The Macomb City Council this week took the first steps toward producing a quality of life promotion for the area. The council approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Macomb Park District to fund the project. City Administrator Scott Coker said the city has $25,000 budgeted and that the park district would pay $20,000.
Other partners in the quality of life promotion include the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce, the Macomb Area Economic Development Corporation, and the Macomb Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. The areawide Community Quality of Life Committee will play a coordinating role.
Coker said much of the promotional work would be done online and through social media. He said the city would use its consultant CGI to produce promotional videos. The city administrator said partners would do much of their work this summer and fall.
In other business, the council began work on developing a communitywide calendar by approving an intergovernmental agreement with the park district. Other partners to be heard from include the MACVB and the area chamber. Alderman John Vigezzi said, “I’ve heard a lot of positive comments about having a centralized community calendar.”
Aldermen voted to approve a four percent annual cost of living adjustment for non-unionized city employees. The percentage figure comes from a recent settlement with the firefighters union. Negotiations continue with the police and public works unions.
The council awarded up to $153,000 to Stoneking and Sons for demolition of more than 20 substandard properties. Community Development Director Miranda Lambert said this is the second round of demolitions funded by the Illinois Housing Authority’s Strong Communities grant.
Also approved Monday was an ordinance to rezone 303 and 333 East Calhoun Street for general business. The properties are owned by MAEDCO and will be developed as new businesses. An agreement was also approved with Farm King to host a glass recycling dumpster.
Aldermen approved a request from city grant writer Jessica Biddenstadt to apply for a U.S. Department of Transportation “Safe Streets for All” grant. Alderman Dave Dorsett said, “The grant money would help us do things that are too costly to do by ourselves.”
The council approved submission of two Illinois Department of Transportation grant applications for the widening of Grant Street from South Johnson to South Ward streets and for work on the Candy Lane corridor. IMEG will assist with engineering on the Grant Street project, and Maurer and Stutz will assist with Candy Lane engineering. Aldermen voted to seek bids for concrete and grading at the Bill Thorpe Memorial Park. Funding for the park will come from the Eastside TIF District, federal American Rescue Plan funding, and public donations.
A T-Mobile application to add a generator to support its antennas on the water tower at 1027 North Randolph Street was approved on a 4 to 3 vote. Aldermen Don Wynn, Byron Shabazz, and Dave Dorsett voted against the request.
The following funds were awarded: $44,954 to Aqua Aerobic Systems for replacement of eight cloth filters at the city sewer plant; $37,600 to Data Link Systems for an upgrade of the SCADA system at the sewer plant; $75,000 to Crawford, Murphy, and Tilly to design a water main improvement project to serve Piper, Mechanic, Jefferson, Edwards, and Washington streets; $26,059 to Flock Safety for seven license plate readers and recorders; and $19,900 to consulting engineers Baxter and Woodman for work on the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency lead service project.
The city council voted to create a special event liquor license for the Macomb Heritage Days beer garden on June 26, 27, and 28. Also approved was a resolution to IDOT for closure of a portion of Highway 136 for the Heritage Days Parade.
