Altamont City Council Fills Vacancy

The Altamont City Council has filled a vacancy created by the death earlier this month of Commissioner Bill Jones.

Council members voted unanimously to appoint Nathan Scholes to the position. Scholes works in the financial community and also writes for the Altamont News. Scholes was one of five people to apply for the seat on the Council. He will serve through April 30, 2019. Jones had just begun a new term in May.

The Altamont Council took action on an economic development initiative, contracting with Moran Economic Development. The firm will assist the City in applying for a Tax Increment Financing district and in the development of a Business District.

The TIF District would allow the taxes generated within the district to be collected and used on development projects within the district. The boundaries of the TIF District would basically encompass the business community in Altamont.

As for the Business District, a targeted area as yet unannounced would be a site of development with an additional 1% in sales tax assessed. The 1% sales tax revenue would be used on projects in the district.

Also, the Altamont Council filled a vacancy on the City Zoning Board by naming Kenneth Ginn to the post. The Council also discussed an electric rate increase, but took no action and specifics are yet to be decided. Council members also agreed to send employees of the Electric Department to AIEC in Springfield for lineman training. AIEC is the acronym for the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives, of which Altamont is a member.