[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6344397,"mediaKeyId","2250958-dfd4e128d4f9a7a6be6e6d1decce0cf8","parentId",2250958,"title","Princeton Lions Club marks 100 years, outlines community projects and fundraiser","audioSeconds",957,"startMs",2231000,"endMs",3188000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2250958-dfd4e128d4f9a7a6be6e6d1decce0cf8&start=2231&end=3188","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2250958-dfd4e128d4f9a7a6be6e6d1decce0cf8/thumbnail_2231000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6344397/Princeton/Bureau-County/Illinois/Princeton-Lions-Club-marks-100-years-outlines-community-projects-and-fundraiser","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6344397-a490200acaa9c5ead3b641bcf7ca1d53/orig.mp4?Expires=1776074541&Signature=IK3kAq3X6TKgqNdH6GWpr51s~vIS7OKABi-Oacdo~3EBUpdFYcFCZ-t-NJIHAHp0LyeyU3LOCnCf8nC~TBaW173aoUpatqKcRXCqpyXbXbduRemyzwYQSm7LJ64vxFddh3bWg2RTc5sPAo26tZBoUdB9qX9JKEVKmaQCVmCn0Ia7Bhedz4xCYXSTi1jKACKPxuiPjuJV8fYOaJ6oopTTgDFMqB-PRN7sT9SK10-OEJM8blgxu-n-Msj7X45JEBgtd93RN1oKUX681ZS9IiPKkVdRRF9UjQOlXfEO3t2h-Ih6LwUZFbH1Vjbu9cukwDsxH15pNA1CAdO2U0F9yFWsQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Princeton, IL","date","2025-02-07T20:07:27Z","article","Representatives of the Princeton Lions Club told the City Council on Feb. 3 the local club is celebrating its 100th year and described ongoing community projects including a food-drive-supported night Christmas parade, scholarships, and home-access ramp installations.

Jim Margaux (Lions member) provided a brief history: the club was formed in October 1925 in Princeton and is among the older Lions clubs nationally. Scott Smith, the club’s current president, reviewed recent activities: the club’s second-night Christmas parade, a food-drive that raised contributions for the local food pantry, and coordination with community partners including the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Moose Lodge and Knights of Columbus. The club said donations and in-kind support allowed it to present roughly $3,700 to the food pantry, matched by other local donors.

Allen Webber, who identified himself as past president and current treasurer, described the Lions’ ramp program — the club builds and installs entry ramps for residents who need them — and announced the club’s upcoming chicken-and-spaghetti fundraiser at the Moose Lodge on Feb. 22, with doors at 5 p.m. and food at 6 p.m. He said proceeds support the club’s community services, scholarships and donations to statewide Lions activities.

Why it matters: The Lions Club provides volunteer services and direct assistance — scholarships, ramps, vision-related projects and donations to the food pantry — that the club says benefit local residents and nonprofit partners.

Ending: Club representatives invited council members and residents to the fundraiser and thanked the council and chamber for logistical support for community events.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Princeton City Council Meeting - February 3rd, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Members of the Princeton Lions Club told the council on Feb. 3 the club celebrates its 100th year and described recent activities including a night Christmas parade, food-drive fundraising and home-access ramps for residents in need. The club also announced a chicken-and-spaghetti fundraiser at the Moose Lodge.","taxTitle","Princeton, Bureau County, Illinois","taxId",70456,"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},6344402,"Princeton Chamber of Commerce outlines programs, requests continued city support in budget talks",520,148000,668000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2250958-dfd4e128d4f9a7a6be6e6d1decce0cf8&start=148&end=668","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2250958-dfd4e128d4f9a7a6be6e6d1decce0cf8/thumbnail_148000.jpg","/articles/6344402/Princeton/Bureau-County/Illinois/Princeton-Chamber-of-Commerce-outlines-programs-requests-continued-city-support-in-budget-talks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6344402-642293a4b15a900f45378d931f0e84a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1776074541&Signature=Z4D~Odb6vwLH1P-QbzUPjHRB0zkRocbTbS8LxGlNBVi-HTVka3Rx~ITW4aDDMSbdl0d6daHcPbxM1eXprHYlLfL~4Qe0DGfBDx538lC9JRYzCUZU05ASnQj9QD6i7FMguDR-sxpextfC8-8kKyWLNVbfKubYPIoIS3TFWysBua-rBxrE82Qd95WKpc1RsNMxh7C38oYbfZt1qkPbcb9a2Wa30WdtH8mfSSw091dYWiNmcMZtCslt5N2nr5wBXnY3wwwl13nsiCURiqwfXuf-2-HIIOv81RMnZcT2ISm5lRakor84wdQ7eKEuV6ZscJOlS~wnIwRsfAxDp048vurG0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jennica Cole, Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce director, asked the City Council on Feb. 3 to continue municipal support for the chamber in the upcoming budget cycle and described the chamber’s programs and recent activity.

