By Stephanie Irvine
Longtime business owner Kathy Kirby was honored by the village board for 35 years of business in Manhattan. She and her husband recently retired and closed their iconic Manhattan business, Kirby’s Corner Bakery, on November 27.
“While her retirement marks the end of an era, her contributions to our village will not be forgotten,” Mayor Mike Adrieansen read in a statement from the village board.
“Manhattan has been like a family to us,” Kathy replied. Her husband, Jim, was at home, sick.
Kathy regularly attended village board meetings and kept up with the proceedings. After Adrieansen read the board’s statement, Trustee Bob Dilling quipped that she would still have to come to the meetings, which was met with laughter.
“Oh, I’ll be here!” Kirby was quick to reply. “I’ve been here for 22 years — my only request is to see a sign for businesses in town. I’ve been asking four mayors. We need signs that say we’re here! So, here’s hoping we can get a sign up.”
Toward the end of the meeting, all of the board members, Clerk Shelly Lewis, as well as staff each congratulated Kathy on her retirement, each recalling special memories.
“I, too, have great fond memories of Kirby’s Bakery,” Lucinda Neighbors said.
“Don Neighbors used to take me there for a sweet treat in the morning and tried to woo me with your cinnamon rolls that used to be as big as my head. I’d get two meals out of it, a good Saturday and Sunday breakfast,” she said, recalling the delightful smell of the bakery and the memories she had at Kirby’s before congratulating Kathy.
Public Works Superintendent John Tyk acknowledged how Kathy had always remembered his order and had it ready for him.
Dave Beemsterboer recalled getting coffee and the paper every morning at Kirby’s and said how much he appreciated his talks with Kathy. Though they didn’t always agree, they were always able to talk through it.
Manhattan residents will be pleased to know the Village of Manhattan also passed its levy and lowered its tax rate at Tuesday’s meeting.
Although the village’s portion of a resident’s property tax bill is a small portion of the total bill, about 10 percent, taxpayers would likely welcome any relief.
The tax levy, which reflects the amount of money the village intends to collect through property taxes in the upcoming year, was set at $3,608,033, reflecting a 4.7 percent increase from the previous year. No public hearing was held because it was under the 5 percent threshold set by Illinois law for the Truth in Taxation. Additionally, the village lowered its tax rate to .8840 from the 2023 levy rate of .9890.
“So the tax rate reduction is partially due to the increase in the village’s equalized assessed value (EAV). We’re just trying to hold the line on our property taxes and still operate,” Mayor Mike Adrieansen explained.
Essentially, because of the growth in the community resulting from additional subdivisions and new businesses, coupled with the marked increase in valuations of existing homes, more money is available to the taxing bodies, which means the village can lower its rate while still increasing the levy (total monies collected). Individuals will pay less in taxes to the village, but the village will ultimately collect more because of the increase in the EAV.
“We can be proud of the village finances,” Trustee Beemsterboer added.
Also relating to taxes, the village abated part of the SSA bonds from Brookstone Springs and Stonegate subdivisions.
Moving on to other business, Trustee Bob Dilling asked Public Works when Baker Road would be finished. Village Engineer Carrie Pintar responded and explained sidewalks would be completed within the week, noting that it needed to be finished before the street could be paved.
She also said the upcoming 40-degree days should aid in faster completion of the road.
“The plan is to get it done, and it will definitely be open yet this year,” Pintar said.
Pintar advised restoration around the road, topsoil, and the seed and blanket on the easement likely will have to wait until spring. Lighting will be completed this year.
The village also approved ADA doors for village hall and the police department and new radios for the Emergency Management Agency.
The site plan for the Manhattan School District’s addition to the new junior high school building also unanimously was approved. Demolition already has started on the new junior high, and this approval was related to the construction of the new addition for the extra gymnasium and administrative offices.
Although the village does not have a purview on how the school district spends its dollars, it does require approval of all site plans for all new buildings — whether they are residential, commercial, or buildings for a governing body, which is why the site plan was up for a vote.
Prior to the end of the meeting, Mayor Adrieansen informed everyone he had spoken with the owners of Agave Azul, and it should be back open in the next month or so. The restaurant unexpectedly closed last month.
Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.