The DeKalb City Council paved the way for Target to build a $100 million distribution center at Park 88, at Fairview Drive and Peace Road.

“We’re excited about the opportunity there, but it’s too early for general speculation,” Target company spokeswoman Aimee Sands said.

The 1.5 million-square-foot distribution center will employ a minimum of 500 full-time workers at an average of $25,000 a year for entry-level positions.

The city lists the average yearly salary to be about $43,000, more than 50 percent greater than the $28,000 average for workers in the county.

The distribution center is set to increase the overall county tax assessment value by $56 million, and the center’s activity will generate more than $850,784 in economic activity, according to the city. Of that, $250,000 is expected to stay in the county.

During the council meeting Monday night, confusion arose over the definition of compensation between the letter from Target and the city’s report.

“In general, [the distribution center] is a positive development,” 3rd Ward Alderman Steve Kapitan said. “But when public dollars are spent, it’s reasonable to scrutinize what kind of impact we can expect from that investment we are making.”

The public can expect to reimburse the developer of the warehouse $1,294,500 for sprinkler systems, a power line, a 12-inch water main extending from Fairview Drive to Peace Road and construction of a supplemental water main to Industrial Drive.

To support the Target distribution center, the city plans to spend $3.4 million to build Macom Drive. To offset part of the cost, the city will seek grants through the Illinois Department of Transportation for up to 50 percent of the total project cost.

No local public dollars will be expended for the creation of Macom Drive, city officials said.

Macom Drive will curve around the distribution center connecting Peace Road to Fairview Drive to fulfill the distribution center’s shipping needs.

The city reported the distribution center could be in full operation by late 2006.

Target representatives were not available for further comment at the meeting.