Champaign County prepares for beach reopening amid E. coli mitigation efforts

The McLean County Property Committee convened on June 3, 2025, to address several key issues, including beach safety and an intergovernmental agreement with Livingston County.

The meeting began with a discussion regarding the E. coli levels at a local beach. Officials reported that testing was scheduled for the following day, with hopes of receiving results before the weekend. If the results were unfavorable, the beach would likely remain closed until the following week due to the Illinois Department of Public Health's weekend closure. The committee expressed optimism for positive results, which would allow for the beach's reopening.

Concerns were raised about the impact of elevated E. coli levels on local wildlife and fishing. Officials clarified that fishing is not permitted in the swimming area and assured that the measures being implemented, including the use of a humane handheld laser to deter geese and a hydrogen peroxide-based solution to reduce E. coli, would not harm aquatic life. The laser is intended as a scare tactic, and the new cleaning solution is safe for both humans and the environment.

The committee also discussed the upcoming Tri-Shark triathlon, confirming that the lake would undergo testing twice before the event to ensure safety for participants. Previous tests indicated low E. coli counts, and officials were confident that the upcoming results would be similarly favorable.

In addition to beach safety, the committee reviewed an intergovernmental agreement with Livingston County for the use of a garage and office facility. This property, currently under McLean County's name, was previously used for a bridal transportation consortium. Livingston County requested a two-year lease while they search for a more suitable location. The committee emphasized the importance of maintaining rural transportation services across Central Illinois and noted that liability concerns had been addressed in the agreement.

The meeting concluded without further questions, and the committee expressed satisfaction with the progress made on both the beach safety measures and the intergovernmental agreement. The next steps will involve monitoring the beach's water quality and finalizing the lease with Livingston County.