By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington City Council is being asked to sign off on a plan to increase the size of the area’s enterprise zone to help Canada’s Brandt Industries grow its U.S. operations just north of Normal.
Council members are expected to vote Monday night whether to approve a 32 acre enterprise zone extension to help the agricultural equipment maker take advantage of state government incentives for a $35 million expansion.
The McLean County Board approved the proposal last month, and Normal’s Town Council followed suit last Monday night, with the blessing of new council member Karyn Smith.
“I’m very pleased that they’re here because I think that we do have a good corporate citizen in Brandt, with what they’re hoping to do in this location,” said Smith.
“They’re attracted to us because we are in the heart of the Corn Belt,” Smith also said.
The interim CEO of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council, Mike O’Grady, said Brandt has more than 80 full-time workers at the factory between Normal and Hudson, exceeding its pledge to have 50 full-timers on staff by this time to receive local tax incentives. Brandt expects its workforce to exceed 300 employees in six years.
“They’re sales have exceeded their expectations within the United States, just in the short time that they’ve been selling product,” said O’Grady.
“They’re scrambling to get caught up at this location, and I think we’ll see great things to the future,” O’Grady added.
Also on the council’s agenda is the first request by a Bloomington property owner to raise chickens since the recently-approved zoning overhaul permits the activity.
Karla Lane applied for a special use permit to raise up to 12 chickens at 3402 and 3404 E. Oakland Ave. Lane wants the chickens to provide her family with organic eggs, fertilize her garden, and control insects. She said there won’t be a rooster in her flock, which should reduce noise in the neighborhood.
City staffers attached a couple of conditions, including keeping the chicken coops at least 10 feet away from neighboring properties.
The city council Monday night is expected to choose a Mayor Pro Tem, who would take over official mayoral duties when the mayor is not able to perform those responsibilities. Karen Schmidt held that position, but she lost her council seat in last month’s municipal election.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
