Highlights from the December 5, 2022 Decatur City Council meeting include the adoption of the City’s 2023 Budget, a fiscal sponsorship agreement for EV renovations with T/CCI Manufacturing, and an agreement to relocate sanitary sewer to support the Brush College Grade Separation Project.
2023 City Budget
On Monday night, the Decatur City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget for the City. Following two budget study sessions, only minor adjustments were made to the first draft budget that was proposed by the City Manager. This latest budget version adopted Monday will help guide the City’s efforts to maintain and improve the City from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023.
The Council approved the budget by a 6-1 vote, with most members saying they were looking forward to continuing efforts in areas like Neighborhood Revitalization, infrastructure improvement, and support of Public Safety.
The entire 2023 budget may be found on the City’s website: https://decaturil.gov/departments/finance/city-budget/
Grants for renovations supporting EV compressor production at T/CCI
Council also approved an agreement with T/CCI Manufacturing related to state grants that will support renovations for Electric Vehicle (EV) compressor production at T/CCI. Earlier this year the State of Illinois announced Richland Community College and T/CCI would be the recipient of a $15.3 million grant from the State to construct a climate research facility, and separate state grants to support T/CCI’s plans to locally manufacture EV compressors.
The City will only serve as the fiscal agent for the two $3 million industrial reconstruction grants from the State. These state grants will help T/CCI renovate its facilities and allows them to create and retain at least 150 jobs in Decatur.
More information from the September announcement: https://bit.ly/3VQJSkB
Brush College Grade Separation Project update
Also on Monday, the City Council approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Sanitary District of Decatur to relocate a sanitary sewer in the area of the Brush College Grade Separation Project. The parties agreed that it was best to relocate the entire sewer to remove the risk of potential failure during construction of the grade separation project or any disruption to the roadway in the future.
The grade separation project was temporarily stalled when bids from interested companies came in nearly 40 percent higher than City engineers’ estimates. The City is currently working with the State to find solutions for the higher estimate. In the meantime, agreements such as this one are being approved to lay the groundwork for resumption of the project. Many of the structures in the area have been demolished in preparation of construction. Utility relocations are also underway.
The cost for this sewer relocation project will be mostly reimbursed by the Sanitary District. The work will be completed in conjunction with the road widening when the Grade Separation Project resumes.
Other business
In other business, the Decatur City Council approved overnight closure hours for the two City-owned downtown parks. Central Park and Preston Jackson Park will be closed each night from 12 a.m. midnight to 6 a.m. These hours will be enforced uniformly – unless there is a pre-approved evening event at one or both of the City’s parks. The ordinance will sunset after one year and can be reviewed again after that period. Enforcement will begin only after signage that states the new hours is in place.
More information about these topics can be found in the City Council Agenda packet, downloadable/viewable here: www.decaturil.gov/mayor-and-council/council-meetings/
Original source can be found here
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