Mike Farha
March 26, 2024 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — The Finance Committee sent two issues about what could be Quincy’s first roundabout to the full City Council to be debated next week. However, the debate got underway in earnest near the conclusion of Monday night’s City Council meeting. The city has been asked to commit $2.6 million to the roundabout project at…
Read Full Article March 26, 2024 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Director of Public Works Jeffrey Conte has two weeks to prepare different options to pay for $30 million worth of improvements to Quincy’s water system. The creation of an ordinance to increase water and sewer rates was on the agenda for Monday’s Quincy City Council meeting. The average monthly cost to the consumer…
Read Full Article December 28, 2023 | By J. Robert Gough, Publisher
Local government was rather contentious in 2023. A reflection of the frustration many feel with the polarized politics in today’s world. A lack of consensus or willingness to achieve goals for the common good unfortunately seem to prevail. Anyway, here are the most read governmental stories of 2023, according to MRN Analytics. 1. A couple…
Read Full Article September 26, 2023 | By J. Robert Gough, Publisher
QUINCY — Treasurer Linda Moore and Comptroller Sheri Ray have been working on tracking down money paid to the city’s third party administrator and money that had previously been unaccounted for. Moore and Ray went before the Quincy City Council Monday night ad reported the city has spent nearly $1.98 with Coalition Health since since…
Read Full Article September 19, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Quincy Mayor Mike Troup plans to provide aldermen at next week’s Quincy City Council meeting a financial accounting of insurance premiums paid to Coalition Health and claims reimbursed to city employees from Jan. 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023. Troup said after Monday’s meeting that City Treasurer Linda Moore, Comptroller Sheri Ray, Corporation…
Read Full Article September 12, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — The Quincy City Council tabled a resolution during Monday’s meeting to buy secondary insurance from American Public Life for the last half of 2023. Aldermen requested more information from Quincy Mayor Mike Troup about the cost of the insurance before voting on it. However, several aldermen made it clear they no longer want…
Read Full Article September 6, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Saying “I’ve got nothing to hide,” Quincy Mayor Mike Troup announced a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in City Council chambers to discuss the healthcare plan for city employees. The Quincy City Council Meeting of the Whole is being called to present findings on the city’s healthcare relations with Coalition Health. A…
Read Full Article August 29, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — A Quincy Police Department officer told the Quincy City Council on Monday night that employees have been lied to about the recent cancellation of secondary insurance. Inspector Patrick Hollensteiner said aldermen had learned in an email last week from Quincy Mayor Mike Troup that the city no longer has insurance through American Public…
Read Full Article August 29, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — A resolution for the city to adopt a pledge of civility was tabled indefinitely during Monday night’s Quincy City Council meeting after three of the 10 aldermen in attendance said they couldn’t support it. The resolution put forth said the Illinois Municipal League has adopted a civility pledge which states, “In the interest of…
Read Full Article August 15, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — A debate about the use of the word “alderperson” punctuated the end of Monday’s Quincy City Council meeting. Greg Fletcher (R-1) asked Dunn why he is being referred to “Alderperson” Fletcher at times during recent meetings. “Can you enlighten me where this ‘alderperson’ crap is coming from?” he said. “I was elected two…
Read Full Article August 8, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — The cost of legal expenses related to the investigation of a whistleblower complaint about the selection process of the chief of the Quincy Police Department was capped at $25,000 during Monday night’s Quincy City Council meeting. Jeff Mays, director of administrative services, explained to aldermen that he’s the chief procurement approver for any…
Read Full Article July 9, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Both Greg Fletcher and Richie Reis know Monday’s vote regarding their confidence in Mike Troup as the mayor of Quincy is only symbolic. Regardless of the vote totals, Troup will still be the mayor at end of Monday’s meeting of the Quincy City Council. However, both aldermen believe their vote signifies something else.…
Read Full Article July 3, 2023 | By J. Robert Gough, Publisher
QUINCY — The current and past president of the union representing Quincy’s police officers asked the Quincy City Council for a vote on its confidence in the leadership of Mayor Mike Troup. As that request fell on deaf ears, it was enough to lead Alderman Mike Farha (R-4th Ward) to walk out of Monday night’s…
Read Full Article June 19, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Two aldermen had sharp words for Mayor Mike Troup when an invoice from a Chicago law firm for collective bargaining negotiations was discussed at Monday’s Quincy City Council meeting. Before a vote by aldermen on a resolution to pay $8,412.15 to Ancel Glink, P.C., Richie Reis (D-6) asked for Troup to provide a…
