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Sherman Village Board approves agreement
with Prairieland Development on Village Center
Drive project
By Byron Painter
Editor
The Sherman Village Board Tuesday night finalized an agreement with local developer Larry Quinn and
his Prairieland Development LLC on the Business 55/Village Center Drive project.
The village has procured $280,212 in federal stimulus funds, IDOT has committed $75,000 and the
Village of Sherman has agreed “to commit an amount not to exceed $121,000,” to come from TIF funds.
The project itself has been estimated to cost $695,000.
Prairieland has agreed to pay “the remaining unfunded portion of the cost of the Project,” which is
$218,500.
In order to help the project proceed, “Prairieland is prepared to deposit with the Village the unfunded
portion of the Project all as provided in the Supplemental Redevelopment Agreement between the Village of
Sherman and Prairieland Development, LLC.”
The Village will put its portion into an account, and within 30 days, Prairieland will do the same with its
portion.
If there is money left over at the end of the project, the village and Prairieland will split the money; if there
are cost overruns, Prairieland will cover those costs.
Mayor Trevor Clatfelter also added that the federal money will disappear if the project is not let soon, but
there is a March bid letting by IDOT that will ensure the money will stay for the project.
The board, also by a 7-0 vote (Clatfelter also signifying his approval), then approved an agreement
between IDOT and the village on the same project.
The two-hour plus meeting started with the treasurer’s report; after Jeremy Stuenkel presented his report,
there was some discussion about changing the report to the first meeting of the month from the second, with
the rationale being that the report would be more timely and accurate.
So Stuenkel will present the February report at the first March meeting.
Village Engineer Dave Booher in his report said the first temporary occupancy permit under the new
building permit system has been granted; the permit expires May 15.
The next topic of conversation was amending the sign ordinance, which was discussed at length at the
last board meeting.
There was more discussion, including how “moving animation” is defined, among other issues.
Village Attorney Mark Cullen also discussed public safety concerns with signage.
Ultimately, the board approved the change with one minor alteration; the words “provided there is no
moving animation” in the proposal were removed.
The section in question now reads: “Illuminated signs which indicate the time, temperature, weather, or
other changing message shall not be considered flashing or moving signs and each individual message
remains visible for at least a six (6) second interval before being reset or replaced with another message.”
Booher noted that six seconds was the most common interval he found during his research into the issue.
With the removal of the animation passage, a sign request variance from Williamsville State Bank and
Trust was rendered moot.
The next item was the approval of FOIA officers for the village in response to the new Freedom of
Information Act law. Village Administrator John Swinford is that officer, which the board approved; Chief of
Police Eric Smith is a deputy chief.
The final item on Clatfelter’s report was Veterans Memorial Grant Funding Final Spending Allotments.
The village last year received a $30,000 grant for the proposed Route 66 park, and has spent about
$17,000 so far.
The balance of that money must be spent by the end of March or it will be lost.
After some discussion, the board voted to approve up to $1800 for soil boring analysis and also up to
$11,240 for design and architectural expenses and hardscape materials in accordance with the grant
agreement.
The resolution will show the village’s commitment to spend those funds, according to Cullen, and minutes
will be on record showing that commitment.
Trustee Jeff Mitchell in his report discussed a planned meeting about the Web site by the Technology
Committee, likely to be set after next week.
The meeting will discuss the “financial and structural proposal” of new Web site updates.
Trustee Jay Timm brought up during his report a couple of possible dates for the annual cleanup day,
either the first or second Saturday in May; the date will be finalized later.
with Prairieland Development on Village Center
Drive project
By Byron Painter
Editor
The Sherman Village Board Tuesday night finalized an agreement with local developer Larry Quinn and
his Prairieland Development LLC on the Business 55/Village Center Drive project.
The village has procured $280,212 in federal stimulus funds, IDOT has committed $75,000 and the
Village of Sherman has agreed “to commit an amount not to exceed $121,000,” to come from TIF funds.
The project itself has been estimated to cost $695,000.
Prairieland has agreed to pay “the remaining unfunded portion of the cost of the Project,” which is
$218,500.
In order to help the project proceed, “Prairieland is prepared to deposit with the Village the unfunded
portion of the Project all as provided in the Supplemental Redevelopment Agreement between the Village of
Sherman and Prairieland Development, LLC.”
The Village will put its portion into an account, and within 30 days, Prairieland will do the same with its
portion.
If there is money left over at the end of the project, the village and Prairieland will split the money; if there
are cost overruns, Prairieland will cover those costs.
Mayor Trevor Clatfelter also added that the federal money will disappear if the project is not let soon, but
there is a March bid letting by IDOT that will ensure the money will stay for the project.
The board, also by a 7-0 vote (Clatfelter also signifying his approval), then approved an agreement
between IDOT and the village on the same project.
The two-hour plus meeting started with the treasurer’s report; after Jeremy Stuenkel presented his report,
there was some discussion about changing the report to the first meeting of the month from the second, with
the rationale being that the report would be more timely and accurate.
So Stuenkel will present the February report at the first March meeting.
Village Engineer Dave Booher in his report said the first temporary occupancy permit under the new
building permit system has been granted; the permit expires May 15.
The next topic of conversation was amending the sign ordinance, which was discussed at length at the
last board meeting.
There was more discussion, including how “moving animation” is defined, among other issues.
Village Attorney Mark Cullen also discussed public safety concerns with signage.
Ultimately, the board approved the change with one minor alteration; the words “provided there is no
moving animation” in the proposal were removed.
The section in question now reads: “Illuminated signs which indicate the time, temperature, weather, or
other changing message shall not be considered flashing or moving signs and each individual message
remains visible for at least a six (6) second interval before being reset or replaced with another message.”
Booher noted that six seconds was the most common interval he found during his research into the issue.
With the removal of the animation passage, a sign request variance from Williamsville State Bank and
Trust was rendered moot.
The next item was the approval of FOIA officers for the village in response to the new Freedom of
Information Act law. Village Administrator John Swinford is that officer, which the board approved; Chief of
Police Eric Smith is a deputy chief.
The final item on Clatfelter’s report was Veterans Memorial Grant Funding Final Spending Allotments.
The village last year received a $30,000 grant for the proposed Route 66 park, and has spent about
$17,000 so far.
The balance of that money must be spent by the end of March or it will be lost.
After some discussion, the board voted to approve up to $1800 for soil boring analysis and also up to
$11,240 for design and architectural expenses and hardscape materials in accordance with the grant
agreement.
The resolution will show the village’s commitment to spend those funds, according to Cullen, and minutes
will be on record showing that commitment.
Trustee Jeff Mitchell in his report discussed a planned meeting about the Web site by the Technology
Committee, likely to be set after next week.
The meeting will discuss the “financial and structural proposal” of new Web site updates.
Trustee Jay Timm brought up during his report a couple of possible dates for the annual cleanup day,
either the first or second Saturday in May; the date will be finalized later.
Issue Date: Jan. 21, 2010