By Howard Packowitz

NORMAL – Two Normal Town Council members are praising a call for closer cooperation among local governments, particularly when it comes to economic development.

Bloomington council candidate Josh Barnett, who wants to become the next alderman in Ward 8, has made it part of his platform for the city to again become a trusted and reliable partner with Normal.

Relations suffered last year after Bloomington terminated a 30 year tax sharing agreement with Normal for the west side metro zone. Normal Town Councilmen Kevin McCarthy and Scott Preston are backing Barnett’s candidacy.

McCarthy does not want to dwell on the past.

“Did that strain our relationships during that period of time, and in that conversation? It absolutely did. Did it put some financial pressures on the Town of Normal’s budget? It absolutely did. Does that mean that we’re unwilling to talk about how to collaborate? No, not at all,” said McCarthy.

He said it’s easy to lose sight that the two governments currently have 48 intergovernmental agreements.

Preston said the area is always better off when there’s regional cooperation.

“It is so critical that Bloomington, Normal, the county, and all of us are working together to ensure that we have an economic future where families are coming here, where jobs are coming here, where people can build a life, can build a business, and can have a great quality of life, and can afford to have a great quality of life,” Preston said.

A third Normal council member, Kathleen Lorenz, mentioned last fall it would be a good idea for Normal and Bloomington to establish a shared sales tax so the two don’t lure businesses away from each other.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]