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Macomb committee hears quarterly departmental reports; grants, infrastructure and transit updates noted
Summary
Department heads reported on grants and awards, permit and code-enforcement activity, water and wastewater projects, public-safety cases and transit ridership; council placed a requested Wesley United Methodist Church transit contract for consideration at next week’s council meeting.
Macomb department heads presented quarterly reports covering grants, community development, finance and human resources, police, fire, public works and transit, highlighting recent awards, operational metrics and capital-project progress.
Grants Director Jess Biddenstad said the city submitted several major grant applications this quarter and received multiple awards, including $17,000 for cemetery restoration, approximately $2 million in congressional funding to support a storm-sewer project and lead-service-line replacements, a $1,500 grant for police training equipment and a $12,130 Illinois Arts Council award for a public-sculpture partnership.
Community Development Director Cesar Suarez reported 258 permits processed during the quarter, 502 closed code-enforcement cases (about half related to tall grass and a quarter to refuse accumulation), 904 inspections and 24 planning-and-zoning cases including three special- or conditional-use items.
Finance and HR Director Melissa Worley said staff processed more than 16,000 utility billings in the quarter and roughly $5.8 million in disbursements; Worley also described investment restructuring and an RFP process for employee-benefit brokerage and equipment financing.
Operations Commander Troy Schaudel presented the police report and cited interagency collaboration, training achievements and a notable narcotics seizure where officers recovered over 100 grams of methamphetamine and more than 300 grams of cannabis; he also reported an arrest in a copper-theft investigation (Sean P. Hayes) and said use-of-force incidents were limited, with one taser stun deployment.
Public Works Director Alice Ortman reported the wastewater plant treated roughly 275,000,000 gallons of wastewater this quarter while the water distribution system pumped about 158,000,000 gallons; the department completed 40,000 feet of sewer jetting and 9,000 feet of televising and moved the wastewater Phase 2B improvements into funding and loan-documentation stages.
Transit Director Calabria Petrino reported about 67,000 riders for the reporting period, zero trip denials in quarter 3, vehicle and staffing updates, and noted Wesley United Methodist Church requested 28 in-town trips (plus five out-of-county trips) for a summer camp; council placed that local-match contract request on the agenda for consideration and action at next Monday’s council meeting.
What happens next: Department heads will continue project work and return with follow-up information as required; the Wesley transit contract and the two ordinances are scheduled for council action next week.
