street to create a centralized employee training center and upgraded administrative offices. That phase would require approximately 1,300 additional feet of sanitary sewer along Chicago Street.
The overall public wastewater infrastructure is estimated at approximately $1.26 million.
Approximately $450,000 of that amount is associated with Phase 2, and the city will not move forward with that infrastructure until JFECC formally announces plans to proceed with its second-phase expansion.
The city established the TIF district in April. The General Fund will initially provide funding for Phase 1 infrastructure, with the city expecting to recover those expenditures over time through incremental property-tax revenue generated within the TIF district during its 23-year statutory life.
Infrastructure for Another Future Development
The Ford Road project could also prepare another property for future development.
Affinity Growth Community Developer LLC has purchased two parcels adjacent to the new sanitary sewer line and has asked the city to install infrastructure during the current construction project that could eventually serve the property.
Under the proposed agreement, the city would install an additional sanitary sewer connection and manhole. An 8-inch sanitary line would extend across Ford Road and initially be capped in preparation for a future connection.
The agreement states that Affinity intends to annex both parcels into Geneseo and pursue new commercial or residential development on one of them. The documents do not identify a specific development or end user.
Installing the infrastructure while the larger sewer project is underway is described in the agreement as a more cost-effective and efficient approach than returning later to make the connection.
The agreement also includes reimbursement provisions if the anticipated development does not move forward.
If the properties have not been annexed and an approved development has not begun within five years, the developer or subsequent property owners would be required to reimburse the city $17,500, representing half of the material costs for the staged infrastructure.
An additional $17,500 reimbursement provision applies at the 10-year mark if the conditions established in the agreement remain unmet.
Deputy Police Chief Appointment
The special meeting will also include a public-safety personnel matter.
Council members are scheduled to enter executive session under the portion of the Illinois Open Meetings Act concerning specific public employees.
After returning to open session, the council is scheduled to consider confirmation of the police chief's appointment of a deputy chief of police.
Tuesday's Meetings
The special City Council meeting and Committee of the Whole meeting are scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, at City Council Chambers, 115 S. Oakwood Ave. Meetings are also livestreamed on the City of Geneseo YouTube channel.
Public comment opportunities are included on the agendas. City ordinance allows speakers up to three minutes and describes public comment as an opportunity for the council to receive input rather than an interactive question-and-answer session.
