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Belvidere committee approves zoning-map publication, public-works equipment buys and a fire-department grant
Summary
At its June 8 Committee of the Whole meeting, Belvidere city aldermen voted to publish the annual zoning map after correcting parcel/taxing-layer mismatches, approved purchases of a pavement saw and a Bobcat utility vehicle, accepted a $20,180 state fire grant and authorized an SCBA fill-station purchase.
Belvidere27s Committee of the Whole on June 8 voted to publish the city27s annual zoning map and approved several equipment purchases and a state grant to support the fire department.
The council voted to direct the planning department to publish the zoning map as required under Illinois statute after staff discovered mismatches among the municipal boundary, the zoning layer and the county taxing database. Planning Director Gina Delrose told the council "Saint James Cemetery has been in the city since 1910," and said staff spent months cross-checking parcels and updated about a dozen properties to correct taxing or zoning layers. The resolution to publish the map passed on a voice vote (motion by Alderman Peterson; second by Alderman Hoinacki).
Council members also approved two public-works purchases recommended by Public Works Director Jordan Keck. The water department will buy a Husqvarna FS 3500G walk-behind pavement saw from Esch Construction Supply Inc. for $21,132.12 to be paid from the water depreciation account (line 61-17-80). Keck said the department will later seek council permission to auction the old saw.
Separately, the wastewater treatment plant will add a 2026 Bobcat UW56 Toolcat with attachments from Bobcat of Rockford for $80,194.84, purchased through a Sourcewell cooperative contract. Keck said the Toolcat will provide an angle broom and snow blade to clean sludge and plow plant areas and surrounding bike paths; parts of the purchase will be charged to depreciation and to a sewer expense line item. Both equipment motions passed by voice vote after brief questions from aldermen.
Public-safety items included unexpected state grant funding for the fire department. Chief Scheidel said he had initially been told the city had not received the FY26 small equipment grant, but then received a letter awarding $20,180 from the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Council authorized acceptance of the grant (motion by Alderman Peterson; second by Alderman McGee) and approved buying a Mako three-position SCBA fill station and a four-cylinder 6,000-PSI cascade storage system from Air One Equipment for a total of $23,145. Scheidel said the grant will cover $20,180 and the remaining $2,965 will come from capital funds.
Other routine items the committee approved included a community block party request (River Lane closed July 25, 2026, 3:002D6:00 p.m.) and recognition of Police Chief Sean Shafer for 20 years of service; the meeting adjourned at 6:26 p.m.
Votes and funding details: the zoning-map publication resolution passed by voice vote; the pavement saw purchase was approved for $21,132.12 from water depreciation line 61-17-80; the Bobcat Toolcat was approved at $80,194.84 with funding split across depreciation line 61-1790 and sewer expense 61-5-820-6030; the fire-department grant of $20,180 was accepted and the $23,145 SCBA purchase will be paid $20,180 from the grant and $2,965 from capital funds.
