Dollar General under construction in Elkville

ELKVILLE -- A project that's taken six years to get off the ground is finally happening in Elkville.
The construction of a Dollar General store is continuing on U.S. Route 51 south of the village's water tower.
"We have hardly any businesses, so it's a very significant project," said Elkville Mayor Lance Bedar. "Any growth is good."
Bedar was not sure how many jobs the new store would create, but said the owners hope to have it open in four weeks, depending on the weather.
"It is in the (Tax Increment Financing) district," Bedar said. "I don't know if they will want any TIF funds. I have offered them, but either way, it's going up."
When a TIF district is created, the value of the property in the area is established as the "base" amount.
The property taxes paid on this base amount continue to go to the various taxing bodies as they always had, with the amount of this revenue declining only if the base declines (something that the TIF is expected to keep from happening) or the tax rate goes down.
It is the growth of the value of the property over the base that generates the tax increment that is then reinvested back into the community.
Workers with Hubbard Construction poured the concrete footings for the walls on Wednesday, with work on the floor to begin soon.
"We thought we had this done six years ago and it fell through over land," Bedar said. "We're looking forward to it."
Bedar said the village has appointed a new TIF administrator in Keith Moran, as the previous administrator has retired, and hopes the taxing district will generate new investment in the years to come.
"We're hoping to get something else going shortly," Bedar said.