ROCHELLE — At its meeting Monday, the Rochelle City Council unanimously approved an engineering/surveying services agreement with Peralte Clark Engineering for $36,201 for Rochelle Municipal Utilities subsurface utility investigation and potential conflicts along Illinois Route 251 as the state looks at a future reconstruction project on the road on the north side of town.

The Illinois Department of Transportation has contracted with Peralte Clark Engineering (PCE) for various design phases of the project. The improvements are being developed and engineered by IDOT and PCE and will extend 900 feet south of Illinois Route 38 to approximately 600 feet north of Flagg Road.

The process necessitates identifying potential conflicts that will arise with RMU water, sewer and electric infrastructure during the work. Appropriate adjustments and/or complete relocations will be resolved prior to the reconstruction. Roadway design plans will be finalized in 2024. Engineering agreements for relocations would also take place in 2024.

"What we're trying to do is reduce the number of conflicts during the construction process and get ahead of the game now and determine what additional costs will be to relocate any utilities in the future," City Engineer Sam Tesreau said.

Mayor John Bearrows said the deterioration and future of the stretch of Illinois Route 251 is commonly heard as feedback from citizens.

"It's very nice to hear us moving towards something with Illinois Route 251 North," Bearrows said. "Aside from another grocery store, that's probably the one question I get the most when I'm out in public."

The End Zone Sports Bar

The council unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh to execute a tax-increment financing (TIF) development agreement with KC and SE, LLC, owners of The End Zone Sports Bar at 417 Cherry Ave. 

The owners requested a short-term development agreement with the city to cover a portion of the costs associated with replacing their roof and repairing foundation and structural issues. The estimates provided by the owners are approximately $94,000.

Upon successful completion of the project and remittance of all receipts and lien waiver, the city will reimburse the business up to $45,000 on Jan. 8, 2024. If the owners sell the property, they will remit back a portion of the $45,000, with the portion depending on the year. The city will retain the first right of refusal to purchase the facility upon a future sale.

"Staff has met with the ownership several times and feels this is an appropriate use of TIF funds," Fiegenschuh said. "Which we invest in buildings, not in businesses. The building definitely has some issues and this is why we established the TIF, to work to save buildings in our downtown district. I think it's an appropriate use of the funds."

Solar

The council unanimously approved an engineering agreement with Keith Engineering Design for $115,070 for an expansion of the solar plant at the RMU wastewater treatment plant.

The solar plant was originally constructed in 2014 and was designed with the ability to double the existing footprint. Part of the design process will include pursuing grant opportunities to offset capital costs.

"If we are able to double the size, on a good day in the summer it will offset the entire power need at the wastewater treatment plant," Fiegenschuh said. "That will go a long way in helping us save costs. Plus, we need to find more ways to incorporate renewable energy into our portfolio."

Treatment plant

The council unanimously approved an engineering agreement amendment with Willett, Hofmann & Associates for $57,733 for phase two of improvements to RMU's wastewater treatment plant.

Last year, the city went out for bids for the project, which came in approximately 45 percent over budget. The improvements were tabled and several items were removed from the scope of work and redesigns were done. The changes required the amendment to the engineering agreement. Bids are currently being advertised and a contractor could be selected in January. Construction would start in May and be completed in June 2025.

Road Ranger

The council unanimously approved an ordinance deleting one class S liquor license and creating one class P-2 liquor license for Road Ranger at 1101 N. 7th St. The business wished to upgrade from class S (authorizes the sale of packaged beer and wine for off-premises consumption) to class P-2 (authorizes the sale of packaged alcoholic liquor for off-premises consumption). The city now has three class P-2 liquor licenses.

Essay winners

Bearrows presented prizes to the winners of the city's essay contest, Makayla Waters and Natalie Faivre. Entrants were asked to write an essay and take a photo that captured Rochelle. Waters and Faivre received $250 each in Community Cash to spend at local small businesses.