Little Chute Village Board to examine multiple loans to a single developer

The prospect of a development getting two sources of village funding for their Little Chute projects may soon change.

At the Feb. 16 edition of the Little Chute Village Board, trustees learned a local development project is getting both tax increment financing funds for one of their projects, the Cobblestone Hotel, and was approved for a façade loan for their Jets Pizza building next door.

That prospect irritated at least two trustees, veterans James Hietpas and John Elrick called out the prospect in their comments. Hietpas used the phrase “double dipping” to highlight the prospect of the TIF funding and façade loan combination going to the developer.

And Elrick said the venture received enough money from the TIF agreement and added he would not vote to approve the façade loan.

The Jets façade project carries an estimated price tag of just more than $73,350. The façade loan from the village is $43,280 for the exterior project of the Main Street pizzeria, according to the memo to the village board.

During the façade loan discussion, one question was how much was the highest amount loaned for a façade project. That distinction went to the firm that renovated the former Gordy’s grocery store and related buildings most notably creating the current Dollar Tree store. That project had a façade loan of $50,255. 

Village Administrator Beau Bernhoft said the S and S Real Estate project, which created the Elite Smiles facility, could have had a much higher loan amount for their needs but a previous decision capped the façade loans at $50,000.

He said the current façade loan fund has $70,250 remaining following the Jets façade loan. It was approved 6-1 with Elrick casting the lone dissenting vote.

Hietpas requested the multiple funding to a single developer matter be placed on a future village board agenda for discussion.

The Feb. 16 open session agenda was brief and straightforward.

One item that garnered some questions was the share use agreement with the Little Chute School District. That agreement was generated following discussions among Superintendent Heidi Schmidt and school district activities director Kelly Wallace with Bernhoft and Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director John McDonald.

The agreement details items of note for the village and the school district regarding use of the village and school facilities. 

A matrix of responsibilities was created delineating use and responsibilities for such sports as varsity and junior varsity soccer, junior varsity baseball, Jets football, cross country and the Chute-ing Stars dance team. 

The agreement matrix also looks at varied uses of Legion Park, Van Lieshout Park fields plus the use of the school’s gym, auditorium and weight room. The agreement also looks as special activities like dance recitals and community band needs. Maintenance priorities also are reviewed.

In this case, the village extended additional use of the Van Lieshout Park fields pending the completion of a new turf field at the high school facilities. That offers the schools some flexibility during the construction period, according to McDonald.

Questions included past difficulties with access to school facilities during the summer. McDonald said those areas, often centering on access to keys by either village or school personnel, were worked out.

Elrick asked if village employees would have access to the school’s weight room. Bernhoft said that subject did not come up in the discussion. He said the police and fire personnel have separate agreements with the school district to use the weight room facilities.

The memo of agreement was unanimously approved.

McDonald reported 29 ash trees in the village that needed professional assistance for removal. Many other trees now can be accessed using the village’s recent purchase of aerial lift equipment.

The winning bidder from nine firms vying for the work was a company called “Gabe’s Top It or Drop It” with a bid of $16,000.

The work also will include stump removal this year.

The village is looking at a situation involving its Microsoft licensing with its consultant. Finance Director Lisa Remiker-DeWall said the village and 10 other firms want to get a three-year license from Microsoft. The consultant form is trying to contact Microsoft regarding the three-year licensing option. If a three-year license is not available, the village and other firms hope to get a one-year renewal.

Several new employees are likely to be working with the village over the next few weeks. One is the new assistant finance director/human resources coordinator. Another is a new community service officer with the Fox Valley Metro Police Department. Two more new employees were chosen from an applicant pool of 25 people for the public works department.

Village Clerk Laurie Decker said the turnout in Little Chute was slim for the Feb. 15 primary. Since it focused only on candidates for the Kaukauna School Board. That meant the election was open to approximately one quarter of the village’s eligible voters. She said that total pool of voters is approximately 8,000 residents.

In this case, 224 village residents voted in the primary. Preparations now focus on the spring election scheduled for Tuesday, April 5.

Trustees entered closed session at 6:21 p.m. to discuss a development topic. There was no report of activity once they returned to open session.