Construction on EVEN Hotel at 18850 David Memorial Drive will proceed following a special-use permit approved during the July 25 Shenandoah City Council meeting.

A product by the InterContinental Hotels Group, EVEN Hotel is a fitness-focused hotel that will stand five stories tall and will include 120 rooms, meeting space and a full-service restaurant and bar. Each hotel room will have its own fitness equipment.

The permit was approved by a 4-1 vote, with Council Member Byron Bevers voting against the item after asking for more research on how many hotel rooms the city can support.

Shenandoah City Council had previously approved a special-use permit for the hotel in July 2016 and again in January 2017, but both have since expired. Representatives with the hotel's development company said the project stagnated due to financial constraints, however, the group assured council members that finances were already in place and construction would begin as soon as the permits were issued.

"I'm looking forward to the ribbon-cutting and not another [special-use permit]," Council Member Ron Raymaker said.

Other business
• During the meeting, council members also unanimously approved the purchase of six new handheld radios for the Shenandoah Police Department with corresponding accessories, including holsters, batteries and earbuds. The purchase is part of SPD's equipment replacement plan and will be an expenditure of $20,662.62.

• The council unanimously approved the Wastewater Treatment Plant SCADA Improvement Project, which places all city water and wastewater sites on one common system. Those sites include the city's Wastewater Treatment Plant and the lift stations on Ed English, David Memorial, Research Forest, Pineforest and Thornwood drives and Parkgate Circle.

• The council also had preliminary budget discussions in preparation for the adoption of the fiscal year 2018-19 city budget.

• All council members were present during the meeting. To view the entire July 25 agenda, click here.