New labor deal calls for raises, garbage/recycling pickup changes; Troup freezes new liquor licenses

QUINCY — Your garbage will be picked up every day but three during the next three years.

The Quincy City Council approved adoption of a three-year agreement with the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers, Lodge 822-District 9, concerning terms and wages from May 1, 2021 through April 30, 2024.

The employees at the city’s Central Services Department — garbage and recycling collection, concrete and pothole repairs, street sweepers, utility workers — are covered by that union, along with members of the secretarial pool for the Quincy Police Department and people in the city’s water and sewer departments.

Jeff Mays, director of administrative services, said union members will get a 2.75 percent raise in each of the first two years of the contract, followed by a 3 percent raise in the third year. He said 78 employees will be covered under the new agreement.

“The negotiations were tough, but they were always constructive,” Mays said.

Garbage and recycling were not picked up for 15 holidays last year. City crews now will work every holiday except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

City, county to spend $1.2 million on 48th Street

Aldermen voted to enter into a joint agreement with Adams County in a $1.2 million project on 48th Street from Maine north to Columbus Road. The work would not include the Broadway intersection. The county will cover approximately $765,000 of the project, and the city will cover about $461,000. 

The project involves concrete curb and gutter removal and placement, pavement markings and sidewalks improvements to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“Broadway is a state road, and the state’s allowing us to do the outer lanes as part of that intersection, but not the center lanes,” Troup said.

Loan program now available for any business in city

Alderman voted to amend the Quincy Economic Development Revolving Loan Program to allow loans to commercial retail businesses. The ordinance had been tabled since July 6. The loan program has been geared toward manufacturing and industrial projects for many years.

“This will bring down the minimum to $50,000. It will include retail or virtually any business within the city limits of Quincy,” Troup said.

The ordinance was amended before the vote to prevent city, county, state or federal officials from participating in the loan program. 

Number of liquor licenses temporarily frozen by Troup

Troup informed aldermen that he has temporarily frozen the approval of any liquor licenses in the city. Businesses that want to add gaming machines must have a liquor license. Troup, the city’s liquor commissioner, noted that the city had 159 terminals in August 2018. Now it has 243 terminals as of the state’s June report.

“We haven’t updated the city liquor license for quite a while. I don’t even exactly know how long ago that’s been,” the mayor said. “Since we’ve had such an influx of licenses this past year, it’s like, let’s take a look. Let’s make whatever changes we need to make to be compliant with the state.”

Alderman also voted to:
• Appoint Jeff Steinkamp to a one-year non-voting term to the aeronautics committee.
• Install a yield sign at 17th and Cedar.
• Approve a payment of $8,375 to the West Central Illinois Criminal Justice Council to remain an active participant.

Landon Tenhouse, the Quincy Fire Department’s latest hire, was sworn in by fire chief Bernie Vahlkamp before the meeting.