City manager idea floated in Chenoa

Mayor David Shane at a previous Chenoa City Council meeting, file photo.

The potential hiring of a city manager was brought up by Mayor David Shane during Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Chenoa City Council.

“I wanted some accountability for what employees are getting done,” Shane explained. It’d basically be a like a city manager.”

Shane would like to see the city commissioners give this person their projects and the person would meet with employees, establishing priorities.

The issue was continued to the next meeting with no action taken as Shane wants the council to think more about the idea such as the powers this person would have, a job description and how much pay.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, a request for amending sections of the city code regarding special uses of light industry zoning was denied along with a special use permit for 600 and 624 Commercial Street.

“That originally was done when they were putting in the windmills south of town and it was only supposed to be extended up to a year. Well, it had been extended like six years,” said Mayor Shane.

This area is on Commercial Street between Second and Third up against the railroad.

Zack Lopeman, a property and business owner in an l-1 zoning area, requested the amended ordinance to address temporary living in campers which has been in place for six years. Lopeman requested the change from comments he has heard in the community as he tries to make it more restrictive.

“The current ordinance has various requirements of space, newness of campers, no pop-ups and the holder of the special use agrees to inspections for safety from the city, no permanent structures or manufactured home and is limited to a two-year permit,” said Lopeman.

According to Lopeman, this amended ordinance he requested would not allow tents or anyone to stay if they have a residence, property or lease within 40 miles of Chenoa and requires a state campground license with its own list of requirements. Changes to the language would also allow recreational stays and remove the two-year permit time limit.

“Personally, it’s disappointing after six years of having this that the current council denied it,” stated Lopeman. “Zoning recommended to the City Council to pass it unanimously at their meeting Monday. This property was already inspected by the State of Illinois and passed conditionally with two corrections – both were agreed to be done after finding out my fate from the City Council.”

Lopeman said the majority of the neighborhood supported his request. He points to many projects coming such as Ameren’s transmission line with the laydown yard in town and talk of more windmills in the future. Plus, there have been various projects people have stayed there for.

“These projects will have workers who could be staying in town, buying fuel, supporting our meat locker, repair shops, gas stations and restaurants putting money back into our local economy and supporting our non-profits like they have for six years.”

These were personal requests from Lopeman as a property and business owner. He also sits on the City Council but abstained from voting.

“It basically came down to, as far as I’m concerned, do we want a campground in the middle of Chenoa? I didn’t think we did,” added Mayor Shane.

In another matter, the council agreed with a TIF application submitted by Andrew Jolly for a couple of old downtown buildings. Now the technical items must be worked out with the TIF administrator.

Mayor Shane feels the city needs to invest more in the downtown area.

“I’d love to get all of the money back we are putting into this.”