Mayor and Quincy City Council recognize work done during major water break; ask for patience in library director matter

QUINCY — Mayor Linda Moore started off Monday’s City Council Meeting by asking the public to be patient in response to the news of Quincy Public Library Director Kathleen Helsabeck’s administrative leave.

“It is a private personnel matter,” Moore said. “I would encourage everyone to let this play out between the Library Board and the executive director.”

Moore specified that the Library Board is separate from the City Council and the Library Board makes own operations decisions. The next regularly scheduled Quincy Public Library Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for August 19.

Jefferey Conte, the Director of Public Works, was applauded by the mayor and multiple aldermen for his work handling last week’s water treatment challenge leading to a boil-order.

“It could have been a major crisis, and I think because we had the right people in the right seats, the issue was handled, and handled very effectively,” said Moore.

“We love our police and our firemen and always will, but the central service guys are just as important,” said Alderman Greg Fletcher (R-1st Ward). “You turn on your water stick and if you ain’t got none, they become real important.”

During a presentation, Conte explained that during plant upgrades, an old leaded joint on a pump blew apart, losing access to one of three pumps.

“We were down to about nine million gallons per day pumping capacity,” Conte said. “And this time of year, especially when it’s in the 90s, that’s about what our use is.” The tank levels were very low, leading to reduced water pressure. When the water pressure falls too low, a boil order is required.

Conte said he was proud of how fast the team worked, fixing the pump efficiently, running the disinfection process, and getting the pump back online by Saturday evening.

Firefighter Paul Mason took the oath and was promoted to a Lieutenant. Mason became a firefighter in 2016 and has earned multiple state fire marshal certifications.

Two new firefighters were sworn in: Johnathan Manion and Tyler Brumbaugh. Manion graduated from Payson High School and attended Western Illinois University before working at Knapheide and the Adams County Ambulance Service. Brumbaugh graduated from Canton High School, then worked for the City of Canton. Both men are coming to Quincy from the Hannibal Fire Department and will attend the 10-week Fire Service Institute in Champaign in September.

Mayor Moore read a proclamation celebrating 100 years of WTAD serving Quincy’s radio needs. WTAD’s Mary Griffith accepted the proclamation and announced that she is retiring from the station.

“I’ve been at WTAD for 37 years, and I’ve been broadcasting in Quincy and the surrounding area since 1981,” Griffith said. “Somebody named Griffith … has been delivering the news to the tristate area for 77 consecutive years,” she added, in reference to her father Charlie’s long career with WGEM.

The meeting moved quickly, with little or no discussion for each item. Alderman Karol Ehmen (R-4th Ward) was absent. The consent agenda passed unanimously and was comprised of the following:

• Special Event Applications
  • Qunicy University home football games: August 28, October 4, October 25, November 1, November 15 “Feast in the Heart of Quincy,” Sunday, September 14Street Concert, August 16Oktoberfest, Saturday 27
  • Inter-Club Party, August 1-3
• Request to waive alcohol in public section for “Book It and Beer Summer Reading Party,” July 31
• Mayoral Appointments of Jon Hoover, Lena Jones and Tony Crane to three-year-terms to the Quincy Public Library Board.
• Followed a Traffic Commission recommendation to rescind the 2-hour parking zone on the north side of Maine Street from North 28^th to North 30th.

The items of the regular meeting passed almost as quickly and included:

• Short-term loan limit of up to $600,000 from the General Fund to the Quincy Transit Lines to pay operating expenses.
• Quote from SHI International Corp for $15,000 for the annual renewal contract for the Cisco Duo authenticator for 250 users.
• Execution of grant agreements with the Illinois Department of Transportation for reimbursement of operating expenses of the Quincy Regional Airport for fiscal years 2022, 2023 and 2024.
• Painting of the northern wall of 114 North 6^th Street for a mural.
• Entry into an agreement for Insurance Coverage.
• The merger of the BET on Q and LEGUP programs.

At the end of the meeting, Mayor Moore thanked the Sister City Commission for organizing her official trip to Hereford County, Germany.

“I did learn a lot,” Moore said. “Germany has the same issues we do: tall grass, potholes, and abandoned buildings.”

Moore explained that although the visit was official, it was a self-funded trip and there was no cost to taxpayers. She encouraged the alderman to consider making trips in the future, stating that she learned a lot and felt she would now be a better leader.

At the Finance Committee meeting earlier in the evening, the committee did not make a recommendation on the 54^th Street Development Agreement. Instead, they are sending the issue to City Council, where it will be addressed at a future meeting.