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Belvidere council approves $2.85M in operating spending and $611K in water/sewer bills after questions about landfill and plant costs
Summary
The council approved $2,852,545.28 in general/special fund spending and $611,247.87 in water and sewer expenditures July 21, 2025; members requested a breakdown of a $50,000 landfill line item and heard staff explain a $10,040 AquaFix charge tied to high BOD load at the wastewater plant.
The Belvidere City Council on July 21 approved general and special fund expenditures totaling $2,852,545.28 and separate water and sewer payments of $611,247.87 after brief questions from aldermen.
An alderman asked for a detailed breakdown of a $50,000 line listed under “landfill,” saying the council should develop an exit strategy so the city is not “buying into this in perpetuity.” The alderman asked that staff include the breakdown in a future packet; a city staff member said the information is available and would be provided.
A separate question flagged an ASCAP payment listed early in the packet. The alderman who raised it said he merely sought clarification about what music the city licenses; a staff member replied the city pays ASCAP whenever music is played on city property and that this has been routine for more than 20 years.
On water and sewer expenditures an alderman queried a $10,040 charge to AquaFix for grease cleanup. City staff member Jordan said the expense resulted from a high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) load sent to the plant by a user identified in the record as “Dean,” which damaged the organisms that help the treatment plant function; the city billed Dean for the cleanup. ‘‘That was because of the issues we had with Dean sending us high BOD load,’’ Jordan said. ‘‘So we then had to use that to get the plant back in order.’’
The council approved both spending measures by roll call; the general and special fund motion and the water and sewer motion each passed with 10 members voting in favor.
The council also asked for clarification of architect fees tied to a police patrol‑office remodel; staff confirmed the charge was for renderings and cost estimates paid from impact fees.
The approvals were taken as part of the consent portion of the agenda and do not change tax rates or impose new fees. Follow‑up materials the council requested — the landfill breakdown and a precise share for a Boone County urban transportation line item discussed during the meeting — were promised to be circulated with a future packet.
