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Highland council approves budget, streets contracts, housing incentives and appointments in unanimous vote
Summary
At its April 20 meeting the Highland City Council unanimously approved a package of measures: budget adoption, a bond ordinance for TIF-related street projects, awards for street resurfacing and an Aldi access road, increased single-family incentives, façade grants, a Sourcewell equipment purchase, and an appointment to the planning board.
The Highland City Council on April 20 approved a series of ordinances, resolutions and awards covering infrastructure, development incentives and city operations. All motions during the meeting passed by unanimous roll-call votes of Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Bellm and Napper.
Key approvals included:
- Bill #26-55/Ordinance #3446: Adoption of the fiscal 2026-27 budget (May 1, 2026'April 30, 2027), adopted unanimously after a public hearing with no comments.
- Bill #26-56/Ordinance #3447: Authorization of general obligation bonds (alternate revenue source) to finance street projects linked to TIF districts; Mayor Hemann said projects include roadway work for an Aldi development off Cally Lane and a new access off Route 40 at Sycamore.
- Award of Bid #PW-01-26 (Street Resurfacing 2026) to Christ Brothers Asphalt of Lebanon, Illinois, in the amount of $994,922.20 for resurfacing including 12th and 13th Streets; City Manager Chris Conrad said roughly 30 blocks would be resurfaced this year.
- Award of Bid #PW-02-26 for the Aldi store access road and sanitary sewer extension to Baxmeyer Construction, Inc., of Waterloo, Illinois, in the amount of $785,647.77.
- Bill #26-58/Ordinance #3448: Authorization of incentives for new single-family residences in subdivisions for fiscal 2027; Director Mallord Hubbard said the incentive was increased to $5,000 per home (up from $4,000) with the city funding the same $100,000 cap as prior years and that 15 houses were constructed under the program last year.
- Bill #26-59/Ordinance #3449: Renewal of the Business District A Facade Improvement Program for May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027, allowing eligible commercial owners up to 25% of eligible costs subject to program limits.
- Bill #26-60/Resolution #26-04-3276: Waiver of customary bidding procedures to purchase a new loader backhoe and breaker through Sourcewell pricing from Luby Equipment for $170,000; Public Works Director Joe Gillespie said the new unit replaces an existing machine that will be sold.
- Bill #26-61/Resolution #26-04-3277 and Bill #26-62/Resolution #26-04-3278: Approvals awarding façade-improvement incentives to Jeff Weinacht for 815 Broadway and to Angelina McLaughlin-Heil for 917 Main St.
- Bill #26-57/Resolution #26-04-3275: Authorization to issue an RFQ/RFP and form a steering committee for a city comprehensive plan, with council members asked to appoint at least one representative to the steering committee alongside stakeholders from the Industrial Development Commission and the Combined Planning & Zoning Board.
The council also approved a Notice of Municipal Letting for Bid #PR-03-26 for Silver Lake Structure No. 2 in-lake sediment basin and accepted Expenditures Report #1312 (April 4'April 17, 2026).
Appointments: the council approved Mayor Hemann's appointment of Charles Swaim to the Combined Planning and Zoning Board, term expiring Aug. 31, 2030.
All roll-call votes recorded for these items were 4-0 in favor; no opposition, abstentions, or recusals were noted.
