By Bob Balgemann

Reporter

Unknowns and what-ifs caused by the coronavirus pandemic created numerous problems for the city, especially as it prepared its 2020-21 budget.

Being in a state of flux prompted Alderman Marsha Freeman to suggest at the April 6 city council meeting that the new budget be amended to reflect a huge reduction in revenue. Alderman Ric Brereton wanted to make “as many cuts as possible.”

Budget and Finance Director Becky Tobin disagreed, saying any changes she would make at that point “would be assumptions. They would not represent anything concrete.”

That led to her mentioning the gas use tax that council recently approved. While the amount of new revenue was not definite, council’s decision to remove a loophole in collecting the local tax could bring in an estimated $900,000 to more than $1 million each year.

Director Tobin told Alderman Freeman no estimate of additional income was included in the new budget, either.

“You’re right,” she said of Freeman’s concerns. “Some of our revenues will be down. But I’m comfortable with that additional revenue (from the gas use tax) that we would be able to cover it.”

Council approved that tax along with an agreement to have NiCor collect it in a 9-1 vote, with Alderman Brereton dissenting.

Azavar Governmental Solutions was hired several years ago to find money that should have been coming to the city. Among its discoveries was the fact state deregulation had allowed residents and businesses to buy natural gas from other states, and avoid paying the gas portion of the local utility tax.

The lost income was the aforementioned $900,000 to more than $1 million.

Action on closing the loophole was tabled Oct. 7, 2019, while Mayor Mike Chamberlain met with some of the larger gas users on the potential impact that decision would make on their operations. He kept council updated on those talks, which wrapped up and allowed approval of the tax at the April 6 meeting.

Intersection change

Also April 6 council, without discussion, voted 10-0 to approve a revision to the intersection of West 3rd Street and Garfield Avenue.

At an earlier Committee of the Whole meeting, Public Works Director Brent Anderson provided background on that location.

It is an unmarked intersection. Garfield stops at 2nd Street, one block to the north, and at 4th Street, one block south, of the intersection in question. West 3rd Street stops at State Street, one block to the east, and also at Pearl Street, one block to the west. The speed limit is 25 mph.

Based on the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (IDOT) current Traffic Volume Map, both West 3rd Street and Garfield Avenue are traveled by fewer than 200 vehicles a day.

Research at the police department determined there had been one crash at the intersection in the last five years. That one occurred June 21, 2016.

The intersection is located in a residential neighborhood with typical pedestrian activity and there are no sight limitations.

Based on that information and guidelines in IDOT’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, Anderson said no changes were warranted at that intersection. But council decided otherwise and approved the installation of yield signs at that previously unmarked location.

Crosswalk

In addition, council also without discussion unanimously approved improvements to an employee crosswalk at the General Mills plant.

Director Anderson explained that Boone County had begun reconstruction of the Poplar Grove Road Bridge, over the Kishwaukee River. The affected area includes a portion of East Pleasant St., which is inside the city limits.

The new bridge will be about two feet higher in elevation to meet current standards, which will require reconstruction of a portion of East Pleasant to transition to the new bridge height. The General Mills crosswalk is located within this transition area, and the company would like to keep it there. For that to happen, the crosswalk will have to be rebuilt to match the new grade elevation and it must include ramps to meet Americans With Disabilities Act requirements. Finally, those improvements will have to be made prior to the final inspection of the bridge project.

Hanson Professional Services will complete plans for the crosswalk improvements at a cost not to exceed $23,975. General Mills has agreed to reimburse the city for all costs associated with engineering and construction of the crosswalk.

Anderson recommended approval of the Hanson proposal and council agreed.

 
 
 
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