Rockford aldermen delayed a vote on approving fee waivers for MercyHealth totaling about $200,000.
The fees normally would go toward inspecting sidewalks, roads and infrastructure around the healthcare company's Women and Children’s Hospital and Medical Center on Riverside Boulevard. It's part of an annexation agreement between the City of Rockford and MercyHealth, which capped building permit fees at $900,000, according tothe Register Star.
MercyHealth claims the agreement was meant to include all city construction fees in the cap and wants an amendment to codify that assumption. Mayor Tom McNamara supports the amendment, but Ald. Ann Thompson-Kelly says the city can't afford to give the health company more fee breaks.