The Macomb City Council voted Monday to appoint City Administrator Scott Coker to the Prairie Hills Land Bank Authority. He will represent Macomb as a local government director. The land bank authority will purchase and rehabilitate substandard properties throughout the region.
The city council also voted to approve a road use agreement with Ember Sun, which plans to build a solar farm near the intersection of Ember and Tower roads. The company would pay for any road damage during the construction process. Macomb will receive a $35,000 administrative fee to oversee any activity. Public Works Director Alice Ohrtmann said this is the first road use agreement in conjunction with a solar farm.
Also approved was an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for Macomb to receive $57,083 for street sweeping services on state roads. A request was approved to authorize Ohrtmann to accept bids on the first phase of 2025 street improvement projects, which she said would mainly involve the chip-sealing of roadways at an estimated cost of $234,307. A request for proposal was authorized to allow the Macomb Public Works Department to receive bids on an Americans with Disabilities Act transition plan at a possible cost of $50,000.
Permission was also voted for Ohrtmann to pay up to $29,108 to Hanson Professional Services to review flood plain maps submitted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. She said the maps indicate that portions of the city sewer plant are in the flood plain. Coker said the FEMA mapping took three years. “There are some concerns that portions of the FEMA map are not correct,” he said. Ohrtmann said findings in the Hanson review could be used in a city appeal of the mapping.
Aldermen approved a public transportation agreement with the Macomb Municipal Airport. Macomb Public Transportation Director CallaBria Putrino said the city would provide shuttle bus service to the airport’s Heritage Days Fly-In for a $200 fee. Shuttle hours will be 7:00 a.m. to Noon on June 29.
The council voted to approve an ordinance for a redevelopment plan to create Macomb Business Development District #1. City Attorney Lisa Scalf said the plan is subject to a public hearing, which has been scheduled for 5:15 p.m. on August 18.
An ordinance was approved to rezone Youth for Christ property at 1224 Maple Avenue from residential to office/institutional. Also approved was an ordinance creating a special event liquor license for the St. Paul’s Block Party at 309 West Jackson Street on July 19.
The city council voted concurrence with Mayor Mike Inman’s reappointments of Jim Miner and Chad Sperry, and initial appointment of Gayle Carper, toi the Macomb Planning Commission. City Clerk Renee Lotz introduced her new deputy clerk, Josh Adams. Former deputy clerk Jennifer Cerven now serves as administrative assistant at the Macomb Fire Department.
Also approved Monday was a motion by Alderman Dave Dorsett to table action on a liquor license request from Arrowwood Hospitality for the operation of Rocky’s Bar and Grill at 1420 West Jackson Street. Discussion on the motion will take place during next Monday’s committee of the whole meeting.
