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Kewanee council awards culvert and sidewalk contracts, approves YMCA sewer waiver
Summary
At its Sept. 9 meeting the Kewanee City Council approved a culvert repair and a sidewalk-improvement agreement with M.E.R.C. Construction, approved routine bills and payroll, and granted the YMCA of Kewanee a partial sewer-charge waiver after the pool was drained and repainted.
The Kewanee City Council on Sept. 9 approved several public-works contracts and a request from the YMCA of Kewanee, and cleared routine bills and payroll during a 32-minute meeting.
The council voted 4-0 to award repairs to a culvert on the 100 block of Fischer Avenue to M.E.R.C. Construction after public-works staff reported damage from debris. Rod Johnson said the contractor "is currently waiting on a part but I do anticipate the work being done by the end of this week." Mayor Gary Moore said he had driven by the site and was "surprised how much that tube was tore up," and asked staff to evaluate whether a grate at the outfall could reduce future debris buildup.
The council also approved a separate agreement with M.E.R.C. Construction for the 2019 sidewalk-improvement program. City Manager Bradley told the council the work responds to Americans with Disabilities Act obligations tied to recent street repairs and will be paid from non-Home Rule sales-tax funds (not Motor Fuel Tax funds), with an approximate cost of $73,000.
On a 4-0 vote, the council granted a partial waiver of sewer charges to the YMCA of Kewanee after the YMCA emptied and repainted its pool. The YMCA representative, identified only as Jill during the meeting, told the council the drained pool water "goes through the storm sewer not the treatment plant." Council members noted the city had previously granted similar relief to the Park District in a comparable situation.
Council members also approved payroll for the pay period ending Aug. 31, 2019 ($210,011.66) and bills totaling $126,753.02; finance line-item questions were answered on the record (Proform Inc.'s "White Canary" described as water-billing stock paper; State Bank of Toulon noted as a remaining-balance entry).
Other items included public praise for the recent Hog Days festival and downtown street and landscaping improvements; Chief Ainley reported the event was "very quiet compared to the years in the past," with one minor disturbance and no arrests. Council Member Yaklich pressed staff for updates on a boiler-shop matter and on well repairs; City Manager Bradley and Rod Johnson said they would pursue estimates and follow up. Yaklich also requested a closed session with Bock Inc. to discuss a contract; Justin advised on the record that the Open Meetings Act did not appear to authorize a closed session for that topic and said he would continue to check the law.
The meeting closed with announcements about transfer-station hours and the fire department's "Fill the Boot" fundraiser on Sept. 27. The meeting adjourned at 7:32 p.m.