Cole told the council the chamber — which she said has operated in the Prouty Syrian Community Building since the building opened in 1959 — has 324 members and several active volunteer roles: 12 board members and 24 ambassadors. She said the chamber and the city will both contribute financially to planned updates of the Community Building and that the chamber will act as a steward of the space.

Cole highlighted several chamber programs: a Chamber gift-card program that sold $46,130 in 12 months (Jan. 1–Dec. 31) and, she said, has kept about $200,000 circulating locally over four years; a chamber building-improvement grant program that has issued 34 facade grants and paid nearly $75,000 in assistance since the program began in February 2008; and a career, job and volunteer fair at Princeton High School that drew more than 600 students and over 50 businesses the prior year. She also noted the chamber’s role organizing events, ribbon cuttings and the annual Salute to Ag scholarship breakfast.

Cole asked the council to consider sponsoring Chamber activities such as the Main Street flower-pot program. She said each pot sponsorship is $25 and the flower-pot program costs the chamber more than $10,000 annually, with private support from Hornbaker Gardens for plant care. Council members thanked Cole and several — Hector, Marty and Michael — publicly praised the chamber’s contribution to community growth and tourism.

Why it matters: The chamber’s programs support downtown businesses and community events; the chamber’s budget request will be considered during the city’s budget process this spring. Cole gave council members a written “buddy” letter with the chamber’s funding request; the chamber asked that its support request look similar to last year’s allocation.

The chamber director thanked City Manager Theresa and Mayor Mabry for coordinating on building updates and invited council members to chamber networking events.

Ending: The chamber will present a written funding request to city staff and the council will review it during budget deliberations.","Jennica Cole, director of the Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce, briefed the council on chamber activities, outlined a funding request for the upcoming budget, and thanked the city for use of the Prouty Syrian Community Building.",{"_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},6344407,"Princeton council approves $688,542.85 in invoices, awards $73,368 landscaping contract; advances budget and preservation ordinances",2373,1144000,3517000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2250958-dfd4e128d4f9a7a6be6e6d1decce0cf8&start=1144&end=3517","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2250958-dfd4e128d4f9a7a6be6e6d1decce0cf8/thumbnail_1144000.jpg","/articles/6344407/Princeton/Bureau-County/Illinois/Princeton-council-approves-68854285-in-invoices-awards-73368-landscaping-contract-advances-budget-and-preservation-ordinances","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6344407-ae874de1fd1e1f4a3922aeb9d59449ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1776074542&Signature=Ok7PBQgg-h2RR-vXwVNEKiOzJ6y6EruyiF1LwfaHV6cSKUK4iV~tw2myrrttOLqjgaM0GNi0nB9HK5EkZTJv8ixvEqXax-WAhklX3JYK5w9NybUPw22PtY2IpEHb3BMFjuqugMnECEhzHJwuNKDAgPYKD364aPJWAHZfiMKazj2kUPFcJY1aslvWwNDScYNksLVjRur~-vUJxTquAXaDpt2XKAcwVi2g0odIpCLoI5VNuVwaAJETC3rCHRhLESA-IjvjIuGrJZrVZfUno7WOYIfvVj3ps8HyUvWWolC9GPAeN4ZG7Bh2svs5jJQxyABPYmGONscr0BeOFMOPaY~MZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Princeton City Council on Feb. 3 approved $688,542.85 in invoices, awarded a $73,368 contract for depot landscaping to Hornbaker Gardens and moved three ordinances forward in the budget cycle.

Council members approved the invoices during a roll-call vote. The council also voted to accept a landscaping proposal for the depot campus and to advance an amendment to the current fiscal-year budget and a change to the Historic Preservation Commission membership to second readings.

