Belvidere council approves sewer rehabilitation agreement, $2.5 million in expenditures and a $1.88 million wastewater engineering contract; hears library and a

The Belvidere City Council on Sept. 15 voted to authorize a sanitary sewer rehabilitation intergovernmental agreement with 4 Rivers Sanitation Authority, approved $2,495,232.79 in general fund expenditures and $568,540.88 in water and sewer fund payments, and approved a $1,882,982 engineering work order for wastewater treatment plant preliminary design.

Mayor Clinton Morris opened the meeting and read a proclamation designating Sept. 17–23 as Constitution Week. During public comment, resident Dan Snow asked the council to add a sidewalk between Greenview Estates and Clines Ford on Newberg and to clean and repair the walking path on Beloit Road near Casey’s and the schools. "I'd always had the desire that there should be a sidewalk between Greenview Estates and Clines Ford down Newberg in front of the Gallano Farm," Snow said.

John Wolf, a former chairman of Growth Dimensions and a retired local car dealer, told the council he was "disappointed" the city stopped directly funding Growth Dimensions and urged restoring support in next year’s budget. Wolf said a local dealer had proposed a $16 million expansion that he said did not receive city backing and argued the city risks losing economic opportunities without a funded economic-development effort: "When I started in the car business, there were 6 families in Belvedere that were actively involved... Today, there are 2," he said.

Ida Public Library Director Mindy Long updated the council on storm recovery, programs and donations, and plans for a bookmobile shelter. She also described repeated problems with people camping on library property and leaving litter and human waste, and said the library plans to install motion-sensor lights, place additional trash receptacles and post signage to deter the activity. "Human waste is being left on the sidewalks," Long said, asking for continued police support when necessary.

On formal business the council approved the minutes of the Sept. 2 meeting and then voted, by roll call, to approve general and special fund expenditures totaling $2,495,232.79 (motion by Alderman Stevens; second by Alderman Peterson) and water and sewer fund expenditures of $568,540.88 (motion by Alderman Frank; second by Alderman Gramkowski). Alderman Peterson questioned a $51,430 payment to J & D Oil and sought clarification on how outside fuel charges and related receivables are tracked; staff said those appear in the general fund income under fuel charges and offered a follow-up breakdown.

Council then waived a committee-referral requirement to allow immediate consideration of Resolution 2025-16 and voted to authorize an intergovernmental agreement with 4 Rivers Sanitation Authority to perform sanitary sewer rehabilitation lining. "Of course, the sooner we are able to do that, the better off we're gonna be," Mayor Morris said when introducing the related motion; the council approved the resolution 9–0.

Chairwoman Gramkowski presented several committee motions out of the Committee of the Whole. The council approved (9–0) a CES Inc. engineering proposal, not to exceed $6,000, to support the 2025 IDOT Safe Routes to School application, to be paid from public benefit funds. The council also approved (9–0) a Baxter & Woodman work order in the lump-sum amount of $1,882,982 to complete preliminary engineering for wastewater treatment plant facility-plan improvements; funding will come from the sewer department depreciation line with a loan from the general fund.

The council approved (9–0) a motion to reduce the bond for Irene Road in the Kelly Farm subdivision from $700,000 to $133,512, which the chair said represents the balance of construction costs to be paid by IDOT and may be released when final payment is received.

From the Public Safety committee, Chairman Peterson moved to award a contract to low bidder Scandroli Construction for Projects 1–3 for $122,075, to be funded from capital funds; the council voted 9–0 to approve. Peterson also moved to reject a separate Scandroli bid of $49,500 for Project 4 (Station 2 apparatus bay floor refinish); that motion passed 9–0.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn; the council adjourned at 6:41 p.m.

Votes at a glance • Approve minutes (9–0) • Approve general and special fund expenditures — $2,495,232.79 (motion: Ald. Stevens; second: Ald. Peterson) — approved 9–0 • Approve water & sewer expenditures — $568,540.88 (motion: Ald. Frank; second: Ald. Gramkowski) — approved 9–0 • Waive referral to consider Resolution 2025-16 (motion: Ald. Stevens; second: Ald. Peterson) — approved 9–0 • Adopt Resolution 2025-16 — intergovernmental agreement with 4 Rivers Sanitation Authority — approved 9–0 • Approve CES Inc. engineering for Safe Routes application — up to $6,000 — approved 9–0 • Approve Baxter & Woodman work order for wastewater preliminary engineering — $1,882,982 — approved 9–0 • Reduce Kelly Farm Irene Road bond from $700,000 to $133,512 — approved 9–0 • Award Scandroli Construction contract (Projects 1–3) — $122,075 — approved 9–0 • Reject Scandroli bid for Project 4 (Station 2 floor) — $49,500 — approved 9–0

Next steps and context Several ordinances listed for first reading (annexations and a zoning change at addresses on Chrysler Drive, Brockett Trail, Red Deer Trail and Deer Hill/Deer Woods subdivisions, and an intra-fund loan for wastewater design eligibility) were introduced for first reading and will return to the council Oct. 6 for further action. Staff agreed to provide Alderman Peterson with a line-item breakdown of outside fuel charges and receivables after the meeting.

(Reporting: Quotes and attributions are drawn directly from meeting remarks by Dan Snow, John Wolf, Mindy Long, Chairwoman Gramkowski and Mayor Clinton Morris as recorded in the council transcript.)