By JEFF LAMPE
For The Weekly Post
FARMINGTON – The Farmington City Council agreed Monday to renew a popular redevelopment program, albeit with a few changes.
The city will dedicate $75,000 from its downtown Tax Increment Financing district to in-TIF commercial and residential redevelopment projects. Another $25,000 from the city’s general fund will go toward residential redevelopment outside of the TIF district.
The council is expected to approve ordinances spelling out the programs at its next meeting on April 20.
Mayor Kenn Stufflebeam said the in-TIF total is down from $120,000 last year for two reasons. The first is that last year’s allocation was not utilized. Stufflebeam said that may be due in part to a lack of projects, since the reimbursement program has been in place for several years. He said another casue for fewer applicants is the rising cost of work, since grants cover up to 75% of a project as a reimbursement only after work is paid in full.
Another change in the city’s 2026 redevelopment program is to reduce grants awarded outside of the TIF district to a maximum of $1,000, down from $2,500 last year.
“We spent that really fast last year,” Stufflebeam said. “We decided we’d rather see 25 $1,000 projects and cover more people than we did last year.”
All grants are subject to approval by Farmington’s Community and Economic Development Committee.
After a 13-minute closed executive session, the council approved 3% cost-of-living pay increases for all city employees, except for four who will receive a slightly larger increase, Stufflebeam said. Those four – Shelby Ziegler, Tracy Sollenberger, Shiloh VanMiddlesworth and Tony Passini – have taken on additional responsibilities and are underpaid, according to the mayor.
The council also approved an intergovernmental agreement for 2026 with Farmington Township for mowing, maintenance and cleanup at Farmington Township Park. The city will receive $17,000 to $23,000, depending on how much work is done.
As another result of council action Monday, the city will be accepting sealed bids for various surplus items, including four police vehicles, a GMC dump truck, a 1997 Chevrolet service truck, a 1997 Ford F-350, an electric man lift, two Cub Cadet mowers, a Woods mower, an Echo chainsaw, a Honda 10hp engine and a Rigid 300 pipe spreader.
Items will be displayed at the Farmington Public Works building with a phone number to contact for more information. Bids will be opened on May 4.
Finally, the council approved spending $13,000 with Midstate Land Solutions LLC of Bloomington to hydroseed grass in several backyards in which the city replaced storm sewer between North First and North Second avenues. City staff has been unable to get a good stand of grass, Stufflebeam said.
Police Chief Chris Darsham reported that Pandora, the city’s new K-9 officer, passed the state certification test. Officer Jeremiah Ulm will graduate from K-9 school Friday, April 10, meaning Pandora should be working early next week.
Darsham will also graduate Friday from the Northwestern School of Police Staff & Command.
4-9-26
4-10-26
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