Kelly Mays sworn in as 3rd Ward Alderwoman

Kelly Mays was unanimously approved to be Quincy’s next alderman by the Quincy City Council at Tuesday night’s meeting.

The Council met on Tuesday this week due to the July 4 holiday.

Mays was nominated by a 4-3 vote among Adams County Republican Central Committee members and that was forwarded to Mayor Mike Troup, who backed her nomination.

Some Republican Central Committee members who opposed her potential nomination in the early stages had concerns because her husband, Joe Mays, is a nephew of Jeff Mays, the Director of Administrative Services.

Kelly Mays said there will be no conflict and she is there to represent the citizens of the 3rd Ward.

“That’s not going to be an issue,” Kelly Mays said when asked about it during a phone interview last week. “I’m there to help the community and I’ll be learning as I go.”

She said she “didn’t know what to expect” regarding the unanimous appointment from her now-colleagues on the City Council.

Kelly Mays replaces Jason Finney in the seat and is the second woman on the City Council along with Katie Awerkamp, who represents the 6th Ward. She will be on the Central Services, Transit, Police and Barge Dock Committees, which were also Finney’s assigned committees.

In other action, Troup made two new appointments to the Residential Rental Property Registration Ad Hoc Committee: Lee Lindsay and City Planner Chuck Bevelheimer. They join Troup, Aldermen Awerkamp, Eric Entrup, Parker Freiburg, and Jack Holtschlag along with Finney, Janet Conover, who will represent the city’s Safe and Liveable Housing Committee, Mark Krogman, who owns multiple properties throughout the city,  Rocky Murry, Conlon Carabine, Jeff Mays, City Inspector Michael Seaver and Assistant City Attorney Bruce Alford.

Bevelheimer also told aldermen that he expected the sale of the Illinois State Bank building to close later this month. In May, the City Council approved $500,000 in tax increment financing (TIF) for public health and safety improvements as part of a $10 million proposed renovation of the building at 531 Hampshire.

The Tanninger Companies out of Tulsa, Oklahoma are behind the project. They plan to open a restaurant, boutique hotel and rooftop bar at the location. Tanninger, owned by Ryan Jude Tanner and Jay Krottinger, renovated and re-opened The Patio Restaurant in February.

The City Council also approved the following resolutions:

Chief of Police, Police Aldermanic Committee and Purchasing Director recommending approval to apply for the 2021 Justice Authority Grant.

Utilities and Engineering Director and Utilities Committee recommending approval of the invoice from Republic Services in the amount $12,390.75 for removal and dumping of oils and grease from the Waste Water Treatment Plant.

Utilities and Engineering Director of and Utilities Committee recommending approval and the invoice from Shannahan Crane and Hoist of St. Louis, MO in the amount of $10,046.79 to repair two hoists at the Waste Water Treatment Plant.

Utilities and Engineering Director and Utilities Committee recommending approval of the invoice from Badge Meter of Milwaukee, WI in the amount of $13,494.59 for the renewal of a cellular-based automatic meter reading software.

Utilities and Engineering Director of recommending approval of the proposal from Klingner and Associates in the amount of $28,525 for hydraulic survey and study services.