[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6355610,"mediaKeyId","2218095-65404b181a9ab44636d3f3dbfbb4649d","parentId",2218095,"title","New Moline Pollinator Preservation Committee secures Bee City USA designation and plans community plantings","audioSeconds",357,"startMs",1126000,"endMs",1483000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2218095-65404b181a9ab44636d3f3dbfbb4649d&start=1126&end=1483","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2218095-65404b181a9ab44636d3f3dbfbb4649d/thumbnail_1126000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6355610/Moline-City/Rock-Island/Illinois/New-Moline-Pollinator-Preservation-Committee-secures-Bee-City-USA-designation-and-plans-community-plantings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6355610-c19fd84118017b8586f33533e37b4f0f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165913&Signature=iE1uwfnRbzK7CmkDqITk-c0GAFCmSMieHPof9k56Q62ZepPvJUyqzHEVtQmd2NMFdbM8~RjyLLOClybynrPmQy8AgT~H61NjHMryB7FMF6n-t21euDrLXsHMUof8Bk2~jTRRCi-O0Q0BS14BjbwkWDkYaLym5e8UUWKeBbmH2rcQzy1hfO67bRULErIWAGbY53pcXWsZQXmPz~j41lLs76buE6t~welEl2i5H-~PMk9SZcepycMY-Gl~LowecBNa816O8TueYq0ZsJ4Imytwsp11vlgiO-gyt999Y6kqEdiLvhsKagcu1MVvMWJ~fypI7ht8w-wE1RpPIfcZ2jjg0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Moline, IL","date","2025-02-04T16:42:14Z","article","Kelly Nacci, a Moline resident and volunteer, told the Carnegie Library audience that the city’s new Pollinator Preservation Committee has achieved official Bee City USA designation and that the committee plans native-plantings, educational outreach and volunteer habitat projects with partners across the Quad Cities.

The designation comes through Bee City USA, an initiative administered by the Xerces Society, Nacci said, and the committee’s initial goals include increasing native plantings, reducing pesticide use and maintaining nesting habitat for native pollinators. Nacci said the city council officially approved the committee’s Bee City resolution last month.

Nacci said the committee has already begun outreach and planning with groups such as Quad Cities Wild Ones, the Boys and Girls Club and the city’s neighborhood partners and plans to host events and coordinate volunteer work in 2025. The speaker said the effort grew from a conversation with the mayor and the cooperation of multiple city departments.

Why it matters: Native pollinators play a role in local ecosystems and food production, and the designation signals a citywide commitment to habitat actions and community education.

Ending: The committee said it will use the Bee City designation to coordinate public events and habitat projects in 2025; specific project sites and budgets were not detailed during the remarks.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Moline, IL - State of the City 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Kelly Nacci said the newly formed Pollinator Preservation Committee secured Bee City USA designation with city council approval and will coordinate native-plant projects, outreach and volunteer habitat work with local partners in 2025.","taxTitle","Moline City , Rock Island, Illinois","taxId",53268,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6355615,"Local owner celebrates restoration and National Register listing for 1932 Skelly gas station",372,705000,1077000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2218095-65404b181a9ab44636d3f3dbfbb4649d&start=705&end=1077","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2218095-65404b181a9ab44636d3f3dbfbb4649d/thumbnail_705000.jpg","/articles/6355615/Moline-City/Rock-Island/Illinois/Local-owner-celebrates-restoration-and-National-Register-listing-for-1932-Skelly-gas-station","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6355615-031b6548f2e9b008cd9f5f0e1fcd9d14/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165913&Signature=TdMppdFTJ1c0qO~nqrmqZU766UWu-ily-kmZAhgvzds~cAsHzOtmQ0PthOM~vkgZsxKi0Hy65E6VsvRJ6EXtKbkIDs7mFBmCzp2Q4naIHlU48oEDZ2ZA9SgPxrfowF22xA2xhJZojF~YcH9yzzM7pM1qcRKA19ubTTq8~TudFpDvsPNh-L1~4y1X7n~r-MZMz-MmvYkSg2PfL2mjIXmYq1mLroTg~aYa-OmgVRv42KQXKssNW8LDZqsIEKyKF7PKWxJYV6PynVYOvSE6WPBX7~oh9imQEpH8lKU0kURx3-nN2eYl7foxafblFXoweeMpTsvej7y4~cBntby2OdLr~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Felix Vallejo, a longtime Florissant neighborhood resident, described the restoration of a 1932 Skelly gas station that his family and community partners helped rehabilitate and which the speaker said was added to the National Register of Historic Places in fall 2024.

Vallejo said the station has been used for neighborhood events, car shows, a Santa’s workshop and as part of the city’s 150th-anniversary history trolley tour. He credited preservation partners including the Moline Historic Preservation Commission, local donors, muralist Sarah Robb and community organizations for helping with the restoration.

