City to seek $12.5 million grant to add gutters, curbs, sidewalks to State Street from 24th to 36th

QUINCY — After they tabled the issue for one week, aldermen voted to support a resolution supporting the jurisdictional transfer of 36th Street (from State Street to Broadway) to the state and the acceptance of State Street by the city.

Chuck Bevelheimer, director of planning and development, explained during Monday’s Quincy City Council meeting that the city would apply for a $12.5 million grant ($10 million in federal dollars, $2.5 million in state dollars) that would lead to the addition of curbs, gutters and sidewalks to State Street, an Illinois state route (Ill. 96), from 24th Street to 36th Street. Money would come from the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All program.

“One of the things that concerns us is we’re not long on details of this,” Mike Farha, R-4, said. “That does present some problems. But if we’re just asking for this, and we still have the option of not accepting responsibility of 36^th Street and not picking up the responsibility for state support … “

Bevelheimer explained no transfer of streets from the city to the state or vice versa would happen until the project was complete. He thought the project would start within the next five years.

“There’s elements here that have to be worked out certainly, but this does provide the city a unique opportunity, at least since I’ve been with the city, to get State Street rebuilt by the state of Illinois,” he said.

Jeff Bergman, R-2, was cynical.

“If five years down the road, it comes in and all of a sudden it’s $3 million or $4 million more, are the state and the feds going to pony up the difference? Or is that going to be on us?” he asked.

Bevelheimer says State Street would remain a state road until the city will accept it.

“We would not accept jurisdiction of State Street until it’s in its final form,” he said.

Bevelheimer also said that stretch of road is one of the top priorities of the regional transportation plan. 

“It’s been on our radar for years,” he said.

Bergman remained unconvinced.

“If this were to play off the way it’s been envisioned, I think it would be a good thing,” he said. “I approve the concept and the idea, but unfortunately, we are talking about the state. I don’t have a whole lot of faith in the state as far as current infrastructure maintenance or coming through what they promised they’re going to do for us, or in the timeframe that they’ve done it. 

“There’s a lot of what ifs, what might happen, what could happen. I do believe this will pass, and it’s hopefully going to fly whatever we get it. But I’m also very, very, very, very, very hesitant that it’s going to play out the way that we’re envisioning. … I hope it does. I think it’d be a great thing for the city.”

The resolution passed 12-2, with Farha and Bergman voting no.

Aldermen also agreed to:

• Rezone 1700 Koch’s Lane from R1A (single-family residential) to NR1 (neighborhood residential) to allow for the construction of multi-family residential units by Niemann General Contracting.
• Execute and attest all agreements and be authorized to pay pass through funding to all vendors involved in a grant with the Federal Aviation Administration and the State of Illinois Department of Transportation for reconstruction of part of runway 4/22 and removal of runway 18/36. The city’s share will be $7,242.50. 
• Approve a lease agreement with David Mahon for hangar space at Quincy Regional Airport on a month-to-month basis beginning October 1 with the monthly rate of $155.05 with annual CPI increases. 
• Pay $19,000 to the University of Missouri-Columbia Fire and Rescue Training Institute for “hot burn” training. 
• Approve a 2-year copier rental program with the Business Centre.
• Buy six new LIFEPAK 1000 automated external defibrillators and related accessories from Stryker of Redmond, Wash., for $15,113.82.
• Pay $9,475 to Sunbelt Rentals for the rental of a long reach excavator and ditch bucket to remove lime sludge from lagoon No. 4 at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. 
• Pay $8,950 to Nezat Training and Consulting of Splendora, TX for on-site sewer inspection and equipment training services.
• Pay Gem City Ford $14,204.75 for engine repair to a city bus. 
• Send to the Plan Committee a request from Jacob Vahle to rezone 2626 S. Eighth and contiguous real estate from R1A (single-family residential) to M1 (light industrial) to allow for the construction of multiple self-storage units. 

Quincy Mayor Mike Troup issued proclamations for Sept. 7 as “Friends of the Castle Day,” Sept. 16 as “International Stinson Club Day,” Sept. 12-16 as “Chamber of Commerce Week” Sept. 12 through Oct. 12 as “Quincy Public Library — Big Read: Quincy Month” and Sept. 14 as “Star-Spangled Banner Day.”