Mayor invites Kankakee contingent to Day of the Dead festival in sister city in Guerrero

The mayor told the budget committee the sister city recently sent an official letter inviting a Kankakee contingent to visit for three days around the Day of the Dead festival in late October/early November. He said the delegation would be asked to travel to three nearby towns and would return on Nov. 3 if the trip proceeds.

"They have offered to provide the lodging, all the meals, security, everything on that while you're in their sister cities," the mayor said, adding that "the only thing that we would be responsible for is for the contingent is airfare and getting to the airport." He asked the committee to consider who should attend and how the city would cover travel costs.

Committee members urged transparency about spending and quick responses to an email the mayor said he would send to solicit interest. The mayor said the expense could come from the city general/community promotions line and noted the line is roughly $60,000 and has often been underspent. He emphasized the cultural and community value of maintaining the sister‑city relationship, noting that delegations visited in past years and the sister city sent a contingent to Kankakee in 2013.

Chief LaRoche and other staff described prior in‑kind support the city has provided to the sister city, including donations of old gear and equipment. The mayor said the sister city has previously received fire equipment and other items when available.

Next steps: the mayor will email council members to collect expressions of interest and staff will compile cost estimates and timelines so the council can decide whether to approve city coverage of airfare or allow individual officials to fund their own travel.