Belvidere council approves $3.4 million in expenditures and several project contracts

The Belvidere City Council on May 19 approved routine spending and several project contracts, including engineering and appraisal work tied to infrastructure and riverfront-path improvements.

Council members voted to approve general and special fund expenditures totaling $3,377,229.13 and water and sewer expenditures of $697,237.52. Both measures passed on roll-call votes with all members present voting in favor.

The council also approved motions forwarded from the committee of the whole and the public works committee:

- A motion to approve a $25,000 proposal from CES, Inc. to complete engineering for a manhole adjustment project (line item 41-5-110-8020). The motion passed on a roll-call vote.

- A motion to enter into an agreement with CORPro for the 2025 cathodic protection maintenance program at a cost of $3,900 (water line item 61-5-810-6040). The motion passed unanimously.

- A motion to approve a $7,600 proposal from Arc Design Resources for the Ballard installation project; staff said a signed grant agreement covering the work was received earlier that day.

- A motion to approve a $9,600 proposal from Rally Appraisal to complete three appraisals required to obtain permanent and temporary easements for the Kishwalki Riverfront path extension; the work will be paid from grant and capital funds.

Each motion was moved and seconded and carried by roll-call votes with the council recording ten "I" votes in favor. The meeting concluded with a motion, moved by Alderman Peterson and seconded by Alderwoman Gracowski, to enter executive session to consider retention of outside counsel and pending litigation under Section 2(c)(1) and 2(c)(11) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act; that motion carried and the council recessed into executive session.

No member offered substantive opposition or floor amendments to these measures during the public meeting; all items passed as presented.