The Washington City Council took a brief time out from taking care of city business Monday to salute a state champion and be honored with a national award for a road project.
Coach Kim Barth and her Class 3A state champion Washington Community High School girls basketball team received accolades and a city proclamation from Mayor Lilija Stevens.
"These girls are not just amazing basketball players. They're amazing kids," Barth said.
"I believe our team GPA [is] over 4.1 as a whole and we have somebody on the team with a 4.8, so we should be an IHSA All-Academic Team as well, which is another fantastic honor."
This was the second year in a row the Panthers were honored by the city. Last year, it was for their third-place finish in Class 3A.
Also Monday, City Engineer Dennis Carr received a plaque from George Ghareed, head of operations at TERRA Engineering's Peoria office.
The plaque recognizes TERRA's 2025 Engineering Excellence Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies for its work on the Nofsinger Road realignment project.
It's the second straight year that TERRA won the award for a Washington project. In 2024, it was the Freedom Parkway construction project.
Restaurant developer, neighbor tussling again
City Administrator Jeff Fiegenschuh reported to the council that he's working with city staff to resolve two ongoing problems in the city.
The first involves CLRED, developer of the Tangled Roots Craft Beer & Kitchen restaurant on the downtown square. The company has had multiple disagreements over damage done to neighbor Marlene Miller's residence and business next door at 114 Walnut Street.
One dispute ended up in Tazewell County Circuit Court with an out-of-court settlement.
The latest problem involves drainage issues on the Miller property.
"Our team has some thoughts on how to mitigate the drainage issues," Fiegenschuh said, "but that will require buy-in from the new owners of the former Knights of Columbus building [at 120 Walnut Street]"
The other problem that needs resolution involves a resident who lives at 312 Zinser Place. The resident claims trucks are taking wide turns at his property, causing minor to significant yard damage.
Zinser Place isn't designated truck route.
Fiegenschuh said he's collaborating with Police Chief Jeff Stevens and Carr "to figure out a solution that assists the property owner and does not affect area businesses or the ability of large public safety vehicles to utilize the road.
"This may require city council action in the future."
Carr brought another issue in the city to the council's attention.
Springfield-based Prairie Telecom removed portions of the sidewalk at the corner of Jefferson Street and Wilmor Road and never replaced them, Carr said.
A pedestrian was injured there.
Prairie Telecom was informed about the situation, Carr said, and plans to have a crew fix the hazard as soon as possible.
