The Kewanee City Council will meet on Monday, July 8th, at 7 PM. The meeting will be carried out live on our WKEI RegionalMediaNews.com Facebook page. The agenda and notes from the packet are below. You can find the background information on the agenda items in the Kewanee City Council Packet, linked here.
1. Roll Call
2. Closed Session to discuss Personnel Section 2(c)(1), Sale or Lease of Real Estate Section 2(c)(6), Litigation 2(c)(11), and Discussion of Closed Meeting Minutes Section 2(c)(21)
3. Roll Call
4. Consent Agenda
a. Approval of Minutes
b. Approval of Closed Meeting Minutes from July 8th, 2024
c. Payroll
d. Staff Reports
e. Hog Day Street Closure
5. Payment of the bills
6. Public Comments
7. New Business
a) Proclamation: Patti’s Gym
b) Presentation: KEDC
c) Bill 24-66 Resolution authorizing the Mayor, City Manager, Fire Chief, and City Clerk to execute a purchase agreement and other documents that are necessary and proper in the acceptance of submitted RFP for repairs to Kewanee Fire Department Station House #2 of the City of Kewanee.
d) Bill 24-67 Resolution authorizing the Mayor, City Manager, Fire Chief, and City Clerk to execute a purchase agreement and other documents that are necessary and proper to replace the West Roof of Kewanee Fire Department Station House #2 of the City of Kewanee.
e) Bill 24-68 Resolution authorizing the execution of a purchase agreement and other documents that are necessary and proper in the procurement of a used Heavy Rescue Unit to be used by the City of Kewanee Fire Department.
f) Bill 24-69 Resolution awarding the Francis Park Improvements Project to Porter Brothers Construction, INC.
g) Bill 24-70 Resolution authorizing the City to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Kewanee Community School District 220 replacing the current School Resource Officer Agreement.
h) Bill 24-71 Resolution to affirm the Mayor’s recommendation for appointments to various commissions and boards.
i) Discussion Only: Permit Fees
8. Council Communications
9. Announcement
10. Adjournment
Also on the agenda:
1. Tornadoes— it may not feel like it now, but we’re very lucky. Multiple tornadoes struck a city this size at essentially the same time and the damage was relatively minimal, there were no significant injuries reported, and no fatalities. As tornadoes go, the ones that struck Kewanee were small in both their width and the length of their paths of destruction. Our staff did a tremendous job of blocking streets to ensure public safety, then hit the ground running with a coordinated and systematic approach to clearing the damage out of roadways. The hospital quickly stepped up to allow the use of their former site to enable homeowners to bring their downed limbs to a collection point. Contractors swooped in to do their part in the cleanup efforts, and the County’s OEM provided immediate assistance and has continued to aid in the recovery efforts, spearheading the volunteer efforts of a religiously affiliated organization with a population based primarily in Tampico and Arthur. Ameren called in resources from near and far to help restore electricity, and for the most part our ability to communicate important information to area residents and businesses has been well received. Students who could have stayed home enjoying their summer, albeit without the benefit of electricity in a number of cases, came out in force to assist with cleanup efforts where they could best lend a hand. We will take the lessons learned and apply them so that the next time a significant event occurs we can have a response that is just as productive. Our three videos have been played a combined 17,700 times.
2. Prairie Chicken Festival— The Prairie Chick Festival is going on this weekend. If you have a chance today or tomorrow, swing by downtown and show your support for the event and the artists, and be sure to thank some of the volunteers for their efforts in making the event as successful as it is.
3. RDMS Grant— Staff will be submitting another application for the program on Monday. The grant application builds off of the first phase, addressing the next most logical blocks based on the impact the proposed improvements would have on the vitality of the downtown area.
4. Rural Crime Grant— There was a small amendment made to the grant to move funds allocated for consultants to pay for conferences and training, as we found that we were not going to expend everything that had been set aside for consulting. The council can expectto see abnormal charges such as flights, taxis or Ubers, more hotel stays, and meals. We are reimbursed for the expenses. Let Chief Kijanowski know if you have any questions.
5. South Street— Despite previously being told that the work on South Street would be completed this week, We’re now being told that the contractor will be in town Monday to begin that work. The delay may have been a result of the storms on Monday.
6. Children’s Safety Expo 2024—Senator Neil Anderson & Representative Travis Weaver
are sponsoring a Children’s Safety Expo on Saturday, August 17th at Blackhawk College
Education Center Parking Lot (404 E. 3rd Street, directly north of City Hall). The event
will run from 9:30a.m. to 12:30p.m. and will have equipment from the city on display
