Ottawa council approves $715,000 in Motor Fuel Tax funds, sets hearing on 33 annexations and adopts police equipment proposal

The Ottawa City Council met June 2, 2026 in Council Chambers and approved a series of routine and substantive measures, including a $715,000 appropriation from Motor Fuel Tax funds and actions on police equipment, transit contracts and annexations.

Commissioner Marla K. Pearson moved to adopt a resolution appropriating $715,000 of Motor Fuel Tax funds; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Ganiere and carried unanimously (ayes: Eichelkraut, Ganiere, Pearson, Barron and Mayor Hasty; nays: none). The council made no additional allocations in the meeting record for the specific projects the Motor Fuel Tax funds will support.

The council also took action on police procurement. Commissioner Thomas G. Ganiere moved to adopt a resolution authorizing execution of a proposal for equipment and software with Axon Enterprises Inc. for the Police Department; the motion passed unanimously. Separately, the council approved a $6,190.30 quote from Everbridge for the city’s public alerting system to be paid from the General Corporate Fund.

Mayor Robert Hasty received and placed on file several departmental reports for May 2026, including the registrar’s report (Shelly L. Roalson), the Building Official Mathew W. Stafford’s report, and a Parking and Adjudication Fines report showing $9,328 collected in May. Commissioner Ganiere moved to receive the Police Chief Michael J. Cheatham’s report and the Fire Chief Brian R. Bressner’s report for May 2026; both were placed on file.

On land-use matters, Mayor Hasty moved to receive 33 annexation agreements between the City of Ottawa and various property owners in Bona Terra Subdivision and set a public hearing for Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers; the motion passed unanimously. The council also concurred with the Plan Commission’s recommendation to rezone a parcel at 1780 N. 2753rd Road (petitioners David Richmond and Timothy Richmond) from Class “D–Office Research and Light Industrial” to Class “R–Rural District” and directed that the follow-up ordinance be passed and approved.

Other approvals included accepting a proposal and statement of work from Quality Care Cleaning for the former Dayton Ridge parcel (now the Ottawa Recreation Office), accepting the award for the 2026 Cape Seal Program to AC Pavement Striping Company in the amount of $44,595.23, and approving Sidewalk Program payments for two participants totaling $3,429.63 from the General Corporate Fund.

Event-related traffic measures were approved: the council authorized requests to the Illinois Department of Transportation to temporarily close LaSalle Street from Lafayette Street to Lincoln Place for the Debate Days Parade on Aug. 23, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., and for the Festival of Lights Parade on Nov. 27, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The council approved routine fiscal items by unanimous votes earlier in the meeting: the minutes of the May 19, 2026 regular meeting, the Biweekly Salary Payroll for May 22, 2026 totaling $700,281.86, and a Bimonthly Expense Report showing $739,423.16 in expenses; all were moved, seconded and carried with ayes recorded for each commissioner and the mayor.

The meeting closed after Mayor Hasty moved to adjourn; the council adjourned at 7:15 p.m.

Votes at a glance: all recorded motions in the minutes passed unanimously (ayes: Eichelkraut, Ganiere, Pearson, Barron and Mayor Hasty; nays: none). Where the minutes record funding amounts or awards, those figures are reported here as recorded in the meeting minutes.