Warranty business coming

Aldermen consider leasing city-owned building at 227 Cedar

The former Four Seasons hardware store building may be occupied in the near future Chillicothe aldermen heard at Monday night’s Chillicothe City Council meeting.

Economic development committee chairman Chris Boyer apprised the council of Small Engine Specialty leasing the front portion of the building and sought any input from them.

The business, which currently operates in Washington, features warranty repair and sales of lawn and garden equipment, owner Terry Lee said.

The business offers warranty service for items bought at retail box stores, such as Lowe’s, Menard’s, Tractor Supply Co. and Home Depot. He and his right-hand employee, Nikki Harper, attended the meeting. Harper said the company also assists customers who bought a piece of equipment and need help with setup.

Lee said he hopes to get into the building as soon as possible to be ready for spring. The business will operate in addition to its Washington location.

“When we purchased the property, we did not have any set plans or vision and wanted to keep our options open for any potential business interested in coming to Chillicothe, retail, light manufacturing, etc. and until now, we have not had any solid interest in the property,” said Boyer.

“If we have to attract new businesses by leasing a portion of the building, then we have to take a look at that option. Getting a business in an empty downtown building is always a win for the city.”

Boyer said he hopes to bring to the council table a first reading of the lease at the March 22 meeting. Details of the square footage the business needs, repairs and their costs to the building to be assessed and lease term and price are being negotiated.

“We want to be fair and flexible,” Boyer said. “We want the business to be successful.”

In other items, the council:

• referred to the judicial committee a potential business by Jimmy Mattox of offering horsedrawn carriage rides for weddings and special events

• heard alderman Rich Underwood say he received concerns about the waste disposal problems on Second Street. Renters apparently are dumping garbage in the city garbage cans in front of the businesses. Mayor Troy Childers Sr. said he sent 17 letters to downtown apartment owners about the issue. Underwood also said a resident expressed concern of speeding on Second Street.

• heard Childers say with the many potholes in town, little can be done right now due to temperatures being too cold for temporary patching. Superintendent of public works Dave Tutterow said road crews patched potholes before the last snow, but the plows took it out after the snow. Childers said Tutterow is keeping a list of the potholes and will fix them as soon as possible.

• heard alderwoman Sandi Levell say that both she and city clerk Sharon Crabel received their Census 2010 questionnaires in the mail. All residents are to fill them out by April 1.

• concurred with a mayoral proclamation of April 23 as Pearce Community Center Day in Chillicothe. Ben Alvarez, Pearce director, thanked the city for its efforts in 1989 to help establish the community center and noted that it played a “pivotal” role. He added that 2,470 households pay to use the center, noting that they do not all use the center, however.

• approved a notice for special event held on public property for downtown merchants to use City Park from 9 a.m. to noon for the Downtown Merchants Annual Easter Egg Hunt

• approved a request for American Legion Post 9 to have live entertainment in the legion’s outdoor pavilion June 11-12 to extend the playing of amplified music from 11 p.m. to midnight. Borderline will play both nights.

• approved an ordinance authorizing sale of the 2007 Chevrolet Impala police vehicle. Yousef Dabbagh of Island Lake was the highest bidder with $3,867. The vehicle will be used as a taxicab in the Chicago area, police/fire committee chairman Judy Cantwell said.

• awarded a contract to Galena Road Gravel Inc. for aggregate grade CDA-6 (gravel) for $6.25 per ton

• approved spending $938.75 for Wallin’s Carpet Care to clean and deodorize all carpeted areas in the police department, except for the dispatch office, and strip, clean and wax other floors

• had a first reading to change the Class L liquor license, which allows non-profit organizations to host a beer tent. Two changes are included: changing the number of one license per calendar year to three per calendar year, and changing the fee from $200 to $100, since it is for non-profit groups to make money, Underwood said.