Rochelle City Council approves land purchase for rail expansion

Over 24 acres purchased from Greater Rochelle Economic Development Corporation

Russell Hodges
Posted 2/22/21

Rochelle City Council members approved the purchase of land from the Greater Rochelle Economic Development Corporation (GREDCO) for future expansion of the City of Rochelle Railroad. The purchase highlighted Monday evening’s City Council meeting.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Rochelle City Council approves land purchase for rail expansion

Over 24 acres purchased from Greater Rochelle Economic Development Corporation

Posted

ROCHELLE — Rochelle City Council members approved the purchase of land from the Greater Rochelle Economic Development Corporation (GREDCO) for future expansion of the City of Rochelle Railroad. The purchase highlighted Monday evening’s City Council meeting.

The city will purchase 24.39 acres of land amounting to $452,678.40 from GREDCO, clearing the way for the city to seek grant funding to expand the rail system roughly 1.25 miles east and south near the Lee and Ogle County border. The expansion would allow nearly 600 acres of undeveloped land to become accessible for rail served industrial development.

“RMU has put an extensive amount of utilities including a well house, power, a radium plant, a 21-inch sewer line and a 16-inch water line down to the center of this area,” economic development director Jason Anderson said. “The time has come for this land to be controlled by the city and when the city purchases the land, we’ll be open to applying for additional grant funds so the 600 acres could be rail served. We’re hoping to do that in the next few years.”

Permits

Council members approved waiving residential building permits for the 2021 calendar year. Fees have been waived for all new single-family construction in each of the last two years. The average savings per house is around $400 for the building permit, a $700 sewer connection fee and a $50 electric connection fee. Fees will also be waived for properties that have been vacant for six months or more as long as there’s a minimum investment of $15,000 in the property. The city manager will have the ability to extend the waiving of fees through 2022 if necessary.

“We’ll look at potentially eliminating building permit fees either this year or next year as opposed to extending it another year,” City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh. “It’s a way for us to have more houses built in our community and we don’t generate a whole lot of revenue off of it so it’s not really affecting us. I think we’ll monitor it this year and bring something back next year.”

Other Items

Council members approved an ordinance amending Chapter 98 of the municipal code. The amendment will allow residents to purchase insurance through private carriers to cover the expenses of sewage pipe repairs running between the home and the utility connection.

Council members also approved lease agreements with Enterprise Fleet Management for two light-duty works trucks including a 2021 RAM 3500 crew cab with lift gate amounting $592.98 a month and a 2021 RAM 3500 regular cab with dump body and V-plow for $763.13 a month.