Advocates for the construction of a $12 million, 5,000-seat amphitheater on Washington city property will hold an open house Wednesday so members of the public can get answers to their questions.
Will those questions and answers eventually be part of a written document?
City Council member John Blundy asked that question Tuesday during a council meeting.
"I'm not sure if or how the Q&A's will be captured and transcribed," said Jon Oliphant, the city's planning and development director. "I know there will be cards available for people to ask a question that can't be answered that night."
The Washington-based Hengst Foundation, established by former Washington resident Jim Hengst, is proposing to build and operate the Dee Amphitheater, named after Hengst's late wife, also a former Washington resident.
In an email sent late Tuesday night, a Hengst Foundation spokesperson said the "latest Dee Amphitheater updates and newest developments" will be shared at the open house, scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Banquet Room A at Five Points Washington, where the council meets.
The amphitheater would be built on 20 acres in the northeast corner of the city's "223" farmland property off U.S. Route 24 and Nofsinger Road. The city would need to spend an estimated $3.5 million on infrastructure work for the amphitheater to be built.
Most crimes down in Washington in 2024, but not at Walmart
Numbers were down in 2024 in 10 of the 12 call categories tracked by the Washington Police Department, Chief Mike McCoy reported Tuesday to the council.
Part II offenses, a category that includes crimes like criminal damage to property, thefts under $500 and disorderly conduct, rose from 1,510 in 2023 to 2,313 in 2024, an increase of 53.2%.
"A large reason for that increase was calls from Walmart," McCoy said.
Drug offenses increased from 55 to 57.
Property damage accidents dropped from 412 to 264, a 35.9% decrease, personal injury accidents dropped from 28 to 22, a 21.4% decrease, and written warnings dropped from 2,126 to 1,614, a 24.1% decrease.
"The attention to distracted driving is paying positive dividends," McCoy said in response to those numbers.
Calls to the department for service that did not rise to the level of a report rose from 3,469 to 3,729, a 7.5% increase.
The department's Investigations Unit, made up of Sgt. Steve Smith and Det. Steve Hinken, conducted 108 investigations.
Topping the list was sex offenses with 38. There were 31 financial crimes investigated, 21 cases of felony theft, 21 cases of retail theft, 11 residential and commercial burglary cases and five death cases.
Federal cases investigated by the unit resulted in five individuals charged in federal court and threecharged in state court. More than 100 forensic examinations and eight background checks were conducted by the unit.
City saw more new residential development and business projects in 2024
New residential development and business projects increased last year over 2023 in Washington, Oliphant said Tuesday in his annual building and development report to the council.
Twenty-two residential building permits were issued in 2024, up from 17 in 2023. Eleven permits were for single-family homes, eight for duplexes and three for multi-family. The 22 permits had a construction value of about $6.61 million for an average of slightly more than $300,000 per unit.
Residential solar permits declined from 238 to 134, a 43.7% decrease, "but staff continues to see a demand for residential solar projects," Oliphant said.
Twenty-one permits for retail, service and industrial development were issued in 2024 with a combined construction value of about $6.5 million. Eleven permits were issued in 2023 with a combined construction value of about $4.4 million.
"As usual, smaller- to mid-size projects made up the bulk of the business development activity last year with a few larger projects sprinkled in," Oliphant said.
Eight new business construction projects either began or continued last year.
"Staff continues to see interest in future commercial projects," Oliphant said. "The hope is that interest will lead to construction."
City Hall window replacement project approved without sealed bids
The eight original windows at Washington City Hall will be replaced. Crawford & Brinkman Door & Window Company of Peoria will do the work for $17,537.
The city's procurement policy requires sealed bids for projects costing more than $15,000. City staff asked that the policy be waved in this case so time would not be spent assembling bid documents and receiving bids, and just two companies responded to a request for quotes.
The other quote was for more than $30,000.
The council vote Tuesday for Crawford & Brinkman's quote was 3-2. Council member Lilija Stevens and Blundy, who cast the no votes, said they supported replacing the windows, but were not comfortable skirting the city's procurement policy to do the work.
"This could set a dangerous precedent," Stevens said.
Council member Brett Adams said he couldn't believe Crawford & Brinkman's quote was being discussed again after it was discussed at the previous week's committee of the whole meeting and a council majority unofficially supported the quote.
"Sometimes a policy and common sense can work together," Adams said.
Council member Brian Butler said sealed bids could have resulted in a higher project cost.
The unusual 3-2 vote was because council members Mike Brownfield, Mike McIntyre and Jamie Smith did not attend the meeting. Only three audience members were in attendance on a night when temperatures were near zero.
Term limits proposal heading toward a Feb. 3 vote
An ordinance establishing term limits for the mayor and council members had a first reading Tuesday. Council is expected to vote on the measure Feb. 3.
Passage of the ordinance would mean the mayor and council members will be able to serve no more than three elected four-year terms, with one caveat. If a council member or the mayor is appointed or elected to fill a vacancy, the three elected four-year terms rule will apply after the vacancy term is completed.
Police officers trained at Lincoln Grade School during Christmas break
Training was a major topic of McCoy's and Deputy Police Chief Jeff Stevens' regular report Tuesday to the council.
Officers trained in rapid response to violent incidents at Lincoln Grade School over the Christmas break, and training has been scheduled in ice rescue to increase officers' expertise in that field.
"There are multiple bodies of water (retention ponds) in and around the city," the report reads. "Officers carry equipment so they can respond quickly to a dangerous situation."
Final interior inspections at Tangled Roots could be done this month
Work on the Tangled Roots Craft Beer & Kitchen restaurant on the downtown square has significantly picked up steam, Oliphant said Tuesday in his regular report to the council.
"The final electric switch gear part arrived, was installed, and inspected by staff," Oliphant said. "This allows the building to be heated and for the remaining interior work to be completed. Final inspections of the interior are tentatively scheduled for late January. The fire marshal will inspect the elevator shortly thereafter. The facade should be completed soon."
No date has been announced for the restaurant opening. A Dec. 1, 2023 opening date deadline remains on the developers' redevelopment agreement with the city.
Oliphant also said city staff anticipates issuing a building permit soon so construction can begin on a 6,000-square-foot building on a parcel adjacent to Hillcrest Plaza on Washington Road.
Road improvement work scheduled, with more possibly on the horizon
Roads north of Santa Fe Road and west of Cummings Lane are part of the city's 2025 motor fuel tax-funded road improvement program, City Engineer Dennis Carr told council Tuesday in his regular report.
When that work is completed, Carr said, "everything north of (U.S. Route 24) will be taken care of and should be good for the next 7-10 years."
Other areas of the city could use attention sooner than later, Carr said, so city staff is running the numbers to see what can be done.
Roads in the program are either spray patched, hot-in-place recycled, or chip sealed and fog coated.
City clerk responded to 71 FOIA requests last year
City Clerk Valeri Brod responded to 71 FOIA requests during 2024, she said Tuesday in her regular report to the council.
Brod also said in response to a discussion at the Jan. 7 council meeting about the city's social media policy for elected officials and city staff, the city doesn't have its own policy, but follows state guidelines and laws.