Normal town officials are exploring the feasibility of having a grovery store in the College Avenue parking deck. (WJBC file photo)

By Stephanie Pawlowski

NORMAL - Normal's Town Council Monday night will officially consider the development agreement for the Uptown One site, which includes a $7.4 million bond issue by the town.

Details were released at a work session two weeks ago and council members have had time to ask questions and hear from constituents.

During the regular session, the council will also consider a contract with DK Mallon for a grocery feasibility study in the Uptown. City Manager Mark Peterson said the study will look at whether there's a need or market for a grocery store.

"We're much more likely to get a positive reception from potential grocery operations than we would if we just called them out of the blue with no details and no information," Peterson said.

The first phase of the study costs $27,000 and a second phase on implementation costs $8,800, with funds coming from Community Development Block Grants.

The group Green Top Grocery asked the council earlier this year to help pay for a study on whether or not a grocery store would work on the first level of the College Avenue parking deck.

"That's still a viable option, we're not discounting co-op, that may be the best option for us, but we want to look at all options," Peterson said.

Normal recycling contract

Also on the agenda is a contract change with companies that collects Normal's recycleables. Peterson said Resource Management out of Chicago Ridge was collecting the community's recycled materials, but that company has a business agreement with Midwest Fiber in Normal and suggested redoing the contract with the local group.

"What that does for us is it dramatically reduces the cost of transporting the material from our community up to Chicago where it is processed currently," Peterson said.

It's anticipated the town will get a little less on the resale of materials, but will save a projected $35,000 a year on transportation.

Stephanie Pawlowski can be reached at Stephanie.Pawlowski@Cumulus.com.