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Kewanee council approves insurance renewal, South St IDOT agreement, cemetery fee increases and more; tables Jay’s Place TIF amendment
Summary
On April 13 the Kewanee City Council approved a series of resolutions and ordinances including renewal of the city’s self-funded insurance plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield, an IDOT joint funding agreement and MFT match for the South St project, TIF spending for 104 W. First St., rejection of a downtown reconstruction bid, and cemetery fee increases; a proposed TIF amendment with Jay’s Place LLC was tabled.
The Kewanee City Council on April 13 approved a package of routine and project-related measures intended to keep municipal operations and infrastructure projects moving forward while tabling a disputed TIF amendment.
Key approvals included a renewal of the city’s self-funded insurance plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (Bill 26-27), authorization for a joint funding agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for Project P-92-096-26 (South St) and an appropriation of Motor Fuel Tax funds as the local match for that project (Bills 26-24 and 26-25), and use of Tax Increment Financing revenues for right-of-way improvements in front of 104 West First St. (Bill 26-30). All four measures passed on 4-0 votes.
Councilmembers asked staff to address retiree insurance premium increases and notification timing in future discussions after the insurance renewal was approved. Public Works Director Chris Berry told the council the Downtown Reconstruction Project’s sole bid exceeded available grant funds; the council rejected the bid so the city can re-solicit, and Berry said staff is working with Hutchison and the contractor to reduce scope so work can still occur this year.
Other actions included approval of special use permits for a short-term rental at 531 Elliott St. and counseling services at 304 Whitney Ave., affirmation of mayoral appointments to boards and commissions, and passage of updated cemetery fees and a matching cemetery-care agreement with St. John Paul II Catholic Church. The council tabled Bill 26-31, a first amendment to a TIF redevelopment agreement with Jay’s Place LLC, after members raised concerns about payment discrepancies and potential audit implications; staff will consult the TIF attorney.
Votes at a glance
- Bill 26-27 (self-funded insurance renewal with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois): mover Councilmember Cernovich, second Councilmember Colomer; outcome: approved 4-0. - Bill 26-24 (IDOT Joint Funding Agreement, Project P-92-096-26, South St): mover Councilmember Colomer, second Councilmember Komnick; outcome: approved 4-0. Engineering to begin after IDOT approval; construction planned for spring 2027. - Bill 26-25 (MFT appropriation for South St local match): mover Councilmember Colomer, second Councilmember Komnick; outcome: approved 4-0. - Bill 26-30 (TIF funds for infrastructure in front of 104 W. First St.): mover Councilmember Komnick, second Councilmember Cernovich; outcome: approved 4-0. - Bill 26-33 (reject Downtown Reconstruction Project bid): mover Councilmember Colomer, second Councilmember Komnick; outcome: approved 4-0; staff will seek revised scope and re-bid. - Bill 26-31 (First amendment to TIF Redevelopment Agreement with Jay’s Place LLC): motion withdrawn then tabled by Cernovich/seconded by Komnick; outcome: tabled 4-0. - Bill 26-35 (amend cemetery fee schedule, Code Sec. 92.06): mover Councilmember Colomer, second Councilmember Cernovich; outcome: approved 4-0. - Bill 26-36 (agreement for care of burial grounds with St. John Paul II Catholic Church): mover Councilmember Komnick, second Councilmember Cernovich; outcome: approved 4-0. - Bill 26-28 (special use permit, 531 Elliott St., short-term rental): mover Councilmember Colomer, second Councilmember Komnick; outcome: approved 4-0. - Bill 26-29 (special use permit, 304 Whitney Ave., counseling services): mover Councilmember Komnick, second Councilmember Cernovich; outcome: approved 4-0. - Bill 26-32 (affirm mayor’s appointments to commissions and boards): mover Councilmember Colomer, second Councilmember Cernovich; outcome: approved 4-0. - Bill 26-34 (budget amendment to FY2025–26): mover Councilmember Colomer, second Councilmember Cernovich; outcome: tabled 4-0.
No public comments were recorded. The meeting opened with a closed-session motion on personnel and litigation, reconvened to regular session, and adjourned at 8:43 p.m.
The council announced a city-wide clean-up for June 6 and observed Arbor Day; Mayor Moore also recognized Telecommunicators Week.
