Council approves SWAG grant application and 10‑year intergovernmental maintenance agreement; staff discusses remote mowers and $113M South Slope reconstruction

The council approved a resolution authorizing the director of public works to submit an application to the Rock Island County Waste Management Agency (RICAMA) for the Solid Waste Assistance Grant (SWAG) program for fiscal year 2026 in the amount of $42,985. Staff said the funds are typically used for neighborhood cleanups, recycling activities and education; the application is per‑capita based and was due the day after the meeting.

Separately, the council authorized a 10‑year intergovernmental agreement for off‑road maintenance (mowing and small maintenance activities) that will use the state’s reimbursement formula to provide quarterly reimbursements to the city. Staff described this agreement as similar in structure to a recent road‑maintenance arrangement and said that outsourcing remains common for steep or dangerous slopes. Councilmembers asked about purchasing an additional remote‑control mower to bring some work in‑house; staff said the city already owns and uses one remote mower and would evaluate whether buying another unit and training staff is feasible given budget and staffing constraints.

In staff’s status report, Public Works also briefed the council on the upcoming groundbreaking for the South Slope reconstruction project, a $113,000,000 project to upgrade the treatment plant and meet Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) discharge requirements. Staff said the plant is regional in service area and treats flows for Coal Valley and a portion of East Moline; the project’s scale and IEPA compliance obligations make it the city’s single largest capital project in recent years.

The SWAG grant application, intergovernmental agreement and project updates were approved or noted as appropriate; staff will return to council for contract execution and budget adjustments as necessary.