Marseilles opens, then closes, public hearing on $430,000 bond to ready local bridges and sidewalks for grants

The Marseilles City Council opened a public hearing on a proposed $430,000 general‑obligation bond intended to fund preparatory work for bridge repairs and sidewalk projects and closed the hearing after no members of the public spoke.

Commissioner Kaminski moved to open the hearing on the $430,000 geobond and the motion was seconded. Kaminski said the request is higher than last year’s $380,000 because the city’s equalized assessed value (EAV) rose after property sales and annexations, and the increase would allow the city to “capture all that tax money” while preparing projects in phases. He told colleagues the bond proceeds would be used to put bridges on a ready‑to‑bid footing and to pursue grants and state or federal funding.

City engineering staff described three bridges under consideration — Sycamore Street, Main Street and Washington Street — noting weight limits and deck settlement. “Sycamore Street’s got a 5 ton weight limit. Washington Street’s got a 20 ton weight limit,” an engineer said, and staff said Main Street has deck settling at the south end. Council members discussed the possibility of pursuing a roughly $1.75 million discretionary federal award if the city completes engineering and environmental steps to make the projects shovel‑ready.

Mayor Hollenbeck asked for public input; no members of the public spoke. Commissioner Kaminski moved to close the hearing and the clerk recorded a roll call, with Commissioners Kaminski, Small, Buckingham and Mayor Hollenbeck voting Aye and Scheib/Shibe recorded No. The hearing closed without further action at that meeting.

The council’s staff noted environmental reviews — for example, for Safe Routes to School sidewalks — could add months to the schedule before the city can advertise projects for bid.