Macomb council approves routine permits, zoning and agreements; Rocky's liquor license tabled

The Macomb City Council on a series of unanimous and recorded roll‑call votes approved a slate of routine ordinances, resolutions and agreements and took one notable procedural action: tabling consideration of an extended‑hours liquor license for Rocky's Bar and Grill.

Council action highlights:

• Rocky's Bar and Grill liquor license: An ordinance to create a Class R+EH license for Arowwood Hospitality Inc., d/b/a Rocky's Bar and Grill at 1420 W. Jackson St., was tabled to the July 7 council meeting at the request of Alderman Dorset; Dorset asked staff to schedule the applicant at the next committee of the whole to answer specific questions.

• St. Paul special‑event liquor license: Council adopted an ordinance authorizing a special‑event (class SC) license for St. Paul Catholic Church's Raising Saints block party at 309 W. Jackson St. on July 19, 2025, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

• Rezoning at 1224 Maple Ave.: Council approved second reading of an ordinance rezoning the property from R‑1 (single‑family) to OI (office/institutional) at the request of Youth for Christ Western Illinois; the planning commission had recommended approval 6–0.

• Business development district public hearing: Council set a public hearing for the proposed Macomb Business Development District No. 1 for 5:15 p.m. on Aug. 18, 2025, in council chambers and discussed notice requirements under the redevelopment statute.

• IDOT intergovernmental agreement: Council adopted a resolution approving an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for routine maintenance of specified state routes and authorized the mayor to execute the agreement.

• Prairie Hills Land Bank Authority: Council appointed Scott Coker, city administrator, as the city's local government director to the Prairie Hills Land Bank Authority; the resolution passed with one recorded abstention.

• ADA transition plan RFP: Staff was authorized to release a request for proposals for an ADA transition plan; public works director Alice Ortman said budgetary estimates for a basic plan were around $50,000.

• 2025 street improvement phase one: Council authorized bidding for phase one of the 2025 street improvement project (mill and regrade work) and approved adding an alley segment if the engineer's small additional estimate (about $13,000) is accepted.

• Road‑use agreement (Ember Sun LLC): Council authorized a road‑use agreement requiring the developer's contractor to post a $1,000,000 bond, complete pre‑ and post‑construction road surveys and pay $35,000 for administration of the agreement.

• Public transportation agreement (airport shuttle): Council approved a local‑match agreement for a shuttle between downtown and the Macomb Municipal Airport for a fly‑in pancake breakfast on June 29; the local match fee is $200.

• Appointments: Council concurred with the reappointments of Chad Sperry and Jim Miner to the planning commission and appointed Gail Carper to the commission.

The meeting also included routine committee reports and community announcements, including Heritage Days and a Juneteenth event hosted by the local NAACP chapter. The council adjourned at the close of the agenda.

All formal motions, votes and appointments above are reflected in the city clerk's record; where the meeting record contained unclear numeric references, the clerk's official minutes and contract documents should be consulted for precise dollar amounts and contract terms.