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KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- City leaders took the first steps toward redeveloping the south end of town Monday night.

The Kirksville City Council voted to approve a tax increment finance district for the South Highway 63 corridor during its regular meeting. TIF districts direct tax money to areas in need of redevelopment.

The new TIF district will include the shopping center on South Highway 63 from Orschelen to Stage.

The first phase of the plan will include improvements to the shopping center. The second will include public improvements along the highway. The goal of the development project is to create a more appealing entrance into the city.

This TIF district is slightly different than the one in place in downtown Kirksville.

“What that TIF says is we're going make these improvements, we're going to increase the assessed valuation, it's going to raise more property taxes. And each of the taxing districts will get 50 percent of that growth and the developer will get 50 percent as opposed to the developer getting 100 percent. So the taxing districts, if there's a benefit, they're all going to see that,” said Kirksville City Manager Mari Macomber.

Attorneys for the developer, Raul Walters, say the company wants to begin making improvements soon, but that the schedule for those improvements will depend on market conditions and commitments from tenants.