A leaky roof at a Pekin fire station that has allowed water to cascade into living quarters and work areas while disrupting emergency response operations will be removed and replaced.
The Pekin City Council unanimously approved emergency spending of up to $150,000 for roof, plumbing, electrical and heating-cooling system work at Fire Station 1 on Court Street, on the east side of the city.
The leak first created a problem during a March 20 storm.
"It was literally a waterfall in there," said City Manager John Dossey.
He said temporary repairs done shortly after the March 20 storm — completed through an emergency spending procedure that didn't require council approval — "at a minimum, slowed the leaking significantly so we can get the stuff in place to fix the problem once and for all."
Recent storms have exacerbated the leaking problem, creating the latest emergency spending situation, Dossey said.
Deputy Fire Chief Tony Rendleman said the leaking from last weekend's drenching rains, "wasn't quite Niagara Falls, but we're still getting leaking after significant rains."
Kreiling Roofing of Peoria performed the temporary roof repairs and will remove and replace the roof, which is on the lower level of the fire station.
Built in 1976, the fire station is named for J. Norman Shade. Shade served as mayor from 1939-54 and 1959-66, and in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1954-58 and 1966-70. He also was on the Tazewell County Board.
City switches to Bluebird Fiber
Pekin is changing the primary provider of its internet and phone service from i3 Broadband to Missouri-based Bluebird Fiber, which is currently serving as the city's secondary provider of telecommunications services.
Bluebird Fiber has "consistently demonstrated a high level of service reliability, responsiveness and network performance," said David Hess, the city's network support administrator, while the city has experienced "multiple service interruptions and reliability concerns" with i3 Broadband.
"We've had more problems than is acceptable," Hess said.
He said the switch will result in a modest reduction in the city's telecommunications costs, plus increased connection speeds and enhanced network capabilities.
There will be a one-time charge of $4,250, and a monthly cost of about $5,200 when the city makes the switch to Bluebird Fiber.
A recommendation for a new secondary telecommunications provider will be brought to the council for approval at a later date.
Another audit is done
Catch-up work on past required city budget audits reached another milestone this week when the council approved the 2023-24 fiscal year budget, prepared by Lauterbach & Amen of Naperville.
The firm has work has begun work on the 2024-25 fiscal year audit.
The target date for the presentation of this audit to the council is late October through November.
Other business
In other actions, the council:
- Approved rezoning city-owned property at 15780 VFW Road, the corner of 14th Street and Veterans Drive, from B-1 to B-3. Chief Building Official Nic Maquet said the city wants to sell the property to a developer for a retail development, and the rezoning expands the development opportunities.
- Approved an annual renewal of the city's business function software with Utah-based Springbrook Software for nearly $107,000. The renewal will begin in August. The city has used Springbrook software since 2009.
- Approved a residential tax increment financing [TIF] agreement with Muzafer and Fluturije Rrushaj, who are building a nearly $700,000 home at 3716 Grandview Court. The couple will receive to up $70,000 in property tax rebates over a period of up to 10 years. The vote was 5-1, with Rick Hilst casting the lone "no" vote.
