The Normal Town Council on Monday approved an ordinance authorizing boundary modifications to the Bloomington-Normal, McLean County Enterprise Zone.
The enterprise zone provides state and local tax incentives for businesses within the zone. The adjustment was made to include additional businesses not previously within the zone.
“We don't have to look too far in our history where we had a local project unfortunately not check with us and was not included in the enterprise zone,” said council member Kevin McCarthy. “It cost them a pretty penny in sales tax and other potential incentives that we lost because they didn't realize that their property was not in an enterprise zone.”
The town removed nearly 100 acres of property deemed no longer likely to be developed in the zone and added 342.28 acres deemed likely to be. These added areas are generally in north and west Normal, as well as in Uptown.
Strategic plan
The Town of Normal also is working to produce its 2026 strategic plan.
On Monday, the council received an update on the town’s 2023 strategic plan. The presentation showed the progress made since the 2023 plan was implemented. The strategic plan is updated every three years to further the town’s comprehensive plan that is updated every two decades.
Since the introduction of the 2023 plan, town staff have continued to track the plan's progress.
“We want to keep learning. We want to be able to be nimble when new items come up and react and make sure we're serving the community as things progress, while keeping that vision in mind,” said Jacob Smith, administrative analyst, who presented the findings to the council.
Of the 28 goals named in the 2023 plan, four are complete, 13 are in-progress, seven are ongoing and four have not been started. In-progress items include reviewing mental health funding with the county, developing housing strategies and reviewing the zoning code, addressing lighting issues in Uptown and creating a comprehensive infrastructure plan.
Heartland solar
A new solar addition is coming to the Heartland Community College campus.
The council approved an amended site plan to install about 4.7 acres of ground-mounted solar panels on the north side of the campus.
The panels will not face the nearby interstate and campus buildings will prevent traffic along West Raab Road from seeing any glare. While most panels will be fixed in place facing south, some will be on trackers for educational use by Heartland students.
The Normal Planning Commission recommended approval of the site plan during its Aug. 7 meeting.
Other business
In other business, the council:
— Approved an ordinance to allow third-party vendors to sell alcohol at private Illinois Art Station events. It will apply to any event where the facility is closed to the general public. Vendors must have a valid license to sell alcohol. An exception also is made for other town properties such as the Community Activity Center and the Children’s Discovery Museum.
— Heard that Illinois State University will pay the town slightly more for fire protection services this year. ISU agreed to pay $685,320 for the 2025-26 fiscal year, a 3.27% increase from the previous year.
— Awarded a $524,128.16 contract to Stark Excavating for bank stabilization at the Eagle’s Landing Detention Basin on East Raab Road. The five-acre drainage basin provides water storage during rain to prevent flooding. Shoreline banks have sustained erosion from fluctuating water levels during storms. The project is expected to take about 45 days.
A similar bid was rejected in 2024 due to being over budget. Town staff then modified the budget and rebid the project this year. Changes from the previous bid include eliminating a two-year vegetative maintenance requirement and reducing the size of he project footprint. The town will now handle the vegetative maintenance.
— Approved a $76,978 contract with Normal-based Prairie Signs Inc. to begin phase two of the town’s plan to replace old, decaying signs at Normal parks. A corresponding budget increase was included because the bid last year, at $70,000, rose because of inflation.
Parks receiving signage updates include Fairview, Underwood, Fell, Carden and Savannah. The Connie Link Amphitheatre, the park maintenance facility on Linden Street, the sculpture park and the Ironwood Golf Course also will receive updated signage.