Vallejo said the station was dedicated as a city landmark in 2022 and later gained state and national recognition; he highlighted the role of local historians and neighborhood associations in preparing the National Register nomination. He noted the site’s role as a neighborhood gathering point and said the preservation project supports the city’s goals for affordable, safe and thriving neighborhoods.

Ending: Vallejo thanked family, neighbors and city leaders and said he remains active in community development efforts as a member of the Moline Community Development Corporation representing the Florissant neighborhood. He urged residents to take care of one another and to engage in neighborhood preservation work.","Felix Vallejo described restoring a 1932 Skelly gas station in the Florissant neighborhood and told the audience the site was designated a Moline landmark in 2022 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in fall 2024.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6355619,"Volunteers, city and businesses revive ‘Mister Bob’ Thanksgiving tradition, serve nearly 2,000 meals",478,262000,740000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2218095-65404b181a9ab44636d3f3dbfbb4649d&start=262&end=740","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2218095-65404b181a9ab44636d3f3dbfbb4649d/thumbnail_262000.jpg","/articles/6355619/Moline-City/Rock-Island/Illinois/Volunteers-city-and-businesses-revive-Mister-Bob-Thanksgiving-tradition-serve-nearly-2000-meals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6355619-358024fdb7db926cdee51fb5239d6e2f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165913&Signature=dBZKPH6sGK0wX7r7V4KpyhYqaoyt50hoCpBrQIHkysaKAo4Mm5Ge0WCAjTUyQBgK1-7a~xHqyFxL~OrzgFMUe5fP70-t5fmBZ~Csr8Y-mcVHxtmeXD2DJoAZ6NHMT0KkfZK9wYk7gf~z9DccBvfA1GzXJ7eU39QX76dhFW0pxRv0ySifbW~CYMxHrisgluMzDOSg8q1jEC0NA4iJkGTaC4n90QNleYLR1KdSY644q4AFM1q9Dx12~Mvg717BBvldo-~UMI1~iUrlUbGexUXVMWbQx~QlGc0f0lVNeNEmbSodhm99aed46BVJQq~83T-8DrECylvQBXoQDvaJtX89Ng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Emily Allen told the Carnegie Library audience that she and two other parents organized a last-minute effort to sustain the long-running Mister Bob Thanksgiving community meal after the event lost its prior venue in October 2024.

“I was able to connect with Mayor Raya Peddy, the Moline Police Department, and city administration to discuss how to get the event back up and running,” Emily Allen said during her remarks, describing rapid coordination with city staff and local partners.

Allen said organizers estimated nearly 2,000 diners and worked with Mercado on 5th and other partners to secure a space and funding. She credited in-kind and financial support from RIA Federal Credit Union, the City of Moline Human Rights Commission, local dealerships and other donors and said roughly 100 volunteers helped run the meal; she said organizers had to turn some volunteers away because of the large volunteer turnout.

Allen said Mister Bob attended the event from start to finish and that, during the celebration, the city surprised him with a proclamation honoring his work. The organizers said they are forming a 501(c)(3) to formalize the event going forward and are planning to continue the tradition in future years.

Why it matters: Mister Bob’s Thanksgiving meal is a long-standing community event the speaker described as welcoming to anyone in need of food or company on Thanksgiving. The event’s revival required coordination among volunteers, the city and local businesses and indicates ongoing civic capacity for large volunteer-run community programs.

Ending: Allen said organizers are still planning logistics and legal structure for the event and are establishing a nonprofit to secure the tradition in coming years. Details about the proclamation (text and adoption process) and the 501(c)(3) timeline were not specified during the address.","Emily Allen described how volunteers, local businesses and the city worked in three weeks to preserve the long-running Mister Bob Thanksgiving meal, serving nearly 2,000 diners and honoring the event’s founder with a proclamation during the celebration.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6355624,"Moline mayor highlights roads, broadband, housing and grants in State of the City address",0,1397000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2218095-65404b181a9ab44636d3f3dbfbb4649d&start=1397&end=1397","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2218095-65404b181a9ab44636d3f3dbfbb4649d/thumbnail_1397000.jpg","/articles/6355624/Moline-City/Rock-Island/Illinois/Moline-mayor-highlights-roads-broadband-housing-and-grants-in-State-of-the-City-address","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6355624-6b86ffcc75c4c4d9cb6a67148869b73b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165913&Signature=nWplojEzqtGBnSw1hq-EWWdrtP1l9VLy0UMb9jDrfFheILosIAkbPLh03R6VDBBIbI3NYpFLvZzMhLkkeI0eV~T7lOuED3lmFeMeaIbex~RPsCAKTKOSj3pwCEGjfec8uZEYH7vshHBIStPVMjILhSsCGgfRZWTDEs9sD73QJjH76VwLli-1TB6q4-YDlxBhtuP6WaF9wvRnwj6LhEJZIzZ~uMMzoV0TqM8gNn91ZkBx6BvFt3d0MbECbxf-fNtOTtlr1uqK03rbf6lJR9ZYMKAJ8wwmqyKrpIY350DDBfXULmFdwUHUOPiBwmiQ-SmQorOZEm9ATQVh2JWzbE4ysw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Moline Mayor Rai Pudi delivered a State of the City address at the Carnegie Library on Monday, outlining infrastructure projects finished in 2024, steps planned for 2025 and the city’s approach to housing and economic growth.

