Feasibility study for new hotel soon to be considered

GIBSON CITY — A new feasibility study to explore the potential for a hotel in town may be on the horizon.

At the city council’s Oct. 27 meeting, an agenda item to discuss and approve pursuing a feasibility study for a Cobblestone Hotel & Suites was tabled upon the request of Mayor Dan Dickey. Dickey said he asked that the matter be postponed because the city needs more information before the council can engage in a full discussion about the project’s feasibility and longterm implications for local development.

Alderman Ray Hankes brought the idea of a feasibility study for a Cobblestone hotel to Dickey’s attention and requested it be put on the Oct. 27 agenda, but Hankes declined to share specifics of the plan with the Ford County Chronicle last week, saying more information would be made public when initial discussions occur during a meeting yet to be set.

The city has explored hotel development before. According to the city’s strategic plan, in early 2015 the city contracted Hotel & Leisure Advisors of Ohio to conduct a feasibility study for a 40-room, limited-service hotel. The study concluded that the proposed site on the east side of Illinois 47 south of its intersection with Illinois 9/54 would be an attractive location for hotel development and produce a positive return.

Of course, that was 10 years ago, though.

“We could use another study,” Dickey said.

Dickey added that while he is open to working with Cobblestone, he does not want to lock the city into a single hotel brand.

“Cobblestone is not the only possibility,” Dickey said. “There could be others that would work, as well.”

Cobblestone hotels are not new to Ford County, as one already is operating in nearby Paxton along Illinois 9. The company specializes in developing upper midscale, 40-room hotels in smaller communities, typically offering amenities such as an indoor pool, complimentary hot breakfast, wireless internet and an on-site convenience store.

Community meal program to kick off Dec. 13

Also at the Oct. 27 meeting, Pioletti’s Catering owner Nikki Miller announced plans to relaunch a community meal-share program to help residents struggling with food costs.

Previously, Miller had offered meals for five for less than $100 through her church to save her parish members money, she said. Citing the rising price of groceries, statistics on people in need in the community and loss of SNAP benefits as motivation, Miller said her group-meal preparation program would be extended to the community free of charge for people who needed it. Miller emphasized she was not at the meeting to ask for anything, just to raise awareness for her program.

Miller said the program will kick off Saturday, Dec. 13, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Father Kirk Hall. Miller invited volunteers from all churches and the community to participate.

“Pitch in, roll up your sleeves, put on some gloves,” Miller said. “I will pay for food-handler certification for anyone who doesn’t have it so they can come in and help us.”

Miller extended an invitation to any community members referred by the local food pantries, churches and schools to come in and pick up some meals that will be fully prepped and require almost no work.

The council was appreciative of her initiative.

“That’s amazing,” Alderman Susie Tongate said.

Update on golf cart access from Cender subdivision

Also attending the meeting were several residents from the Cender subdivision, who were there to follow up on previously voiced concerns about golf cart access to the rest of the city.

Because state law prohibits golf carts to travel on state highways, Cender subdivision residents have no legal way to cross Illinois 47 to reach the rest of town.

Dickey provided an update on developments since the previous meeting, explaining that the tentative plan is to extend a sidewalk across from the subdivision from Lynn Street to the Longview Community Bank and then to Wood Street, which could potentially serve as a designated golf cart route.

“That will only happen if we can get you across the highway,” Dickey noted.

City Attorney Marc Miller addressed the legal aspects of the proposal, noting that the project’s approval ultimately depends on the Illinois Department of Transportation, which controls state highways. Miller said IDOT has agreed to conduct a speed study of the area, to be followed by a safety study.

“My jaw fell open when they didn’t say ‘no’ (to the idea),” Miller said. “They will conduct the speed study. If they don’t find it to be safe, it’s their road and we can’t control that. But they haven’t said ‘no.’ Whatever they come up with,at that point, it will come back to the city and the council will need to decide if it is safe. But we can’t do anything more than what the state would allow.”

Miller predicted it would take three to six months for the studies to be completed.

“I am tickled to death that we are chipping away at the iceberg,” Miller said.

Miller also reminded the council that IDOT is paying for the speed study, not the city.

If both studies meet state standards, golf cart users could drive across the road or even use the road to get around, Miller said

Other business

Also at the council meeting:

Administrative Assistant Meg Fairchild said auditors were expected to complete the annual audit for last fiscal year by the end of last week.

Alderman Sarah Sarantakos said a meeting of the council’s parks, recreation and technology committee was rescheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10, at City Hall, 101 E. 8th St., to discuss the planned installation of electronic locking mechanisms for park facilities, as well as reservations for the city’s South Park campground.

The council voted 8-0 to approve renting 13 acres of city-owned land on the city’s northeast side to local farmer Zach Bunting. The city purchased the triangular piece of land for a planned detention pond, but Dickey said renting it as farmland is much more economical for the city, as routine mowing costs about $900 each time. When Bunting was approached to farm the land, he was initially reluctant, since the land is not very productive farmground and takes more inputs due to the poor quality of soil, Dickey said. After some negotiation, though, Bunting agreed to farm it and pay the city $50 per acre.

The council voted 8-0 to approve the renewal of the city’s employee health insurance plan. Insurance Providers Group broker Marty Nuss, who handles the insurance needs of the city, said that despite the current insurance climate, he was able to find a plan to lower the premiums incrementally. “It’s wild out there,” Nuss noted. Nuss said the deductibles rose from $500 to $600 while out-of-pocket costs raised slightly.

The council approved a tax levy bond abatement ordinance, which prevents taxes for already-paid-off bonds from being passed on to residents.

The council approved the renewal of the police department’s dispatching contract with the Ford County Sheriff’s Office at a cost of $25,000 for the period of Dec. 1, 2025, through Nov. 30, 2026. Police Chief Adam Rosendahl said the relationship between the two law enforcement agencies has always been a beneficial one.