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Highland council unanimously approves bids, zoning changes, equipment purchases and liquor license
Summary
At its March 16 meeting the Highland City Council unanimously approved a package of items including municipal letting bids for street work and an Aldi access road, procurement waivers for playground equipment and computers, a PEP loan and borrowing for 22 cycling bicycles, zoning approvals for the former JetLite building, hotel/motel tax allocations, and two liquor‑license actions.
The Highland City Council approved a series of routine and project‑specific measures on March 16, passing each by roll call vote (Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Bellm and Napper voted aye on all recorded votes).
Key actions approved (all motions passed unanimously):
- Minutes: Approval of the March 2, 2026 regular session minutes (motion by Councilman Klaus, seconded by Councilwoman Bellm).
- Special event: Permission for the Highland Diamond Drummers Concert on May 16, 2026 at Highland Square, requested by David Williams of the Highland Music School (motion by Councilwoman Bellm; unanimous vote).
- Public works bids: Notice of municipal letting Bid #PW‑01‑26 for resurfacing all of 12th and 13th Streets and Bid #PW‑02‑26 for the Aldi access road and sanitary sewer extension were approved (motion by Councilwoman Sloan; unanimous vote).
- Playground equipment: Bill #26‑30/Resolution #26‑03‑3262, waiving competitive bidding and authorizing purchase of playground equipment from GameTime for $27,351.55, was adopted (motion by Councilwoman Sloan; unanimous vote).
- Cycling bicycles: Bill #26‑31/Resolution #26‑03‑3263 (PEP loan distribution agreement with Madison County Community Development) and Bill #26‑32/Ordinance #3434 authorizing borrowing to purchase 22 cycling bicycles were approved; Director Laura Wilken said the PEP loan will be repaid over three years and older bikes will be sold via bid.
- FTTP rates and charges: Bill #26‑33/Ordinance #3435 (Victory TV rates) and Bill #26‑34/Ordinance #3436 (asset protection charge) were approved; City Manager Conrad said equipment costs and channel consolidation drove the adjustments.
- Computer procurement: Bill #26‑35/Resolution #26‑03‑3264 authorized a sole‑source purchase from CDW for 25 desktop and 3 laptop computers (not to exceed $56,594.46) through the State of Illinois joint purchasing program; IT staff noted an impending 15% vendor price increase and described processes for secure hard‑drive destruction of retired machines.
- Calix contract renewal: Bill #26‑36/Resolution #26‑03‑3265 to renew the Calix Operations Cloud agreement for Highland Communications Services was approved.
- Travis Tilton redevelopment: A trio of related items (Bill #26‑37/Resolution #26‑03‑3266 statements of findings, Bill #26‑38/Ordinance #3437 Special Use Permit, Bill #26‑39/Ordinance #3438 zoning amendments) were approved to allow a place of public assembly in the former JetLite building (13th Street) for a gym/children’s events facility.
- Hotel/Motel tax allocations: Bill #26‑40/Resolution #26‑03‑3267 authorizing 2026 Hotel/Motel Tax funding allocations was approved; staff said application and tracking improvements made the process easier.
- Liquor licenses: Bill #26‑41/Ordinance #3439 increasing D1 licenses to nine and Bill #26‑42/Resolution #26‑03‑3268 issuing a D1 license to James O’Shea were adopted.
- Financial report: Council accepted Expenditures Report #1310 for Feb. 28–Mar. 13, 2026 (motion by Councilwoman Bellm; unanimous vote).
- Executive session: Council voted to temporarily adjourn into executive session under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11) to discuss litigation; the open meeting was temporarily adjourned at 8:09 p.m.
All recorded votes listed Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Bellm and Napper as voting aye and none nay. Several items included brief staff explanations during the meeting; full ordinances, resolutions and contract documents were included in the council packet as referenced during the meeting.