Read Full Article May 31, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — After hearing the general managers of two Quincy hotels and a Quincy restaurant laud the benefits of the Bring Entertainment to Quincy (BET on Q) program, the Quincy City Council voted 8-4 during its Tuesday night meeting to give the program $100,000 for the 2023-24 fiscal year. Aldermen also approved by a 7-5…
Read Full Article May 1, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Quincy Mayor Mike Troup says he has no intention of asking 4th Ward alderman Mike Farha to rejoin the two committees he resigned from earlier this week, saying “his time’s up.” “He showed his true colors,” Troup said after Thursday’s special meeting of the Quincy City Council, during which aldermen passed a $50.29 million…
Read Full Article April 27, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — The senior alderman on the Quincy City Council called Mayor Mike Troup “tyrannical,” believes the public is “fed up” and says the “best thing for our community” is for him to resign immediately as a deadline to pass a city budget looms. Mike Farha, a Republican alderman in the 4th Ward since his…
Read Full Article April 25, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — The Quincy City Council approved Monday night a petition for a revocable permit allowing for the encroachment of the city right-of-way with temporary memorials. However, Stacie Sparks, who first brought the issue to aldermen on April 17, still isn’t happy. The petition was created by Assistant Corporation Counsel Bruce Alford and submitted to aldermen…
Read Full Article April 18, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Stacie Sparks says she’s received “hundreds” of compliments from Quincy Cleaners customers when she visits the memorial she created two years ago for her son, who died in a car accident at the northeast corner of 30th and Maine. “Every time I’m out there changing it, somebody stops me and says it’s beautiful,” Sparks…
Read Full Article April 18, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — The Quincy City Council voted Monday night not to pay $4,000 to the Quincy Area Convention and Visitors Bureau for a hotel market study that was presented in February. The City of Quincy, the Oakley-Lindsay Center and the Quincy Area Convention and Visitors Bureau commissioned Core Distinction Group, a Wisconsin hospitality consulting firm,…
Read Full Article March 28, 2023 | By J. Robert Gough, Publisher
QUINCY — Mayor Mike Troup provided the majority vote needed to provide $100,000 in Downtown Rental Rehabilitation TIF funding to Terrell and Vicky Dempsey for renovations of four upper-story apartments at 234-236 North Sixth. The Dempsey’s law office is on the first floor of the building. They are also putting in $159,740 of private financing…
Read Full Article March 13, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — The Quincy City Council will vote Monday night on a petition to divide two lots into 35 lots on property at 203 S. Eighth and 218-224 S. Ninth, then it will vote on two resolutions to provide funding as part of a $7.5 million proposal to construct 34 two-story residential townhomes and a…
Read Full Article March 6, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Angela Caldwell gave her appointment to the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners one more try. “I had already decided that if it didn’t happen tonight, that was it,” she said. The third time turned out to be the charm. The Quincy City Council voted 7-6 to approve Mayor Mike Troup’s appointment of…
Read Full Article February 14, 2023 | By J. Robert Gough, Publisher
QUINCY — Mayor Mike Troup’s appointment of Angela Caldwell to the Police and Fire Commission was rejected by the Quincy City Council Monday night as several aldermen spoke openly about what they perceive are inconsistencies and a lack of information flowing from the administration to the council. While many aldermen said they supported Caldwell and…
Read Full Article February 7, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Alderman Mike Farha, chair of the city’s Finance Committee, called the city’s recent insurance issues with Blue Cross Blue Shield a “failure of leadership.” Robert Megee, an officer with the Quincy Police Department and president of the PB&PA Unit No. 12, the bargaining union that represents all city police officers, says he believes…
Read Full Article February 7, 2023 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — The Quincy City Council agreed Monday night to add 10 properties to the city’s the fix-or-flatten program. Four of the properties are in the city’s 7th Ward. Six of them are in the 2nd Ward. The properties are at: The original list had 12 properties. Director of Inspection and Enforcement Michael Seaver said the original list…
Read Full Article December 13, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — The Quincy City Council’s unanimous vote on Monday night to approve a $7.112 million annual property tax levy ordinance, creating a tax rate around 96 cents per $100 of assessed value, was called “historic” by Mayor Mike Troup. The levy is approximately $588,000 less than was collected this year. Last year’s rate was…
