Council Contracts for Engineering on Rebuild of Jefferson Avenue Downtown

The street work will be done in conjunction with water main replacement work along the same stretch of Jefferson.

The Council also awarded contracts for upgrading sewer lines and replacing manholes around town.

Approval was given to changes in the Municipal Code allowing Billi Jansen to park in the garage and use a room in Austin Mansion as her office. A special-use permit was amended to allow those two functions. The other change allows planned office and limited industrial district status for ground owned by Brad Voyles for his business on North 4th Street for the manufacture of panels and walls for building projects. Also approved was a rezoning that will provide for better parking arrangements and better drive-thru for Little Caesar's, Thai Restaurant and the Verizon store all along Keller Drive.

The Council approved a special use permit for a City storage building near the wastewater treatment plant, and voted to use existing funds to make bond payments and abated the city levy accordingly. Council members also submitted a notice of intent for a 24-hour Quiet Zone along the Canadian National Railroad from Rickelman Avenue to Wabash Avenue. City Engineer Jeremy Heuerman said the trains would still signal their approach for traffic on the spur line crossing next to The Equity since it doesn't have lights and gates and would also be authorized to use their horns if other traffic were threatened by the approaching train.

The Council renewed property/casualty and workers compensation insurance coverage, and witnessed Interim City Administrator Kelsey Lock honor city staffers Caitlin Vail and Ali McAfee for their work on a city audit and Assistant Fire Chief Matt Kulesza being recognized as City Employee of the Quarter.

Council members agreed to vote on an expansion of Sporty's Beverage Connection on Keller Drive, and discussed a proposal for a venue to be known as Jennie's Place next to the Amtrak station. The facility would sell liquor and likely would make gaming available. Some city officials have concerns over how to monitor those patronizing the establishment and their proximity to the train tracks.

The Council also discussed making $75,000 available to Heartland Towing and Recovery for their new facility on Evergreen Avenue, and discussed a design contract for improvements at the wastewater treatment plant being required of a number of Illinois communities.