A contract for the 2024 round of court-ordered Americans with Disabilities Act improvements was approved unanimously Monday by the Pekin City Council.
Low bidder Miller & Sons Construction of Mackinaw will do the work for $139,349. There were three bidders for the project.
Even though Miller & Sons' bid was 17% higher than City Engineer Josie Esker's estimate of $119,000, "its bid is reasonable and responsible," she said.
Here are the locations for the ADA work, which includes the removal and replacement of sidewalks, approaches and curbs.
- Veterans Road and Griffin Avenue: ADA ramp
- Dane Kelsey Drive and Kennedy Drive: ADA ramp.
- 1116 S. 8th St.: 5-foot-by-20 foot sidewalk.
- 1817 Tharp Ave: 4-foot-by-35-foot sidewalk.
- 1409 N. 10th St.: 5-foot-by-60 foot sidewalk.
- 1110 S. Capitol St: 160-foot-by-5-foot sidewalk, 250-square-foot driveway replacement, 40-foot B6-12 curb, 120 feet of 18-inch ribbon curb.
- 1013 Illinois St.:5-foot-by-18-foot sidewalk.
- 803 S. 13th St.: 5-foot-by-90-foot sidewalk.
- 820 Charlotte St.: 5-foot-by-65-foot sidewalk.
- 604 S. 10th St.: 5-foot-by-200-foot sidewalk, three driveways totaling 850 square feet, 20 feet of six-inch curb at the back of the sidewalk.
- Additional work if needed: 5-foot-by-100-foot sidewalk.
New camera purchased for sewer line inspections
The purchase of a new camera that inspects eight-inch to 24-inch sewer lines was approved Monday by the council.
"Our current camera is reaching the end of its life and is needing more and more repair time," said Public Works Director Dean Schneider. "With some of these repairs, the camera needs to be shipped to Florida and it takes as long as a month to get it back."
The eight-year-old camera is currently being rebuilt for a cost of about $7,000. Schneider expects it back by the end of the week. This camera will be used as a backup to the new camera, Schneider said, so the city always has one available.
EJ Equipment, the lone bidder for the new camera at $29,190, is the only retailer in the region that sells the specific camera the city needs, Schneider said. EJ Equipment has locations in Addison, Manteno and Troy.
The vote to purchase was camera was 6-0-1, with council member Dave Nutter abstaining.
City staff, council begin examination of winter averaging on wastewater bills
Should the city do away with winter averaging on wastewater bills, or make changes on who is eligible for winter averaging or how its calculated?
Council members had that discussion Monday, but did not make recommendations until they could digest information provided by city staff.
Pekin homeowners are eligible for winter averaging, in which their wastewater bills for November through April are averaged, and the lesser of that amount or the actual amount is billed from May through October. The amount of water used at a residence, according to Illinois American Water, is the basis for the wastewater billing.
Why winter averaging?
"By definition, this charge is for wastewater, and people don't use the sewer system for things like watering their lawn, filling their pool or washing their car during the warm weather months," said interim finance director Bob Grogan. "They shouldn't be charged for a service they're not using."
New and part-time residents are given the average winter water amount of 2,500 gallons per month.
Creation of a strategic plan for the city will happen after the April 2025 election
Hiring a company to help the city develop a three- to five-year strategic plan won't happen until next spring after the April 1 election and the city's 2025-26 fiscal year budget is put in place.
Council made that unanimous recommendation Monday, declining to start to strategic plan process this fall.
Council member Rick Hilst said the city should wait until next year because there's no money in the 2024-25 fiscal year budget to cover the estimated $25,000 cost of hiring a company to develop a strategic plan.
Other council members noted the terms of three council members -- Dave Nutter, Chris Onken and Lloyd Orrick -- will expire in 2025 and it should be up to the new council to make decisions on a strategic plan.
Moratorium extended on approvals of electronic off-premises signs and billboards
In other actions Monday, the council unanimously approved:
- An extension of a 60-day moratorium on the approvals of electronic off-premises signs and billboards to give city staff and the Zoning Board of Appeals more time to revise the city's sign code to include more specific language and regulations. The final draft of the changes will be presented to the ZBA on Oct. 9 and then to the council on Oct. 14. The new rules will apply only to new electronic off-premises signs and billboards. Council member Dave Nutter praised those working on the project for their efforts to "get this right."
- Allocating $17,695 in motor fuel tax funds to pay the city's dues as a member of the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission. City Engineer Josie Esker said being a member of the commission allows the city to apply for grants like the $3 million grant it received last year for the Court Street improvement project.
City staff thanked for its help with the Pekin Marigold Festival
Also Monday:
- Amy McCoy, executive director of the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce and member of the Pekin Marigold Festival Planning Committee, thanked city staff for its help with the festival and noted that more than 50 Pekin organizations raised funds and awareness for their groups by working at the festival.
- Council was introduced to new Pekin finance director Eric Dubrowski. All city department heads positions are now filled.
Tazewell-Woodford Head Start will move its nursery school into Lighthouse Church of God
At a special meeting last Wednesday, council approved special use and variance requests for Tazewell-Woodford Head Start to operate its nursery school at Lighthouse Church of God, 1010 El Camino Drive.
The nursery school was in the Pekin District 108 Preschool Family Education Center for more than 20 years but needs to move because of renovations in the building. Seventy-eight children are in the nursery school.
State regulations do not allow church operations while there are nursery school children present.
Head Start is a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services program that provides early childhood education, health, nutrition and parent involvement services for low-income children and their families.
Also last Wednesday, council approved a special use request by Lighthouse Church of God to operate a church at the site. The church has been there since 2000.
