Mateusz Janik
NORMAL -- Normal residents can expect a lower property tax rate next year, but due to higher assessed values, many homeowners likely will see a bigger tax bill.
The Normal Town Council voted 4-3 Monday for a 2024 property tax levy estimated to be $14.9 million, which is about 4.9%, or $700,000, more than the 2023 levy. The figure, which is for taxes payable in 2025, includes $4 million for the Normal Public Library.
The town expects the property tax rate to drop from about $1.21 per $100 equalized assessed valuation for taxes paid this year to about $1.09 per $100 EAV for taxes payable next year.
For a house with a market value of $165,000, the town's share of the property tax bill would drop from about $665.50 to about $599.50 -- assuming its assessed value has not changed from year to year.
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With the anticipated residential equalized assessed value growth, the owner of a house valued at $165,000 last year can expect the property to be assessed at almost $185,000 this year. That higher value is expected to add almost $7 to the the town's portion of their tax bill, according to town documents.
The town's equalized assessed value -- the total taxable value of property in the town -- has grown about 16.5% because of the growth in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors locally. This is partly attributed to Rivian Automotive's growth and the end of the automaker's property tax abatement in 2022.
The levy also will allow $500,000 more for the general fund.
Trustees Kathleen Lorenz, Scott Preston and Andy Byars voted against the levy due to an argument made by Preston and Lorenz at the Dec. 2 meeting, They said the town should leave off the $500,000 set aside from the levy for the contingency fund, eliminate the $700,000 levy increase and give taxpayers a break.
In addition, the council authorized an abatement of over $5 million on the levy associated with debt service.
Download PDF Former Logan's Roadhouse
The council approved a development plan at the former site of the Logan's Roadhouse restaurant at 313 S. Veterans Parkway.
According to town documents, the plan looks to convert the site into a multi-tenant building with three tenant spaces and a drive-thru for one tenant. The plan was given a positive recommendation by the planning commission on Dec. 5.
The applicant, Tom Jednorowicz, hired a third-party engineering firm to study the traffic impact in the area, according to town documents.
Although the study determined that no off-site traffic pattern changes would be required, the town noted the potential impact on those turning left at Von Maur Drive into the Shoppes at College Hills from northbound Veterans Parkway.
If an issue arises, it could be addressed with altered signal timing in coordination with the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Other accommodations being made include a small seating area located outside the entrance, expanded green space, bicycle parking, modified signage, and added lighting.
Jednorowicz was the founder of Meatheads but left the company in 2019 before it filed for bankruptcy in 2021. He currently co-owns Original Pancake House locations in Normal, Peoria, and Austin, Texas.
In other news, the council approved a rezoning ordinance and site plan for ground-mounted solar panels at Heartland Church, 1811 N. Linden St.
The church is currently zoned for single-family residential (R-1A) and would prefer to be rezoned to a public lands and institutions (S-2) zoning to allow for solar panel installation.
The council also approved the following:
An intergovernmental agreement with McLean County for centralized booking services for an annual fee of $20,235;
A five-year agreement with Axon Enterprises Inc. for Tasers and associated training and equipment for $412,944;
A memorandum of understanding with Heartland Community College to grant a license for the town to occupy and use Miracle League Field.
Prior to the start of the meeting, councilmembers and staff took a moment to recognize Greg Troemel, inspector and director of inspections and zoning for the Town of Normal, who announced earlier this month that he will be retiring.
"Mr. Troemel is an exceptional leader who has committed his professional life to serving the public with a strong work ethic and a moral compass and has mentored numerous town employees to continue his good work," said Mayor Chris Koos.
Koos proclaimed Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, to be "Greg Troemel Appreciation Day" in Normal for Troemel's four decades of services.
Troemel has been with the town since he started as a building inspector in 1985. He has served as a department head since he was named director in 2000, and he is among the few town employees who have worked for all three of Normal's city managers.
Troemel also has served under three mayors and with six public works directors, six police chiefs, four park directors and three fire chiefs.
During his career, Troemel has witnessed commercial and residential development valued at more than $3 billion, including 67 new residential subdivisions comprising more than 5,700 newly built single-family homes.
Troemel watched as the automobile manufacturing plant on the west side transitioned from Diamond Star to Mitsubishi and now to Rivian, and he was on staff through the construction of Heartland Community College, The Shoppes at College Hills, Constitution Trail Center, uptown Normal redevelopment, five new McLean County Unit 5 schools and off-campus student housing growth.
"All this craziness on paper is great and wonderful. I was just a small part of it and we are all a huge part of that," Troemel said.
Troemel said he's never worked anywhere but Normal, but the experience seems to be exceptional, noting that the city manager has demanded excellence and his team has been "incredible."
"We all have peers that we talk to in other communities, and when we talk about our relationships as directors, how we get along, how we truly appreciate and respect each other," he said.
"That's not normal, it is Normal."
Troemel's last day with the town will be Dec. 31.
Photos:Normal Community vs. Bloomington during the Intercity Boys Tournament Aareion Jones 1 120224.JPG Carter Tindall 1 120224.JPG Kevonte Hamilton 1 129224.JPG Kobe Walker 1 120224.JPG Kobe Walker 2 120224.JPG Micheal Mosley 1 120224.JPG Tyler Dowling 1 120224.JPG Tyler Dowling 2 120224.JPG gallery intercity boys 4159 112524.JPG gallery intercity boys 4160 112524.JPG gallery intercity boys 4161 112524.JPG gallery intercity boys 4162 112524.JPG gallery intercity boys 4163 112524.JPG gallery intercity boys 4164 112524.JPG gallery intercity boys 4165 112524.JPG gallery intercity boys 4166 112524.JPG gallery intercity boys 4167 112524.JPG gallery intercity boys 4168 112524.JPG gallery intercity boys 4169 112524.JPG gallery intercity boys 4170 112524.JPG gallery intercity boys 4171 112524.JPG
Contact Mateusz Janik at (309) 820-3234. Follow Mateusz on Twitter:@mjanik99
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