Mayor proclaims National Police Week; building department reports steady construction activity

Mayor Clinton Morris presented a National Police Week proclamation to Chief Woody at the start of the May 12 Committee of the Whole meeting, honoring officers who have died in the line of duty and acknowledging the work of the Belvidere Police Department.

Following the proclamation, Kip Countryman delivered a building-department update for the prior fiscal year and for April. He said the department issued hundreds of permits, including commercial and residential filings, and that permit activity remains steady with several projects under review such as duplexes on Fuller, Chipotle inspections at the courthouse, and an upcoming restaurant/ice-cream shop at 128 South State. Countryman also noted enterprise-zone discounts applied to some permits and that historic-preservation grants totaling about $3,500 were awarded for façade improvements.

Chief Woody accepted the proclamation and thanked the council and community for their support of law enforcement. The meeting then moved to planning and public-works agenda items.