ROCKFORD — City Council members on Monday voted in favor of creating a new tax-increment finance district designed to incentivize development at the southern edge of the county.
Aldermen voted 11-2 to approve the creation of the South Rockford Industrial TIF. Alderwoman Gina Meeks and Alderman Tamir Bell voted no after raising concerns about the potential development of a data center within the TIF boundaries.
The TIF has been controversial because the boundaries include land that Monarch Energy controls for a future data center development. Residents have filled Council Chambers for months to push back against any data center development. They rallied again on Monday outside of City Hall and filled Council Chambers, raising concerns about a data centers potential effect on the environment, noise levels, water and energy consumption, and property values…