Galesburg aims to redevelop brownfield sites
The city of Galesburg acquired vacant lots at 57 N. Kellogg St. and 332 E. Ferris St. with the goal of cleaning up potential contamination there and paving the way for redevelopment.
The lots were the site of a dry-cleaning business from the late 1800s to around 2007 when the dilapidated buildings were demolished by a court order.
The city acquired the properties from the Knox County Trustee in order to apply for a Multi-Purpose Brownfields Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Last year, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducted a Brownfield Assessment of the properties.
Monmouth approves bids for downtown projects
A Rock Falls company was awarded contracts for more than $3 million in improvements to downtown Monmouth.
Porter Brothers Construction Inc. submitted the low bid of $3.1 million for the streetscape beautification project on the public square and the low bid of $143,153 for the construction of a new parking lot on South First Street.
City leaders say the projects will improve the functionality and appearance of the public square and provide dozens of additional parking spaces downtown.
The streetscape beautification project is funded by a Rebuild Illinois grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Illinois awards infrastructure funding to rural communities
Three communities in west central Illinois will receive state grant funding to help pay for infrastructure improvements:
- Abingdon - $1,500,000
- Bushnell - $1,499,999
- Canton - $1,499,957
The money is for repairs to water, sewer, and drainage systems.
The state awarded a total of $41 million to 32 communities in “non-metropolitan” areas.
The funding comes from the Community Development Block Grant program, which is marking its 50th year.
Child pornography arrest in Bushnell
A Bushnell man faces ten counts of Possession of Child Pornography.
Illinois State Police said after they conducted a search warrant on a home in the town, they arrested Jacob Mills, 24.
The West Central Illinois Task Force and the Bushnell Police Department assisted on the case.
WIU board chooses it leaders
The Western Illinois University Board will retain its leadership team for the next year.
Trustees this week agreed to keep Carin Stutz as chairperson and Polly Radosh as vice chairperson. They were initially chosen for those positions a year ago.
The board’s next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 26-27 on the WIU Quad Cities campus.
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