The Macomb City Council voted Monday to pursue a $44 million loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to build a new city water plant.
The 40-year public water supply loan will fund a reverse osmosis water treatment plant, four deep wells and two 750,000-gallon water storage tanks.
“This is a very important project,” said Alderman Dave Dorsett.
Aldermen also approved the city’s 2025 tax levy ordinance for property taxes to be paid in summer 2026. City Administrator Scott Coker said $3.2 million in tax funds will go to the firefighter pension fund, $930,000 to the police officer pension fund and $330,300 to the general corporate fund.
The council approved an ordinance to abate taxes on $2.27 million in 2016 waterworks bonds and $4 million in 2020 general obligation infrastructure bonds.
In other business, the council approved a five-year lease agreement with Lifeguard Ambulance Service for use of Fire Station #2 at 1100 East Pierce Street. The company will pay the city $3,000 per month, escalating to $3,376 per month by 2030.
The council also approved a $500 non-emergency lift assistance fee for firefighter calls after more than six visits per year to nursing homes or assisted living facilities.
“If health care services were staffed correctly, they would not need our firefighters,” Dorsett said.
Other approvals included an intergovernmental agreement with McDonough County for joint support of the county animal shelter and the framework for Macomb’s next strategic plan. Coker said there will be a staff retreat in January to establish priorities, duties and timelines.
Aldermen authorized soliciting bids for installation of three electric vehicle charging stations downtown, paid for with a $50,000 grant from Ameren. Coker said possible locations include south of the downtown square, at the City Center bus transfer station across from the Amtrak railroad station, and in the city parking lot at Campbell and Calhoun streets.
The council also approved an ordinance authorizing a special use permit for a large-scale solar farm on North 1500th Road.
