Pam Reece

Normal City Manager Pam Reece said she will recommend creating a local grocery tax once the state tax goes away.

Officials from Bloomington-Normal shelters, social service agencies, police, fire and local government met Monday to brainstorm a temporary solution to the homeless encampment in west Bloomington before the summer heat hits.

The city manager of Normal said the issues raised by proposed state legislation to eliminate single family zoning are important to the town even though the measure would only affect cities that are larger than Bloomington and Normal.

The authority issues taxable and tax-exempt bonds to businesses to construct, develop and acquire properties.

The new policies, for employees not covered through collective bargaining agreements, are expected to cost the town about $250,000 annually.

Once the new station at Shepard and Hershey roads is ready for use, the town will decommission the station at College Avenue and Blair Drive.

The town council will consider the $4.75 million agreement with Core Construction of Peoria when the board meets Tuesday.

Most solar panel projects in Normal have been roof mounted so far but there is potential for more ground mounted units like the one the council approved this week for Grace Church on Hovey Avenue.

While Stan Nord’s actions have drawn particular attention due to his status as an elected official, they are not the first instance of community members attempting to use communication, or contact with the Normal Police Department to impact the electoral process.

The Town of Normal is still asking for public feedback on how to use federal pandemic relief money, but City Manager Pam Reece said some themes are beginning to emerge. The nearly $11 million in American Rescue Plan money for the town can be portioned to several buckets. One of those, Reece said, is public health.