[{"_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",6310271,"mediaKeyId","2403656-554e960a74e0e590f2871ee58410b8a2","parentId",2403656,"title","City provides water-quality update; tests, temporary fixes and IEPA engagement planned","audioSeconds",105,"startMs",4941000,"endMs",5046000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2403656-554e960a74e0e590f2871ee58410b8a2&start=4941&end=5046","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2403656-554e960a74e0e590f2871ee58410b8a2/thumbnail_4941000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6310271/Bloomington/McLean-County/Illinois/City-provides-water-quality-update-tests-temporary-fixes-and-IEPA-engagement-planned","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310271-c3136c4dd0251d23172980c04ccdbba2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153076&Signature=dG71WgS7ROsC6AYUOJ2vZzw1DTnTD0dOGTL8TVhg5pGqbqCZvU9mgxuRb~tyc5UoCEUSoWxeC21GQZk8G7gRcVE6U1s~jbLpW95n7aBfQrxMa11VbKUUbOmmln7J46ly-9zzduTGrXf44Mf4AAChn0yllDYVLaORf1N6-vMOZ2TvAJWTEwwPnJKRMjhHnZWjhZvtheHUxxslQiYAczp3BMJYjW9Z98jl8S48d3ExNbdabFHm6yR1tGwIu67NCQeYMAbzeKj-ze7k~1zeullmjVoJagGxjmQ9PP0oZEI4RDw-kjot2P4L3XUl6q0a9yPB4KyfuRGbsBNELcXFtwsaXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Bloomington, IL","date","2025-02-25T12:56:01Z","article","City staff on March 17 told the Bloomington City Council they are testing short-term solutions for widespread taste and odor complaints in the municipal water supply and that longer-term fixes have lead times extending into early 2026.

City Manager Jurgens said: “Tomorrow, we're gonna be issuing a press release with a lot more details…we're going to test next week a temporary system, that would be a potential solution to it.” He told the council staff are working with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) and that the agency has assisted with response efforts.

Jurgens said staff have slowed water over filters, deployed additional testing and are examining whether older filtration systems could be reactivated, noting the lead time for some longer-term solutions could be “early 26.” He said staff appreciate the IEPA’s assistance and that more details would be shared with the public in a forthcoming release.

Council members asked for clearer messaging to constituents and for a central place to view incoming complaints and staff responses. One councilor suggested staff review the inventory of questions submitted through the city's water hotline or email and use that to shape the public guidance; the manager agreed to provide updated messaging and to share common questions received.

There was no council vote on water operations; staff described ongoing technical steps, testing and coordination with state regulators and said they will report further details after additional testing and the issuance of the public information release.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Township/City Council Meeting - 2/24/2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff reported on continuing taste and odor complaints in Bloomington’s drinking water, said they will test a temporary treatment system next week, and that longer-term work could take until early 2026; the Illinois EPA is assisting and staff will issue a press release with more details.","taxTitle","Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois","taxId",2828,"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},6310276,"Council approves $16.53 million joint funding agreement for Hamilton Road construction",984,3841000,4825000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2403656-554e960a74e0e590f2871ee58410b8a2&start=3841&end=4825","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2403656-554e960a74e0e590f2871ee58410b8a2/thumbnail_3841000.jpg","/articles/6310276/Bloomington/McLean-County/Illinois/Council-approves-1653-million-joint-funding-agreement-for-Hamilton-Road-construction","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310276-9a3322143769efc1fff50a113c79fb04/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153076&Signature=jtGKXqpSE4sZ3zujvTZla-KKUECmPh-zmnElk~LY543iZn5Zwor5e1e6mFdS3T~r-62Q1VNpiSSFu~S95JpW2aH-fGhKyOq9wguvtlOiMNFah7jh~L4C1osmzxx9J7rYjSEav11~~OWAUwuViBx1iwWrOUSEBAx4w-AzGWDIe2QUZgvvRShGd5dl9bXzhrWLF7RZMQE~M8bpdZ5J3FO52kvwG0yj5TlVqTM4lRdHPyfeCmWGwj4SoNMr3MgvTtNymaTJqYxbU2ohZMiDtbN~gTehwl7My0RnarIAVVbcEmrJAMY9OhnsTRiV5oOaMN0ZTsnSEMsoR6Zp~W1VAVsQtA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bloomington City Council on March 17 approved a resolution authorizing a joint funding agreement for federally funded construction of Hamilton Road (Bunn Street to Commerce Park Parkway) in the amount of $16,531,082, moving a long‑planned arterial project toward a June or April bid letting.

Interim Director of Engineering Jim Karch described the work as part of a multi-phase, 1.77-mile section of a larger 7.2-mile arterial alignment in southern Bloomington. “This is a project that has been around for 25 years. It is a 1.77 mile multi phase 4 lane road,” Karch said, and identified this phase as a high-cost segment that, combined with an earlier approved phase, brings the program total toward $30 million.

Karch and staff said the project’s complexity stemmed chiefly from negotiating an at‑grade railroad crossing with Norfolk Southern, including relocation of a siding to accommodate track storage. Karch said those railroad negotiations have been finalized and described the resolution as a critical step to meet the bid letting this spring.

The funding package includes federal Surface Transportation (STU) dollars, congressional earmarks and other sources, and Karch said council action would allow the city to proceed to bid and construction sequencing that also ties into planned multimodal connections to the Constitution Trail and the Fox Creek Road improvement project.

