Resolution to replace lead water lines in northwest Quincy tabled for one week; Salrin sworn in as fire chief

QUINCY — Aldermen tabled for one week a vote on a resolution to award a $4.038 million contract to Wiemelt Plumbing to replace as many as 340 lead water lines between Cherry and Locust and between Second and Fifth. 

Dave Bauer (D-2), a member of the Utilities Committee, said a competing bid was much lower than the Wiemelt bid. However, the bid came from the same company that was awarded the contract to replace lead water lines on 12^th Street this past summer. Bauer said the committee was concerned about the time it has taken to complete that project. 

“I believe they were supposed to be done by the first of October, based on the documents I reviewed earlier, and they’re still working on it today,” Bauer said. “(The committee was) a little bit hesitant, and then the attorney said he felt (the company’s) bid wasn’t a legal bid, so we kind of quit the discussion and let it go at that. Then (the attorney) came back and found out (the bid had) everything they need to do (the job).”

The Utilities Committee is scheduled to meet Thursday.

Steve Salrin was sworn in by Quincy Mayor Mike Troup as the chief of the Quincy Fire Department. He started in his new role on March 1.

“I just want to say the support throughout the community, throughout the city, the City of Quincy employees, the fire department … it’s been overwhelming and humbling, and I appreciate it,” Salrin said.

Salrin then swore in Zelton Crose as a lieutenant for the fire department.

Aldermen voted to give a special permit to Prairie Farms Dairy at the northwest corner of 24^th and Broadway to upgrade and expand the existing manufacturing facility. The dairy has requested for 1,282 square feet of public alley north of 2305 Broadway to allow for the upgrades and expansion.

Prairie Farms acquired two parcels, zoned for single-family residential use, at 2305 and 2309 Broadway on Nov. 15, 2024, from Michael D. Quagliano of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for $69,000. A pick-up/drop-off zone for large vehicles and semi-trailers is planned. The company also says the expansion also will add more cold product storage capacity that will allow for the operation of additional production lines.

Vacating the public alley north of 2305 Broadway will allow Prairie Farms to receive the southern half of the alley and the property owners to the north will receive the northern half. 

The expansion at the dairy, open 24 hours a day, is expected to create between 10 and 15 new jobs.

There were 13 of 14 aldermen present Monday night. Mike Rein (R-5), who lost his re-election bid to Laura McReynolds last week, was not in attendance. Ken Hultz (R-3) also lost during the primary, but he was in attendance.

In other action, aldermen:

• Gave permission to the Quincy Yacht Club to conduct a raffle and have the bond requirement waived from now through Aug. 23. 
• Gave permission to the Quincy Art Center to display a banner across Fifth and Maine from April 29 to May 5 in conjunction with Dogwood Downtown Art Walk. 
• Approved vacation of an undeveloped road approximately 550 feet in length that is bounded by Northbrook Road and Southbrook Road to allow for future residential development.
• Approved the mayor’s reappointment of Mike McLaughlin to a three-year term with the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners.
• Authorized the city to enter into a reciprocal agreement on the exchange of information with the Illinois Department of Revenue.
• Approved a proposal from Horman Construction for $16,500 for construction of a “burn prop” for skills training.
• Heard from two speakers whose landlords recently turned off the water at their homes. “I’m here to let you all know that there’s a problem,” said Lisa Wigoda with the Safe and Livable Housing Committee. “There are some problems in Quincy. I know a lot of people live in really nice houses in really safe neighborhoods. The problem housing that I see is west of 12th Street, but I think some of you know that it is also creeping eastward, all the way to 18th and even farther eastward.”
• Learned the city’s pothole truck has been out for the last several weeks. “They have completed all of the work orders requested for specific potholes throughout the city,” Troup told aldermen. “Now they’re doing the grid to go up the major roads and then backfilling with the other side streets.”
• Got a reminder that Harrison east of 24th Street will close next week, and a four-way stop will be created at the intersection of 24^th and Monroe. “I’m just giving you a warning: Watch your speed on 28th Street when you’re going from Harrison to Monroe,” Troup said. “We are asking law enforcement to have a presence there. Don’t be surprised if you see some lights coming up.”