Teutopolis Finalizes Hotel/Motel Tax

Teutopolis village board members Wednesday instituted a hotel/motel tax on short term rental properties in the village.

The 3% tax will be instituted as of April 1, and the first payment will be due by May 31.

The Board also passed an ordinance regulating short-term rentals. There will be no fee, but the applicant will be required to fill out a permit. The ordinance allow no more than 20 short-term rental facilities in the village.

Board members approved an ordinance regulating home occupations. Regulations include a limit on the number of vehicles outside at one time, and a requirement that employees have to be related to the owner of the business.

The Board approved the purchase of three easements for sidewalk and utility purposes at 308 South Wall Street, West Southern Row, and 801 West Southern Row.

Village board members agreed to move forward with the village's Comprehensive Plan and will try to secure a Master's Degree student to assist in the work. There was also discussion about modifications to the ITEP sidewalk project to see whether the work could include sewer work and the replacement of a bridge with a box culvert. The Board also got an update from Milano and Grunloh Engineers on some sidewalk work from Prairie View Subdivision to the grade school. The work is waiting on an agreement with CSX Railroad.

There was discussion and a straw poll that showed a majority favored forming a small group to speak with an attorney regarding future land purchases or land swaps where residential development could take place. The Board also approved a TIF payment to Repking Eye Care of $5,200 for their location on Main Street and decided to replace the plants at the village's four welcome signs with no-maintenance plantings.

The Board also went back to an earlier option and will finalize an encroachment agreement at the landowner's cost to vacate a portion of Northern Row Street at 311 North Wall Street.