The invoice approval covered four departmental groupings: Department of Accounts and Finance, $49,569.89; Streets and Public Improvements, $66,474.41; Public Safety, $146,002.19; and Public Property and Utilities, $426,496.36, for a grand total of $688,542.85. The motion to approve the invoices passed on a roll call (Newman: yes; Gomez: yes; McCall: yes; McCranskey: yes; Mayor Mabry: yes; Ransky: yes).

The council considered ordinance O-25-004 — amending the city code to define corner parcels as having two front yards — in its second and final reading and adopted it after call of the roll (Gomez: yes; McCall: yes; McCranskey: yes; Mayor Mabry: yes).

The council advanced Ordinance O-25-005, an amendment to the City of Princeton budget for the fiscal year starting May 1, 2024 and ending April 30, 2025, to a second reading. Finance staff summarized the package of revenue and expenditure amendments: roughly $306,000 in added revenues and about $38,000 in added expenditures, producing a net increase of about $168,000 in the budget after amendments. The motion to advance O-25-005 passed on a roll call (Newman: yes; Gomez: yes; McCall: yes; McCranskey: yes; Mayor Mabry: yes).

Council members also advanced Ordinance O-25-006, a revision to the Historic Preservation Commission membership structure that would change the commission from seven members all from Princeton to five from Princeton and two county members, to a second reading (Newman: yes; Govan: yes; McCall: yes; McCrampstein: yes; Mary McPhee: yes).

On a separate item, the council approved Resolution R-25-006, awarding the depot landscaping contract to Hornbaker Gardens in the amount of $73,368. City staff and a small review committee recommended Hornbaker Gardens after evaluating four proposals and interviewing finalists; staff noted the Hornbaker proposal aligned with aesthetic and ecological goals and the project budget. The resolution passed on roll call (Heavann: yes; Gomez: yes; McCall: yes; Refraines: yes; Mary McGrath: yes).

The council approved two board appointments: Rodney Johnson to a partial two-year term on the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners (term to 04/30/2026) and Catherine Hornzicker to a three-year term on the Historic Preservation Commission (term to 12/31/2027). The motion passed on roll call (Mary Newman: yes; Gomez: yes; Nicole: yes; Randy Stevens: yes; Mary Maeveren: yes).

Several other project updates were noted during the meeting: the Marion Street stormwater project and a Main Street project had no start dates at the time of the meeting; city staff reported most major construction projects were complete for the budget period.

Votes at a glance

- Invoices totaling $688,542.85 — approved (Newman, Gomez, McCall, McCranskey, Mayor Mabry, Ransky: yes).
- Ordinance O-25-004, defining corner parcels as having two front yards — adopted (Gomez, McCall, McCranskey, Mayor Mabry: yes).
- Ordinance O-25-005, budget amendment for FY 2024–25 — advanced to second reading (Newman, Gomez, McCall, McCranskey, Mayor Mabry: yes).
- Ordinance O-25-006, Historic Preservation Commission membership structure — advanced to second reading (Newman, Govan, McCall, McCrampstein, Mary McPhee: yes).
- Resolution R-25-006, award Hornbaker Gardens $73,368 for depot landscaping — approved (Heavann, Gomez, McCall, Refraines, Mary McGrath: yes).
- Board appointments: Rodney Johnson (Board of Fire and Police Commissioners) and Catherine Hornzicker (Historic Preservation Commission) — approved (Mary Newman, Gomez, Nicole, Randy Stevens, Mary Maeveren: yes).

Why it matters: The budget amendment and the contract award affect upcoming capital work and maintenance needs in Princeton — from stormwater projects to the depot campus — and the historic-preservation membership change expands the commission’s county representation. The invoice approvals reflect routine municipal expenditures across multiple departments.

What’s next: Ordinances O-25-005 and O-25-006 will return for second readings and final votes at future meetings; staff will provide start dates for the Marion Street stormwater project and other capital work when available.","At its Feb. 3 meeting the Princeton City Council approved $688,542.85 in invoices, awarded a $73,368 contract to Hornbaker Gardens for depot landscaping and advanced three ordinances — including a budget amendment and a historic-preservation membership change — to second readings.","actionData","errors"]

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Princeton Lions Club marks 100 years, outlines community projects and fundraiser

Princeton Chamber of Commerce outlines programs, requests continued city support in budget talks

Princeton council approves $688,542.85 in invoices, awards $73,368 landscaping contract; advances budget and preservation ordinances