Cadott Village Board; TID extension moves another step forward

Josh Miller, Cedar Corp., talked about a proposed amendment to Tax Incremental District No. 5, during a regular Cadott Village Board meeting June 20. The amendment would extend the boundaries of the TID. Board members voted to continue to pursue the amendment. Photo by Julia Wolf

By Julia Wolf

The process to expand Tax Incremental District (TID) No. 5 to include more properties continues, after a Cadott Village Board meeting June 20.

The TID encompasses properties at the northeast corner of State Hwy. 27 and County Hwy. X. The district is mixed use, and includes commercial and residential.

“What the intent is, is to extend the district to include Hwy. X,”said Josh Miller, Cedar Corp., adding the amendment would also include parts of State Hwy. 27, closer to the interchange.

Miller says the proposed amendment comes, as work is planned on County Hwy. X and State Hwy. 27, and can help with expanding the water service that direction.

“Expanding the TIF makes sense to provide services to some of those lots and any future development down at the south end of the district,” said Miller.

He says project costs could be taken on by the district, because it is within the half-mile boundary, but it would be cleaner to amend the TID to include the area.

Miller says the proposed amendment would add about 24 parcels to the district. He also shared the timeline for pursuing an amendment, with official approval coming after a public hearing.

Board member Russ Falkenberg asked if those in the TID would see any effect on their property taxes. Miller says it should not, but encouraged anyone with questions about their property to reach out to their assessor, as he is not an assessor. Miller explained the purpose of a TIF district is directing dollars after they are taxed.

Falkenberg also asked if the district would change how people in the area can use their property or create additional restrictions, and Miller says it does not.

“Basically, what the district does, is it sets a boundary for any new tax base created,” said Miller.

Any tax on improvements above the base value, will go into the TID No. 5 pot and can be used for the specific project costs outlined in the project plan.

Board members voted to continue moving forward with the TID No. 5 amendment.

The board also approved the recommendation of current part-time officer Anthony Helstern, for a full-time police offi cer position, pending the results of background and psychological testing.

“All three of us are on board with the individual,” said board member Les Liptak, of the Personnel Committee he chairs.

Board president Anson Albarado reported that, in conversation with representatives from American Electric Power (AEP), he learned they should send information in a cover letter with customer bills, about brownouts and blackouts, and how to respond to them. The letters will be included in the upcoming month’s bills.

Village resident Mark Hanson was also on hand during the meeting, to question when the Brown Street improvements will take place, as they have been a long time coming.

Albarado explained the estimated cost of the project increased from $60,000 to over $100,000, so board members voted to postpone the project until next year, at the previous meeting, in hopes that the costs will go down.

“We can’t afford it,” said Albarado. The village received a $25,000 grant to use for the Brown Street project and have until 2026, to use the grant for the improvements.

“I understand the frustration, believe me,” said Liptak. As a notice to the public, the next regular meeting will take place Tuesday, July 5, at 6:30 p.m., because of the July 4, holiday.