LaSalle City Council approves permits, grants and labor pact; residents raise water-testing and homelessness concerns

LaSalle — The LaSalle City Council on May 15 moved forward on a package of routine and locally significant items while hearing public concerns about the city’s water testing schedule and growing downtown homelessness.

Residents used the meeting’s public-comment period to press officials for information and action. A resident asked why the city’s public water-testing records showed no results between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2025, saying, “Why was our water not tested from 10/01/2025 to 12/31/2025?” The mayor said staff would investigate the apparent gap in correspondence and update the records if needed. In a separate public comment, William Hawking, who identified himself by name, described increasing numbers of people downtown and said the presence of unhoused people was affecting businesses; he asked what the city can do to help and whether police or trespass notices are appropriate.

Why it matters: Water quality testing and visible homelessness affect public confidence and downtown commerce; the council’s response — staff follow-up on the…