Cabinet maker coming to Rockford

ROCKFORD - Village council members on Tuesday night learned a new cabinet making business may move into town.

After executive session, councilors agreed to sell the village's storage barn beside village hall to a new business, according to fiscal officer Lisa Kuhn.

Kuhn declined to provide a sale price and said she didn't know how big the barn is. She also did not identify the name of the business or those affiliated with it.

In other business, councilors heard the village is hosting two public meetings and will send out surveys to residents in order to qualify for a $700,000 Community Development Block Grant for the Franklin Street reconstruction project.

Village administrator Aaron Temple had said the $1.8 million project includes repaving and redoing the curbs and gutters.

The first public meeting was held before the council meeting on Tuesday night. An Access Engineering representative discussed the project and survey which will ask residents to assess the need for infrastructure, parks and recreation, public use facilities and other community improvement projects.

Surveys will be mailed out today, and residents have until May 3 to return them by mail or email or drop them off at village hall. Survey results will be shared at a public meeting at 7 p.m. May 16 at village hall, where residents can also ask questions.

Councilors passed a motion to begin transferring funds quarterly to the Franklin Street account. Kuhn said councilors have not determined how much they will transfer but noted the village must provide matching funds of $240,000 toward the CDBG grant.

Additionally, councilors passed a resolution to approve and place a five-year, 2.8 mill property tax renewal levy on the November ballot. The levy, which brings in $39,399 a year, is for the village's general fund expenditures, Kuhn said. The cost of the levy to the owner of a $100,000 home would be $76.30 per year.

Councilors also,

• heard the Rockford Area Development Committee will hold a community economic development meeting at 7 p.m. April 25 at Shane Hall.

• heard the water tower project's completion date has been pushed back to November 1.

• heard Temple remind residents to maintain their lawns.

• learned the Lions Club Quarter Auction is 1 p.m. April 22. The next council meeting is 7:30 p.m. May 2 at the village hall.