Burlington voters approve tax levy increase
Burlington voters approved a tax levy increase in a special election Tuesday to fund a performing arts center at Aldo Leopold Middle School.
Fewer than 1,000 people voted in the election, but 55% voted in favor of the levy increase.
That will give the school district permission to levy up to an additional 67 cents per $1,000 assessed property valuation for six years.
“We are so thankful to voters for getting out and supporting this measure and for the opportunity to bring such a high-level performing arts center to our area,” said Superintendent Robert Scott.
The next steps are to bring together students, parents, staff, and community members to begin plans and specifications for the project.
Macomb to conduct public transit study
The city of Macomb will take a look at whether changes are needed to its public transit system.
The city will receive a $176,000 federal grant for the study, and the city will contribute $44,000.
Community Development Coordinator Miranda Lambert said they’ll be looking at both the fixed bus routes and demand response.
She said the plan is to hire a third party to evaluate the system.
She hopes to put it out for bid by late this year or early next year.
Disaster declaration includes Fulton County
Fulton County is included in a state disaster proclamation after severe weather and flooding in mid-July.
The state said local resources and capabilities have been exhausted, and state and federal resources are needed to respond to and recover from the effects of the storms.
The proclamation includes six other counties: Cook, Henry, St. Clair, Washington, Will, and Winnebago.
Governor JB Pritzker has asked the federal government to issue a disaster declaration, too. That would give storm victims access to access individual assistance from FEMA and disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The storms produced tornadoes, high winds, and heavy rainfall.
Highway 34 bridge project in Henderson County
Construction began this week on the U.S. 34 bridge over the BNSF railroad just east of the Mississippi River in Henderson County.
The Illinois Department of Transportation said the work includes joint replacement, structural steel repairs, slopewall repairs, and a bridge deck overlay.
The highway on the bridge will be reduced to one lane in each direction.
IDoT expects the project to be completed in June, 2025.
Culver-Stockton professor named Higher Education Ambassador
A Culver-Stockton College professor has been named to the Higher Education Ambassador Program by the Council on Foreign Relations.
Chad DeWaard is a professor and chair of the Department of Political Science.
Through the appointment, he will help improve the Council’s educational resources and methods, find new opportunities for Culver-Stockton students to engage with global affairs on campus and beyond, and be certified as an official CFR Ambassador.
The Council on Foreign Relations is a think tank dedicated to promoting a nonpartisan understanding of international relations.
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