By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
With little discussion and no public comment, the Burlington Common Council passed a number of items related to the Aurora Health Care Center development on the outskirts of the city.
Among the items approved included a certified survey map, a project site plan and the implementation of tax incremental financing district No. 5 to fund water and sewer improvements necessary to extend utilities to the site on Spring Valley Road.
Residents of Spring Valley Road, who had been present and vocal in opposition to the project at previous meetings, were not in attendance.
Aurora has plans to build a new ambulatory care center in two buildings on the site, including cancer treatment and outpatient surgery facilities.
The council also discussed in the Committee of the Whole adopting a resolution to acquire land at 5421 Mormon Road – necessarily for utility expansion and for the bike path that will extend to the Aurora site.
Alderman Jon Schultz questioned whether the city needed to use eminent domain to acquire the property, calling it an abuse of government power.
City Attorney John Bjelajac said the eminent domain filing was, for all intents and purposes, a legal matter to make the transfer clean, and that the property owner was aware of the process and likely to cooperate.
Other matters
• The council unanimously approved a simplified rate case increase of 3 percent for the city’s water rates.
Officials estimate the increase will raise the bill of the average family of four about $3.30 per quarter.
• The City Council also unanimously approved a letter of agreement between the city and the Racine County Economic Development Corporation.
That agreement is the annual contract with RCEDC, which helps the city attract businesses and create economic development plans. The total cost is about $45,000.
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