Council Member Ward moved approval; another council member seconded. The motion passed with no nays announced.

Karch noted the project design will eliminate a hazardous connection at Rhodes Lane and Morrissey, improving safety by routing traffic from the State Farm research facility onto Hamilton Road instead of Morrissey. He said the city expects to reach required federal and railroad milestones before letting and that the negotiated railroad work includes siding relocation to maintain Norfolk Southern’s operational needs.

The council did not adopt construction contracts at the meeting; it authorized the joint funding agreement needed to accept federal funds and advance procurement. Staff said further council approvals will be required to award construction contracts following the bid process.","The Bloomington City Council approved a federal joint funding agreement to construct Hamilton Road from Bunn Street to Commerce Park Parkway, committing $16,531,082 in federally funded construction for a multi-phase arterial project long planned by the city.",{"_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},6310281,"Bloomington council approves purchase, demolition and donation agreements for downtown Front and Center and Commerce Bank sites",1036,3496000,4532000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2403656-554e960a74e0e590f2871ee58410b8a2&start=3496&end=4532","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2403656-554e960a74e0e590f2871ee58410b8a2/thumbnail_3496000.jpg","/articles/6310281/Bloomington/McLean-County/Illinois/Bloomington-council-approves-purchase-demolition-and-donation-agreements-for-downtown-Front-and-Center-and-Commerce-Bank-sites","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310281-77228dfa4bd9b3b001f97add82b7a002/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153076&Signature=hLl01kHU27X1s1NEckx-6ThpAXxp5b-MC5BH~ZRkAHSf-6ypK4QX8WMkHkYVg1yex2D7NWwxu4C03r5Yl8DQ7wYKndGN4bIrGL8xM55fPl2FjjL5rmiiPVHp~XiFofYuHVdCGK7LhLUSKg0uL26Smx1POKSx9b1JljXU3pkM9C6e~VS~hzvF26I9BbT9XkDvDmEMoW2FJi~LSPpojwA9gIyhg8gX82cx2L5EnqYB-oqX7N-CByLRKqR1iwI-q7kXGYxEL1JxAatmht0PM9fdQWXBN~rGOGOjjB55SF8UJMcv2PuHb9sgx~Ul5cSZVoF4RnC1HnaZ9AmSjIVDoNQeuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bloomington City Council on March 17 approved agreements to acquire multiple long-vacant downtown parcels — including the Front and Center and Elks buildings — for $3,929,189.14 and to accept the donated Commerce Bank building, with city officials saying the moves are intended to clear blighted sites and enable future redevelopment.

City Manager Jurgens said the administration had tried for years to attract redevelopment and “we agree with a lot of what you're saying, and we have tried for years to get this property redeveloped.” He told the council the contracts aim to get the properties under the city’s control so they can be cleared and marketed for higher uses.

Deputy City Manager Billy Tyus said parking is a short-term outcome, not the long-term plan. “We know that parking as the manager said is not the highest and best use,” Tyus said, adding the city expects the surface lots to be temporary and that developers seeking housing interest have requested additional space on the parcels.

The agreements authorized the city to take title to properties owned or controlled by Front and Center Property LLC, with that entity responsible for demolition, and to accept donation of the Commerce Bank building from Consolidated Properties LLC. The Commerce Bank building is listed as a contributing structure on the National Register of Historic Places and has been vacant for roughly 12 years, the administration said.

Public commenters urged the council not to permit long-term surface parking on the sites and to prioritize traditional downtown building forms and housing. Noah Tang told the council, “Our downtown needs to remain a destination,” and warned that asphalt lots encourage “placelessness.” Zach Carlson said he was concerned about current plans to convert entire building footprints to parking: “temporary has a has a tendency to turn to permanent around here.” Quinlan Tisdale said, “If it becomes a parking lot, it needs to become a building later.”

Council member Crumpler, expressing concern about contractor and developer timelines, said she hoped the city’s agreements with prospective development partners “are written to ensure timely completion.” Councilwoman Munger asked whether the city intends to monetize the lots; the administration responded, “It's our intent to do that,” and said gated access and event pricing are potential revenue sources for the lots while they remain parking.

Council Member Ward moved approval of the purchase and donation agreements; Council Member Crumpler seconded. The motion passed with no nays announced.

The administration said the purchase contract includes a deadline targeted for completion in 2025 and that a TIF (tax increment financing) district will be available to assist future redevelopment. Staff also said the prospective housing developer the city is discussing would likely require some of the newly cleared land to deliver sufficient housing units using tax-credit financing, and that parts of the site could be converted from parking to housing in a later phase.

The council’s action does not itself approve any redevelopment design, funding package beyond the purchase, or demolition schedule. Council members and staff repeatedly emphasized that surface parking is an interim use and that staff will continue marketing the Commerce Bank and adjacent parcels for housing and other downtown uses.

The council and staff said they will return with implementing details, timing for demolition, and any amendments that would convert lots to other uses as developers’ plans and financing progress.","The Bloomington City Council approved agreements to acquire the Front and Center, Elks and related properties for $3,929,189.14, and to accept donation of the Commerce Bank building, clearing the way for demolition, short-term surface parking and continued efforts to secure redevelopment.","actionData","errors"]

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City provides water-quality update; tests, temporary fixes and IEPA engagement planned

Council approves $16.53 million joint funding agreement for Hamilton Road construction

Bloomington council approves purchase, demolition and donation agreements for downtown Front and Center and Commerce Bank sites