Plans for summer events discussed at city council meeting
There will be a change in when the United Way of Livingston County holds its annual fundraising bash, Deb Howard told the Pontiac City Council at its meeting on Monday.
Representing the United Way, Howard told the council of the plan to change when the organization's summer bash will take place.
“Usually, we do an end-of-summer bash but this year we talked with (Tourism Director) Liz (Vincent) and went over when the city was doing the Rockin'-the-River and things like that,” Howard said. “We decided we should do a kick-off summer bash. We would like to do it May 26, which is National Road Trip Day.”
Howard pointed out that a sponsor is being sought and is hoping Pontiac RV would be interested.
The bash will be taking place on Plum Street between Howard and Madison streets. She said the businesses in that block, which include Dan Rutherford's office, the Dance Center, First Financial Bank and Bob & Ringo's were OK with the plan.
Entertainment for the bash will be provided by Brat Pack, which has played the Rockin'-the-River. This was approved by a 9-0 vote. Alderman Don Hicks was absent.
Main Street manager Mary Jones spoke to the council regarding “Mayors' Monarch Pledge.” Jones said that she has spoken with different businesses, groups and people in trying to formulate a plan.
“They brought up concerns with the way downtown was perceived, the landscaping in particular (and) ways that we could get the community to be more involved,” Jones told the council. “What we came up with is to take three of those downtown planted flower beds and support native pollinator plants to support native pollinators, like our state insect, the Monarch butterfly.”
Jones said that the normal Monarch butterfly migration path through Illinois follows Route 66, which brings them through the Pontiac area.
Jones also pointed out that the Mayors' Monarch Pledge is a commitment from mayors from across North America to save the Monarch. She stated that the actions already designed meet requirements to sign the pledge and signing the pledge gets international recognition for supporting the Monarch. This was approved 9-0.
“I think it's a great idea,” Mayor Bill Alvey said. “I'm all in favor.”
City Engineer Brian Verdun poke on various topics regarding street work.He said there was an addition to the street maintenance plan at a cost of $465,000. He also pointed out that the motor fuel tax maintenance plan is $375,000. By approving this, Verdun said it can now go to IDOT for approval.
“As part of a way to pay for these streets, our motor fuel tax has been utilized every year,” Verdun said. “This resolution would authorize $375,000 in motor fuel tax money to be used in the maintenance of those streets.”
Verdun also discussed sewer work as the South Side Sewer Separation Phase I is about to begin. He said that bids were opened recently for Phase I and he recommended accepting the $1,039,835.40 bid from HJ Eppel and Co.
Alderperson Kelly Eckhoff asked where this landed in regard to estimated cost. Verdun said the engineer projection was a bit higher than $1.3 million. This was approved 9-0.
The council also approved a $7,780 tab for three soil boring samples to be done. These are for a lift station and two for the possible west side substation for the ambulance service.
A public hearing on the 2023-24 budget was held before the regular meeting. City Administrator Jim Woolford explained that the projections for the budget are $7,805,000 in revenues and that the expenditures are $8,563,840.
Woolford did explain that part of the expenditure includes $781,400 from ARPA that was obtained last year but was not spent. Take this off the expenditure for this year, and the budget evens out with expenditures at about $7,782,400.
This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Plans for summer events discussed at Pontiac City Council meeting
