BATAVIA – Mayor Jeff Schielke said the city of Batavia will hold the line on property taxes in the coming year, during a speech to business and civic leaders.

Schielke told the Batavia Chamber of Commerce on Thursday that the city administration will submit a 2021 budget which maintains the same property tax rate of 73 cents per $100 of assessed valuation that it has levied for the past two years.

The mayor noted that in 1986, early in his second term of office, the city’s tax rate was $1.10 per $100 of assessed valuation. Aldermen will consider next year’s budget this month and are expected to approve the spending plan in December.

In his annual Mayor’s Breakfast event with the chamber, Schielke forecast more new restaurants opening in the downtown and pointed to continued industrial development.

Normally, the chamber event attracts nearly 200 people to Lincoln Inn Banquets in Batavia for a breakfast buffet, networking among themselves and to hear the mayor’s insights.

With the COVID-19 pandemic raging, attendance was limited to 25 people. The breakfast was served at the tables, which were spaced far apart and limited to two persons each.

Schielke said the pandemic and other factors are presenting the Batavia Police Department with serious challenges right now.

“They are under tremendous demand for service,” Schielke said, noting that identity theft and stolen credit cards are prevalent, along with domestic violence and mental health problems that appear rooted in the social isolation brought about by the pandemic.

However, Schielke remained upbeat during most of his address and said restaurant options in the downtown are growing.

Soon to open is the Windmill Grille & Pizzeria in the space at 90 N. Island Ave. formerly occupied by Aliano’s Ristorante, Schielke said.

An unnamed restaurant is planning to locate inside the historic Newton House at the northwest corner of Route 31 and West Wilson Street, the mayor said.

Fifth Ward Alderman Abby Beck is renovating the former liquor store building at 101 S. Batavia Ave. for a restaurant, Schielke said, while another restaurant is in the works in the first block of North Water Street.

The mayor offered an explanation for the recent, sudden departure of Panera Bread from its space at 154 W. Wilson St.

Schielke said that Panera wanted a drive-thru service window and that the city and Batavia Plaza owner BEI Properties had been working to find a solution, but had been unable to do so.

“I think that was the reason they left,” Schielke said.

The mayor offered hope for the vacant Sam’s Club building at 501 N. Randall Road, which closed nearly two years ago.

The property was purchased earlier this year by Twenty Lake Holdings, a Connecticut firm which is entertaining plans to turn the building into an indoor recreation facility, Schielke said.

The mayor laced his speech with Batavia history, showing photographs taken decades ago followed by pictures of the same site today.

It was in the early 1950’s that Batavia was hit by Dutch Elm disease, Schielke said, resulting in a heavy loss of trees in the community and a massive replanting effort.

Now, those trees are getting old, Schielke said as he displayed a photo of a tree that fell on power lines on the city’s west side.