Council hears updates on fiber-optic rollout with Geneseo and on gaming-machine licensing enforcement

LaSalle — Council members briefly discussed two operational items: a multi-community fiber-optic rollout and a compliance check on licensing for gaming machines at local businesses.

On fiber-optic infrastructure, council members said Geneseo and other communities are moving forward with deployment and that city staff have contacted utility and environmental agencies to ensure required steps are followed during installation. The mayor said letters have been sent to providers and that the city seeks to be included in any guidelines the environmental authorities require. The council emphasized a need to monitor drilling and boring activity to avoid conflicts with other work, and said if Geneseo decides not to proceed the city should look to other providers.

On gaming machines, staff reported that state licensing allowed up to six machines at some locations but that some operators obtained state approval for a sixth machine without first registering that machine with the city. The municipal process charges $128 per machine (shared 50/50 between vendor and bar owner by local practice), tracked by machine serial number; staff have begun sending notices to establishments to "catch up" and bring their city records into compliance. City staff stressed the notices are not fines but a mechanism to update licensing records, and said they will continue outreach through the liquor-license and other review processes.

Both items were discussed without formal motions; council members asked staff to continue outreach and monitor compliance.