A quarterly report from the Macomb Public Transportation Department was received by aldermen at Monday’s city council committee of the whole meeting. Transit Director CallaBria Putrino said there was a cumulative total of 77,000 riders from April through June on the city buses and vans.
Putrino said there were eight vehicles on the road at peak times. She said three more routes were added for the Western Illinois University campus on August 26. The transit director said four new bus drivers were hired as well as two new drivers for the “demand response” vans. Mayor Mike Inman thanked Putrino for filling in and driving buses until the new drivers could be hired.
In other business, City Administrator Scott Coker said he would be asking the city council next week to approve a renewal of the city’s agreement with WIU for the recording and live streaming of public meetings. He said the last agreement was approved 14 years ago. Coker said he’d like agreements renewed for five-year periods. He said WIU would be paid $1,200 per month, up from the current $1,000.
Marketing and Downtown Development Director Savannah Ballard said she would ask the city council next week to approve an amendment to the Downtown Facade Grant Program. She requested a 60-day extension for completion of improvements at 129 South Lafayette Street. Ballard said work on masonry and new windows has been completed but work has been delayed on installation of a new awning. Alderman John Vigezzi added that the delay was not the fault of the property owner.
