The Macomb City Council voted Monday to purchase additional land to support the planned new water plant. The city will pay $30,000 per acre to buy parcels owned by Cox Construction and by the Elizabeth Ann Rapp Trust.
Mayor Mike Inman said the land would be used for remote wells to feed water into the plant. Public Works Director Alice Ohrtmann said the Rapp property is located off West Grant Street and the Cox property is south of Grant on Cherokee Road.
Members of the city council praised the Public Works staff for its quick work in repairing major breakdowns in two water mains over the weekend. Ohrtmann said Laverdiere Construction assisted her staff in making the repairs. Of the work done, Alderman John Vigezzi said, “They prevented a major catastrophe.”
In other business, aldermen voted to approve a $45,000 construction services contract with Crawford, Murphy, and Tilly. Ohrtmann said the firm will handle paperwork and provide site supervision for 2025 roadway improvements. She said CMT would supervise the work of Laverdiere Construction on Maple Avenue and on Wigwam Hollow Road.
Also Monday, the city council held a public hearing on the event center liquor license application of Eric Mansfield, doing business as The Penny at 26 West Side Square, Mansfield told the council, “I want to do something for the downtown area.” He said his event center would host receptions and conferences, with its peak hours being 6 to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. In related action, the coucil voted to amend the city municipal code to add the event center liquor license category. EVC license holders would pay a fee of $1,000 per year to hoist as many as 50 events. Final action on Mansfield’s liquor license application should take place on August 18.
Aldermen voted to accept a $400,000 grant from the Illinois Housing Development Authority as part of the agency’s home repair and accessibility program. Community Development Director Miranda Lambert said this is the second time Macomb has received the grant. She said the program is for lower income property owners and the city hopes to pay for roof repair on one home and general repairs on six others. Lambert said the program would be administered by the Western Illinois Regional Council.
The city council also voted to pay $4,000 to TWM for assistance in writing two Safe Routes to School grant applications. One grant would provide $250,000 for sidewalk improvements surrounding Lincoln School. The other grant would pay $100,000 for development of a community travel plan involving other schools.
Alderman also approved a resolution requesting Illinois Department of Transportation approval of the closure of U.S. 136 for the Western Illinois University Homecoming Parade on October 18.
