The Normal Town Council on Monday approved four measures related to the Uptown Normal TIF [Tax Increment Finance] District to spur development.
Action included one measure to remove parcels from the existing TIF before acting on ordinances for a new district. The Normal Public Library was not removed from the existing TIF in order to not disconnect it from other properties. Previous plans were for the library to switch to the new TIF.
The proposed district is comprised of property north of the roundabout — the east and west sides of Constitution Boulevard— and continuing north to Mulberry Street, west to the currently vacant Frontier property, down Mulberry, then across to the former Busey and Commerce Bank properties.
A TIF district directs any new tax revenue generated by an increase in property values back into redevelopment of the area.
BESS
Also Monday, the council approved initiating a zoning text amendment for Battery Energy Storage Systems [BESS]. The Normal Planning Commission will now be able to hear discussion on that item before, if approved, sending it back to the town council.
Battery Energy Storage Systems stabilize the grid system and help to store excess energy.
City Manager Pam Reece said the council action is not related to data centers.
All council members voted in favor except for Andy Byars, who abstained due to his work in the energy sector.
Emergency declaration
The council also approved an emergency declaration that extends the one signed on Saturday. It allows town staff to gather data for a damage tally from the three tornadoes that caused property damage and power outages in the town Friday night.
The order extends the emergency response by one week. A mayoral emergency declaration can only be extended 48 hours at a time without town council approval.
Unrelated to the storm over the weekend, the town approved a $275,154 bid from Stark Excavating for sump pump discharge and storm sewer improvements.
Kratom
The council heard from a public commenter who asked the town to enact a ban on Kratom. Bloomington did so in January.
“We don’t want to do this twice,” said Mayor Chris Koos. “I think it's prudent to wait until the state has done it, but if it stalls or or stretches out or is not up to the standards we'd like to see, we will act on that.”
While commenter Phillip Waters surmised as much in his comments, he argued in favor of regulating the stimulant and opioid substitute sooner.
“Why are we waiting to ban this?” asked Waters. “It's messing lives up. It's messing lives up real bad.”
Waters shared his own story of when he used Kratom, explaining the highly-addictive properties that briefly led to his dependence on the stimulant. He also detailed the numerous side effects he experienced during withdrawals while quitting.
“I learned that my experience was actually pretty universal," he said. "The only opponents to this are some people who have really chronic pain, who say it's better than some of the stuff on the market. I do think there's a layer of dependency in there that is clouding their judgment.”
Other business
In other action, the council:
— Approved two items related to playground renovations at Rosa Parks Commons. One was for a $179,629 modular playground unit project and the other was for a $199,750 equipment purchase for a new fitness court studio. The town did not receive an Open Space Land Acquisition and Development [OSLAD] grant that was pursued last fall.
— Approved an agreement with Gateway Fireworks Displays of Missouri for the 2026-28 July 4 fireworks display.
— Approved a $63,000 apparatus bay resurfacing project at fire department headquarters.
— Approved the appointment of Sheila Dodd to the Bloomington-Normal Asahikawa Sister Cities Committee.
