The Macomb City Council voted Tuesday to amend the city’s alcoholic beverage code by adding an arcade entertainment center liquor license. Business owners would pay an annual fee of $1,947 and families would be allowed in the arcade as long as no minors entered the bar area.
Public Works Director Alice Ohrtmann discussed 2026 road projects with aldermen. They approved paying more than $1.7 million to Gunther Construction for hot mix asphalt repavement. Ohrtmann said one of the streets would be University Drive near Q-Lot at Western Illinois University, another would be a mill and overlay of West Calhoun Street to the end of Normal Street, and a third area of work would be in the Rolling Meadows subdivision. Ohrtmann said Gunther was the sole bidder and the cost of the work would be $500,000 over budget.
“The longer we wait, the worse these roads will get,” she said.
The City Council also approved paying $498,371 to Laverdiere Construction for concrete repavement of Bayberry Lane. Ohrtmann said several bids were received, Laverdiere’s being the lowest. She said this will be a complete rebuild because the concrete surface is failing. Ohrtmann noted that the price of concrete has gone up by 50 percent over the past six years.
Aldermen also approved $31,320 for the Otto Baum Company to install a door and platform to support an ADA lift at the entrance to the office at Oakwood Cemetery. Ohrtmann said everything should be installed and operational by the end of April.
The City Council approved purchase agreements for parcels of land for remote well sites near the city’s new water plant. The properties belong to Cox Electric and the Elizabeth Anne Rapp Trust. A third property is already owned by the city. Ohrtmann said money for the purchases would come from the city water fund.
Aldermen approved a request from city grant writer Jessica Biddenstadt to amend grant policies and procedures.
“We’ve received a lot of grants without any match required, but these have quick turnarounds,” said City Administrator Scottt Coker said.
Biddenstadt said she is working with City Finance Director Melissa Worly to update city budgets due to grants.Alderman Dave Dorsett complimented Biddenstadt on her proposals. “I believe this will help us move forward,” he said.
The City Council also received a January report from the Macomb Police Department. The department received 1,248 calls for service and made 60 arrests. There were 12 theft cases, two burglaries, and 24 traffic accidents. Officers were paid $18,773 in overtime and spent 304 hours in training.
Alderman Byron Shabbaz ended the council meeting by requesting a moment of silence in memory of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died on Tuesday.
