City official admits new citywide cleanup format was ‘a little rough’ Monday but will improve this week

QUINCY — John Schafer, assistant director of Central Services, could only offer an apology to the people first to arrive at the citywide cleanup site in the Quincy Town Center parking lot Monday morning.

“It’s a learning experience for us all,” Schafer said. “This is the first time we’ve done it this way, and there’s always, always, always room for improvement. We’ll get better.”

The citywide cleanup typically has been a single-day affair. However, this year’s event, held in conjunction with Republic Services, started Monday and will be open through Friday, Sept. 30, on the northwest corner of the Quincy Town Center parking lot (near Slumberland) at 3203 Broadway.

Schafer told aldermen during Monday’s City Council meeting the first few hours were “a little rough.”

“I don’t think (Republic Services expected) quite the turnout that they had early on,” he said.

Schafer said more trucks, more containers and more drivers eventually arrived at the drop-off site. He estimated people brought 90 to 100 tons of material to the site on Monday. The city collected more than 260 tons at last year’s one-day event.

Greg Fletcher, R-1, said he received reports of trash being strewn all over the 30^th and Broadway area. Parker Freiburg, R-3, said he received complaints of people living near 30^th and College because of long lines.

Schafer thought additional people — and a less windy day — would help with the trash problem. He said employees directed cars into two lanes, instead of just one, by the end of the day Monday, which should help during the rest of the week with overflow traffic spilling on to College.

“Republic actually did very well. I just think they were a little overwhelmed to begin with,” Schafer said. “They weren’t expecting that kind of traffic at first, and I’m sure that was frustrating for people.

“I guess we’ll see what tomorrow brings, but things seemed to go very smoothly by the end of the day.”

The cleanup site will be staffed and open to the public during the following hours:

• Tuesday, Sept. 27 and Wednesday, Sept. 28 – 7 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Thursday, Sept. 29 – 7 a.m.-noon and 4-8 p.m.
• Friday, Sept. 30 – 7 a.m.-1 p.m.

Schafer emphasized that people need to be in line 30 minutes before the drop-off site closes to make sure their materials are accepted.

Aldermen approved:

• Placing a stop sign at the intersection of Ninth and Van Buren, with traffic on Van Buren stopping for traffic on Ninth.
• Implementing a no-parking zone on both sides of Wysteria Lane. 
• Implementing an all-way stop at the intersection of Northbrook Drive, Taylor Drive and Parkwood Drive.
• A fireworks display by Fireworks Authority, Inc., at Quinsippi Island at 8 p.m. Oct. 7.
• The closure of 18th Street from Van Buren to Harrison from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 15 for a neighborhood block party by Hope Lutheran Church, 1739 Harrison.
• Submission and support tor Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program Grant Application in the amount of $960,000 to fund a bicycle lane and Bill Klingner Trail connection project on North 18th Street.
• A lease proposal from Postal Source of Davenport, Iowa for $11,624.40 for a postage machine. 
• A proposal from Air Specialists Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc., for $20,600, for the furnishing and installation of two 3-ton ductless split type air conditioning units in City Hall. 
• A proposal to enter a three-year contract beginning March 1, 2023, with an option to renew for one-year periods upon the expiration of February 28, 2026, with Alliance Industrial Corporation for the monitoring of the drop-off locations and hauling of city-owned roll-off containers from the recycling collection sites to the disposal sites. 
• Spending $20,772 with SHI International for the Cisco Duo multifactor authentication solution to increase overall security to the City of Quincy’s infrastructure. 
• Awarding BlueHaven Café at the Quincy Regional Airport $8,595 for ARPA airport concessionaires rent relief.
• A handicapped sign to be installed at 504 Monroe.

Aldermen also agreed with the Central Services Committee’s recommendation to reject a bid, given at 15.56 percent over the engineer’s estimated project cost, for the 2022 motor fuel tax resurfacing project. Engineer Steve Bange said he expected the project to be re-bid in December or January.