Belvidere Lions Club donates $7,500 to streetscape project

Sheet of US one hundred dollar bills, elevated view

By Bob Balgemann

Reporter

BELVIDERE – The downtown streetscape project will benefits from a $7,500 donation from the Belvidere Lions Club. Money will go toward the purchase of landscaping items for the stretch between the railroad tracks and Madison Street.

City council unanimously accepted the contribution at its Monday, April 18 meeting. Alderman Ron Books said the club once again had stepped up for the good of the City of Belvidere.

The Belvidere Lions Club is observing its 70th year of serving the city and surrounding communities. As a civic organization, it assists others through financial donations and physical labor.

Members are active with the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity that specializes in electrical work in new homes. They also have helped RAMP provide home access for the disabled and the Salvation Army’s various programs.

Plus, the club provided the clock in City Park.

The club also sponsors baseball teams through the Belvidere Youth Baseball (BYB) program.

Fundraisers are held during the year, which help the club perform its community service, club member Lonna Bentley said. The big one is the concession stand run out of its building near the grandstand, during the Boone County Fair in August.

“We’re known for our pork chop sandwiches,” she said.

The total cost of landscaping improvements is $11,700, City Public Works Director Brent Anderson said. The balance of $4,200 will come from the capital fund, with street department employees doing the work.

He said the plan was to finish landscaping before the Heritage Days celebration in June.

During the committee of the whole meeting on April 11, Alderman Mark Sanderson wondered about maintaining the improvements.

“We’ll be responsible this summer for watering and upkeep of the plant material,” Anderson said. “Going forward, we probably will be seeking proposals for biweekly maintenance.”

Streetscape work began on April 11. Plant material being purchased for the project includes 28 trees, 158 shrubs, and 504 perennials.

Other council action

In other action on April 18, the council approved purchase of an arrow board, which Anderson said would “provide a safer work environment for both our employees and the traveling public.”

The illuminated, solar-assisted board would be used when work is being done in the public right of way, he said.

A low bid of $4,250 from United Rentals in DeKalb for a used 2014 model was approved by council. Two other bids were received, both for 2016 models costing between $6,045 and $6,415.

Alderman Sanderson wondered about a warranty and asked if buying a used board was worth the savings?

“For the difference in cost, the used one is in very good shape,” Anderson said. He added that he would check on the warranty, which probably would be 90 days.

A camera detection system for the intersection of Appleton Road and West Lincoln Road was approved by the council. Anderson explained the equipment does not record or collect data. It just “gets the light cycle to be triggered” when vehicles are present.

Alderman Dan Snow wanted to be certain the VFW and cemetery were covered.

Yes, Anderson said, the camera will cover in all directions.

The board agreed to accept the low bid of $16,000, which was submitted by William Charles Electric in Loves Park. The other quote was $17,785 from a company in DeKalb.