The Kewanee City Council approved a plan that will keep water service active to the four mobile home parks in Kewanee at the April 28, 2025, council meeting. City Attorney Zac Lessard said the receiver of the property attempted to obtain a court order to stop the city from shutting off water service to the four properties. The request by the receiver was denied, but the judge made it clear that both parties were to sit down and work out a resolution. Ira Lauter of the L&B All Star Management, LLC, was named the court-appointed receiver in January 2025. Since Ira Lauter took receivership of the properties, the water bill is about $80,000. Mr. Lauter is prepared to pay the current bill under his management, but he must obtain permission from the court due to the amount of money involved. Moving forward, Ira Lauter has changed the accounts to his name, and as long as he pays the water bill, the city will not take action to shut off water service. This is a temporary solution, though. The mayor and council members made it clear that they want the unpaid water bill paid. The amount under Ira is about $80,000, around $200,000 was under the Shapiro Group, and the remaining amount was from Kewanee Properties LLC. The known water leaks have been fixed, including the individual who dug a trench and attached it to a main water line for the mobile home park.
First Secure Community Bank holds the note on the properties, which are in foreclosure. According to City Attorney Zac Lessard, bank officials attempted to add the City of Kewanee as a defendant in the case in an attempt to wipe away the lien on the properties by the city. Zac Lessard said he objected to the motion because they (the city) were not provided notice. Mr. Lessard said his objection will be heard later this month in court.
As a resident at one of the mobile home parks, Bodanna Tate said that Mr. Lauter has proven through his actions to be dedicated to helping the tenants and not hurting them, like many before him. City Attorney Zac Lessard agreed when he said that Ira did more work in his first three weeks than Shapiro did the entire time. According to Mr. Lessard, the resolution states that the water bill must remain current.
Tyrone Baker and Adam Cernovich were sworn in at the beginning of the meeting. The council approved three-year bargaining agreements with the police, fire, and AFSCME unions. The council approved a $220,000 TIF request to KTown Real Estate LLC for the construction of the car wash off Tenney Street on West McClure Street. The estimated cost for the development of the car wash is $1.9 million. The TIF request from VanDeVelde Wellness Center was approved. Requests for a variance to St. John Paul II Parish and TIF financing for non-profits, being the Flemish American Club, were tabled.
