Streator council approves land swap with Jesus Mendoza, adopts FY2026 budget and abates several bond levies
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Summary
The council approved Ordinance 2025-46 authorizing a real-estate exchange with Jesus Mendoza, adopted the FY2026 budget (Ordinance 2025-47), and passed a package of tax-levy abatement ordinances (2025-49 through 2025-54) to pay debt-service on general obligation bonds. Council also authorized an audit contract with Sikich LLP, approved purchase of a used John Deere tractor/snowblower, and reappointed Robert Wood to the Vermillion Bailey Emergency Communications Joint Authority.
The Streator City Council on Monday approved a real-estate exchange with Jesus Mendoza, adopted the FY2026 city budget and passed a series of routine bond-levy abatement ordinances to match debt-service schedules.
Ordinance 2025-46, approving the land exchange with Jesus Mendoza, completed an outstanding annexation agreement dating to 2015–2018. A city staff member said the city acquired roughly 10 acres of riverbank property and would convey about eight acres to Mendoza while retaining about two acres near a creek and the old railroad right-of-way to preserve a possible future Greenway bridge landing. The council voted aye on the ordinance following a public hearing; the clerk recorded affirmative votes from Danko, Geary, Reid, Shire and Marybeth.
The council opened and closed a public hearing on the FY2026 budget and then adopted Ordinance 2025-47. City staff presented a total proposed budget of $28,000,979 (including internal transfers) and a general fund of $13,428,216, an increase of $274,131 from the prior year; staff said there were no recommended staffing changes and noted capital items including pickup trucks, pickleball courts and a new generator for city hall.
Council also approved six ordinances (2025-49 through 2025-54) to abate portions of the 2025 tax levy for debt service on general obligation bonds (alternate revenue source). Staff described the annual process for issuing these abatements. The ordinances and amounts discussed in the meeting record were: 2025-49 (for $3,200,000 GO bonds), 2025-50 ($2,340,000), 2025-51 ($1,485,000), 2025-52 ($1,325,000), 2025-53 ($585,000) and 2025-54 ($2,500,000). Each ordinance was moved, seconded and approved on an affirmative roll call.
The council also approved Resolution 2025-47 authorizing a professional services agreement with Sikich LLP to provide annual audit reports for the fiscal years ending 2025–2027; staff noted Sikich has served as the city’s auditor since 2017 and recommended a three-year contract. Additionally, the council authorized a purchase (Resolution 2025-48) of a used compact John Deere utility tractor with a new 47-inch snowblower from Heritage Tractor for an estimated total of $25,800; staff compared that to approximately $35,000 for a new comparable machine.
The council reappointed Robert Wood to the Vermillion Bailey Emergency Communications Joint Authority for a three-year term through 01/01/2029 and placed a pension-board funding request for fiscal year 2026 on file as part of the consent agenda (the mayor noted the pension request had already been funded at 100%). The meeting adjourned into executive session on collective bargaining under the Illinois statutes cited in the record.
Votes at a glance: Ordinance 2025-46 (real-estate exchange) — passed (Danko, Geary, Reid, Shire, Marybeth voted aye). Ordinance 2025-47 (adopt FY2026 budget) — passed on roll call. Ordinances 2025-49 through 2025-54 (tax-levy abatements) — each passed on roll call. Resolution 2025-47 (audit contract) — passed. Resolution 2025-48 (tractor purchase) — passed. Appointment of Robert Wood — passed.
