Thankfully, we’re not paying our alderpersons by the hour, another three and a half hour session. Gambling at Gammon Coach House, the chimney, and citizen of the year announced, she may be familiar…
Call to Order and Consent Agenda
The meeting was called to order with a quorum present. Following the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, the Council approved the consent agenda, which included minutes from previous meetings, payroll and accounts payable, and several resolutions. These resolutions covered a contract for a social worker, a sidewalk easement, green program funding, an AI subscription, and an annexation ordinance. One Alderperson noted that City Staff and the Fire Chief had been responsive to concerns regarding the annexation ordinance and that a letter would be issued in connection with it.
Chamber of Commerce Report
A representative from the Chamber of Commerce announced the 2025 “Citizen of the Year” and the “Spirit of Batavia” award recipient (the Batavia Women’s Club). The Chamber reported a record distribution of “Holiday Bucks” to support local businesses and highlighted recent events, including the “State of the Community” breakfast and a “Women in Business” mentorship program at the high school.
Guest Presentation: The owner of a local electric vehicle business “Valor Carts” https://valorcarts.com/ presented to the Council. They detailed their operations in manufacturing and selling low-speed electric vehicles for recreational and police use, noting plans for expansion and job creation in 2026.
.
Batavia Active Transportation Advisory Commission (BATAC)
- Commission Update: A commission representative provided a quarterly update, discussing community engagement efforts and the economic benefits of walking and cycling infrastructure on property values. They advocated for a modest budget increase to prioritize infrastructure that connects residents to critical services.
- Transit Authority: The commission discussed the new Northern Illinois Transit Authority and the need to leverage this legislation to improve local transit coordination.
- Project Updates: City staff presented an update on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. Completed projects include the “road diet” restriping, Safe Routes to School improvements, and developer-funded paths. Future projects discussed include Phase 2 of the road diet (focusing on pedestrian crossings) and a feasibility study for a grade separation at Main and Randall.
- Appointment: The Council approved the appointment of a new member to the commission for a three-year term.
.
Topic: Conditional Use Permit for Video Gaming
The Council engaged in a contentious debate regarding a permit for a downtown restaurant, Gammon Coach House (https://gammoncoachhouse.com/), to install five video gaming terminals. The central conflict was whether the location complied with state and local laws regarding proximity to places of worship and schools.
Arguments Against Approval
- Proximity to Youth and Worship: Opponents argued the location violates the ordinance requiring a 100-foot buffer from places of worship. It was noted that the adjacent church buildings host youth groups, Sunday schools, and preschool playgrounds, making the location inappropriate for gambling.
- Inadequate Vetting: An alderperson argued that the State Gaming Board likely relied on a superficial check (e.g., Google Maps) and did not account for the actual use of the adjacent buildings for worship and ministry.
- Ordinance Integrity: Critics stated that approving the permit would undermine local laws intended to protect children. The Police Chief and City Staff expressed the opinion that the location likely violates the local ordinance, despite state approval.
- Liability: Concerns were raised that the city could be sued or the decision overturned if it was later proven to violate the distance statute.
Arguments For Approval
- State Approval: Proponents emphasized that the Illinois Gaming Board had already approved the license, determining it met the legal requirements.
- Business Survival: The applicant stated that without the gaming revenue, there was a “better than 50-50 chance” the business would fail, noting they only sought the same opportunity afforded to other local establishments.
- Fairness and Precedent: Supporters argued that denying the permit would be “picking winners and losers” and that the business had been a good neighbor for over a decade. They noted the gaming would be in a separate room without exterior advertising.
- Compliance: The City Attorney noted that because the State found the location compliant, the Council had the legal standing to approve it, and the business agreed to use video monitoring to meet the “continuous view” requirement.
Outcome: A motion to refer the matter back to the Planning Commission for further investigation failed via a tie-breaking “No” vote by the Mayor. The Council then voted 8-6 to approve the permit.
Topic: Chimney Demolition on North River Street
The Council debated a “Certificate of Appropriateness” to demolish a 110-foot historic smokestack due to structural instability. Similar to larger cities like Chicago, Batavia does have some remaining original manufacturing facilities that are over a hundred years old.
Arguments Against Demolition (or for Delay)
- Loss of History: Alderpersons lamented the loss of an “iconic” part of the city skyline and criticized the trend of demolishing historic structures in the downtown area.
- Lack of Due Diligence: Critics argued the Council was presented with a binary choice without exploring restoration costs. It was noted that the engineer was asked only for a condition assessment, not a repair estimate, and that grants might be available to offset costs. It was noted by the owner that the engineer was asked to evaluate the possibility for repair while inspecting the chimney..
- Systemic Failure: The discussion highlighted a failure in the city’s preservation policy, with calls to establish grant programs to help property owners maintain historic structures before they become hazardous. “Demolition by neglect”.
- Adaptive Reuse: A suggestion was made to preserve part of the structure or build a monument to serve as a habitat for chimney swifts.
Arguments For Demolition
- Safety Hazard: The property owner and engineer reported that the chimney was structurally unsound, with daylight visible through the masonry and severe internal decay that made it dangerous. The city director of public works did endorse the credentials of the engineer who did the evaluation..
- Liability: Supporters emphasized the immediate risk of collapse and the liability it posed to the owner and the city.
- Prohibitive Cost: An alderperson with engineering experience estimated restoration would cost over a quarter-million dollars, and the owner stated that repair companies and engineers had deemed it unsafe to even attempt repair from the inside.
- Economic Development: Some argued the dilapidated chimney was an obvious deterrent to selling the property and that its removal would facilitate redevelopment of the vacant site.
- Track Record: The “Tin Shop” property across the street from this property, also considered “significant”, was abandoned for six-seven years all the while going through extensive water damage and decay eventually requiring demolition. Based on past experience this property being idle for years after the current tenent is evicted, and the chimney issue remains unresolved, is a real possibility.
Outcome: The Council voted 11-3 to approve the demolition. It was agreed the city should be pro-actively looking at the remaining “Challenge” smokestack and other nearby historic properties, along with potential grant money.
City Department Resolutions
- Fire Department: The Council approved the purchase of a refurbished cardiac monitor/defibrillator for the Fire Department. The Chief explained that purchasing refurbished equipment saves significant costs (less than half the price of new) and maintains compatibility with the tri-city ambulance system.
- Electric Utility: A resolution was approved for a contract with the Morse Group to reconfigure the main substation. The project aims to replace aging equipment (some dating back to 1979) to improve resiliency. The cost is approximately $863,000, funded through capital reserves.
Reports and Closing
- Administrator’s Report: The City Administrator announced an upcoming public meeting regarding the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for the city’s energy future. It was also noted that the budget and tax levy discussions were moved to the December 15th meeting.
- General Discussion: An Alderperson proposed a future Committee of the Whole meeting dedicated to a comprehensive and holistic review of River Street issues and opportunities, including vacancies and historic preservation. This was supported by the Council.
- Mayor’s Report: The Mayor commended the Public Works, Police, and Fire departments for their excellent handling of a recent heavy snowstorm.
Author: Jim Fahrenbach
Leave a Reply