City health insurance cost goes up

Kip Cheek
Posted 1/23/20

MENDOTA – The Mendota City Council renewed the city’s health insurance and discussed several requests at its Jan. 20 regular meeting.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

City health insurance cost goes up

Posted

MENDOTA – The Mendota City Council renewed the city’s health insurance and discussed several requests at its Jan. 20 regular meeting.

Alderman John Holland presented the health insurance renewal information for the council’s consideration. The insurance premium with Blue Cross and Blue Shield was approved at a 4.5 percent increase for health, 7 percent increase for vision and 6 percent increase for dental.

In other action from Holland’s report, the council approved intergovernmental agreements with Mendota Elementary District 289 for TIF 2017A (Starved Rock Wood Products) and TIF 2017B (ADM project).

In action from alderman Jay Miller’s report, the council voted to allow a Class A liquor license for The Chalet at 2104 Main St.

Alderman Jim Fitzpatrick informed the council of a pre-annexation request from Michael and Barbara Bokus. A public hearing was scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17.

A request was made by Carl Patterson to vacate an alley on part of Third Avenue. The council authorized preparation of the necessary documents to proceed with the request.

Jim Strouss spoke to the council on behalf of the Friends of the Track Fund Committee. The committee is attempting to raise half of the $188,000 needed to pay for the recent resurfacing of the track at Doenier Field (old Mendota High School football field). Strouss asked that the city consider being a Diamond contributor, which is $10,000 and above.

The track is owned by Mendota Elementary District 289, which will fund the other half of the cost. He said many city residents use the track to walk or run, and because the committee believes 80 percent of the track usage comes from city residents and only 20 percent from the school, the committee is encouraging donations. He added that donations will be accepted in increments over a two-year period for convenient budgeting purposes.

Strouss said the committee has raised $38,000 so far. The city will take the request into consideration. Anyone interested in donating to the track fund can call 815-539-7631.

In an unrelated item from Strouss, who is the city’s code enforcement officer, he told the council that he will be going to court to appear before a judge in regard to possible action taken on two abandoned properties in Mendota – one on Third Avenue and one on Sixth Avenue.

OTHER ITEMS

Police Chief Greg Kellen presented the council members with the Mendota Police Department’s 2019 annual report.

Kellen added that he has received much positive feedback from city leaders and the public about the outstanding job being done by police department officer Chad Hochstatter in his role as school resource officer at Mendota High School.

City attorney Mike Guilfoyle said the deed to the former Campbell’s Cleaners building on Illinois Avenue has been turned over to the city, making it city property.

The next regular meeting of the Mendota City Council will be Monday, Feb. 3 at 6:30 p.m.