The Macomb City Council voted five-to-two Monday to approve a statement of work and authorize a threeyear master services agreement with Spark Marketing/Leap Group. The firm will develop a promotion strategy for the community. The city would be billed $4,850 per quarter in 2026, $4,500 per quarter in 2026, and $3,175 per quarter in 2028.
Alderperson Dave Dorsett led the opposition to the agreement.
“I have real reservations about this.” he noted.
Alderperson Jennifer Hemingway also voted against the marketing contract. Alderperson John Vigezzi noted that the contract allows the city to terminate without cause.
In other business, the City Council voted to accept a bid from West Central FS in Galesburg to provide gasoline, diesel fuel, and winter blend for pumps at the city transit facility and the Macomb Public Works Department. The city terminated its previous contract with Niemann Foods, citing poor performance and contaminated fuel.
The City Council held a public hearing on a liquor license application from Lucky’s Landing, 504 W. Jackson St. The business wants to exchange its current liquor license for a Class V video gaming license. The business manager told the council that it is open 130 hours per week and only sells the equivalent of one case of beer during that time.
The council voted to approve a resolution estimating the amount of its property tax levy for 2024-2025. City Administrator Scott Coker said the levy would total about $3.2 million, and Macomb would apply $1.7 million to the firefighter pension fund and $930,000 to the police officer pension fund. Coker added the levy will increase by 2.9 percent, raising the tax on a residential home by $31 dollars. The council also voted to update the city investment policy by adding selected state programs to its list of local banks.
Also approved this week was an intergovernmental agreement with Western Illinois University to provide student transit services. The university will pay the Macomb Public Transit Department $85,000 per quarter through June 30, 2026. The city will provide three daily bus routes: three evening routes, one bus daily to the Carper Amtrak station, one Friday and Saturday bus route and one Sunday route.