The mayor said the administration focused on “practical progress” and called for “positive growth” that balances new investment and resident needs.

The speech summarized last year’s accomplishments in public works, utilities and economic development and explained several programs the city plans to continue or expand in 2025.

Mayor Rai Pudi said the city completed more than 11 miles of street paving or reconstruction in 2024 and made improvements at several critical intersections to improve safety. City staff also carried out multiple utility projects that the mayor said advanced maintenance of water and sewer systems and set the stage for a program to replace lead service lines as repairs are needed, with a full program launch expected in 2025.

The mayor described the completion of a metro broadband project in October 2024 that the city characterized as a private investment of about $19,000,000 and said the work included 125 miles of buried fiber and 60 miles of fiber added to telephone poles. She said an application for railroad quiet zones downtown is awaiting Federal Railroad Administration approval.

On pedestrian access, the city completed a sidewalk replacement program that repaired roughly 2.4 miles of sidewalks and is creating a sidewalk condition index to prioritize future work. The mayor also noted a new volunteer “Snow Angel” program to assist residents who cannot clear sidewalks themselves.

Parks and recreation received attention: the mayor said Riverside Park’s upgraded aquatic center drew 56,587 guests in 2024, up from 18,844 in 2022, and that new equipment was installed at other parks.

On public safety and staffing, the mayor said the police department is fully staffed at 84 of 84 authorized positions and the community and economic development department is fully staffed after hiring an economic development manager in 2024. The fire department received new vehicles and staffing adjustments meant to better meet calls for service, she said.

The mayor reviewed housing and development work, saying city staff and the council had passed an accessory dwelling unit ordinance last year to add housing supply, and that current development deals under discussion would add an estimated 239 units. A council presentation cited a baseline need for about 1,100 new housing units under status-quo economic assumptions; the mayor said a higher projection was mentioned during the presentation but the specific figure was not clearly stated in the address.

Economic tools and grant work were highlighted: the city purchased a building (the Bethany Building at 6th Avenue and 19th Street) to consolidate permitting and Parks and Recreation offices and the mayor credited the city’s grant specialist with securing approximately $14,900,000 in committed grant funds in 2024. She also described the Level Up program, funded by cannabis tax revenue and implemented with Project NOW Inc., as a renewed effort to address systemic poverty and help families maintain housing stability.

The mayor described Moline’s application to participate in a U.S. Department of Energy clean energy peer-learning cohort for an agrivoltaic project called Shine On Moline and said the city was continuing to pursue remaining state funding for the project (the mayor referred to roughly $450,000 left from state sources). She called continued work on the project an example of pursuing “practical progress” and balancing conservatism in budgeting with investments in community infrastructure.

On fiscal policy the mayor said the council has reduced the tax levy rate in recent years to keep rates lower than they might have been and described that approach as “restraint and resilience” while noting the council continues to weigh development and funding options for major projects.

“We are working for positive growth with very practical yet innovative approaches,” Mayor Rai Pudi said. “Practicality doesn't have to mean status quo.”

The mayor closed by urging residents and partners to remain engaged as the city pursues construction projects, housing initiatives and climate- and flood-resilience work in 2025.

Ending: Several items the mayor described—quiet-zone approvals from the Federal Railroad Administration, the lead service-line replacement program rollout, and final design and funding decisions for River’s Edge downtown redevelopment—remain contingent on outside approvals or future council decisions and timelines were not set in the address.","Mayor Rai Pudi used the State of the City speech at the Carnegie Library to outline completed infrastructure projects, broadband expansion, housing goals and $14.9 million in committed grant funding while describing ongoing plans for flood resilience, a potential downtown redevelopment zone and an agrivoltaic pilot.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

New Moline Pollinator Preservation Committee secures Bee City USA designation and plans community plantings

Local owner celebrates restoration and National Register listing for 1932 Skelly gas station

Volunteers, city and businesses revive ‘Mister Bob’ Thanksgiving tradition, serve nearly 2,000 meals

Moline mayor highlights roads, broadband, housing and grants in State of the City address