Read Full Article December 6, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — The Quincy City Council voted Monday night to approve a recommendation from the Plan Commission to subdivide (dividing one lot into eight) a property at 5100 Chestnut under the “small tracts” provision of the Subdivision Ordinance. The eight-lot subdivision is on a 10-acre tract of land east of the Lake Ridge Subdivision on…
Read Full Article November 22, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Chief Bernie Vahlkamp and Deputy Chief Steve Salrin with the Quincy Fire Department couldn’t convince the Quincy City Council not to make three changes to an ordinance to adopt the 2018 series of the International Code Council model code for the city’s building code. Aldermen voted at the end of the meeting to…
Read Full Article November 4, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — A public hearing to discuss a proposed monthly $9 surcharge on utility rates for Quincy homeowners provided a review of the finances and circumstances leading the creation of the ordinance. While Jeffrey Conte, director of public works, presented other options to offset a projected $3 million increase in operating expenses to a small…
Read Full Article October 25, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Near the end of a relatively benign meeting of the Quincy City Council on Monday night, Jeff Bergman, R-2, expressed dissatisfaction for how a comprehensive housing study, rejected three weeks ago by alderman, is going to be paid for. Aldermen rejected by an 11-2 vote on Oct. 3 a resolution to spend no…
Read Full Article October 12, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Quincy Mayor Mike Troup was asked after Monday’s Quincy City Council meeting if negotiating sessions are scheduled between the Police Benevolent and Protective Association Labor Unit 12, which represents the officers and supervisors with the Quincy Police Department, and the city of Quincy. Troup simply replied, “There are none.” The PB&PA filed a…
Read Full Article September 13, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — After more than a year of study, review, concern and debate, an ordinance to eliminate the city’s curbside recycling program came down to one vote. After City Clerk Laura Oakman announced aldermen voted 7-7 on the issue during Monday night’s Quincy City Council meeting, Quincy Mayor Mike Troup quickly cast the deciding vote,…
Read Full Article September 8, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Two ideas about the future of recycling seemed to rise above all the rest during Wednesday’s community forum about the city of Quincy’s proposed recycling ordinance. About 100 people filled the City Council chambers, offering suggestions and questions about recycling. Quincy Mayor Mike Troup served as the moderator of the forum, and near…
Read Full Article July 12, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — The debate about the demolition of the building at 649 State continued during Monday’s meeting of the Quincy City Council. Aldermen voted 10-1 at the July 5 meeting to accept a bid of $79,500 from Blick Construction Company to demolish the three-story brick building that was gutted in a fire on May 18. …
Read Full Article May 3, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Quincy Mayor Mike Troup says he’s talked with Jonathan Lewin about the offer made Monday to become the chief of the Quincy Police Department. However, he doesn’t yet have an answer. Troup said after Monday night’s meeting of the Quincy City Council that he needed to speak with Barry Cheyne, one of the…
Read Full Article December 21, 2021 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners sent a request to the Quincy City Council to approve at its Monday meeting the expenditure of $9,000 to the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police to assist on conducting a police chief search. Alderman instead chose to send the request fo the police aldermanic committee.…
Read Full Article September 8, 2021 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — An amendment to the Code of Ordinances for the City of Quincy that would call for the mayor — instead of the three-person Board of Fire and Police Commissioners — to appoint and terminate the city’s police and fire chiefs raised a few eyebrows. The City Council chambers were filled for Tuesday night’s…
Read Full Article August 31, 2021 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Jeff Butler may finally have found a place for his business. The Quincy City Council voted Monday to accept the Plan Commission’s recommendation for a special permit for an office and shop for a water and fire damage restoration service at 3120 N. 12th, formerly the home of Outdoor Power Inc. Aldermen will…
Read Full Article June 8, 2021 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Michael Seaver, director of inspection and enforcement for the City of Quincy, brought Monday night to the Quincy City Council a proposed ordinance to establish a residential rental registration program. It wasn’t met with open arms. Mike Farha and Tony Sassen, 4th Ward alderman, both said they couldn’t support the proposal. Jeff Bergman,…
Read Full Article June 8, 2021 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Mike Farha looked at the nearly $2 million cost for sewer replacement for a three-block stretch on Oak Street, quietly shook his head and rubbed his eyes. “The reason I voted yes for it is that it has to be done,” the 4th Ward alderman said after Monday night’s Quincy City Council meeting.…
Read Full Article April 18, 2024
FRANKIE SAY: 420 is coming
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