MENDOTA – The Mendota City Council approved a garbage collection contract and awarded the bid for street repair work at its June 18 regular meeting.

During alderman Bill Hunt’s report, the council agreed to a seven-year contract with Republic Services of Dixon for garbage pickup. The new contract will begin Aug. 1, and with that, city residents will see a jump in their garbage collection fee from $12.75 per month to $17.15 per month.

Republic Services will also be issuing new garbage totes and recycle bins with lids to Mendota residents. Kevin North of Republic Services said the new containers will be dropped in Mendota in mid-August. He said Republic Services will provide a flyer with more information closer to the drop-off date, and also city residents should be receiving a phone call the day before the new containers will be issued. North said Republic Services will take away old containers and they will be recycled.

Also from Hunt’s report, he informed the council that he would like to begin a project this fall to reinvigorate Illinois Avenue in downtown Mendota and make it a showpiece for the city. Hunt is soliciting ideas from the public about ways to make Illinois Avenue a more attractive place for people to go. If anyone would like to give a suggestion, you can call Hunt at (815) 883-4712. He would like to see something put in motion by next spring.

During alderman Walt Weiland’s report, he said that when service organizations now hold fundraisers at the intersection of Main and Meriden streets, the participants standing in the road will be required to wear reflective vests so they are easier seen by motorists. Weiland said the city will supply the vests and they will be available at the city clerk’s office.

In action from alderman Kyle Kim’s report, the council approved a request from the Mendota Police Department to use utility vehicles and golf carts to transport people during the Sweet Corn Festival. Kim said donations will be accepted for this service and all donations will go to the Special Olympics.

Alderman Jim Fitzpatrick said three bids were received for the non-motor fuel tax summer street maintenance program, and the low bid of $266,248 was accepted from Universal Asphalt & Excavating of LaSalle.

Fitzpatrick also noted that work is proceeding on the First Avenue bridge project and it is hoped that the street will be open to motorists in four to six weeks.

In other items, fire chief Dennis Rutishauser reported that an ISO (Insurance Services Office) evaluation was done at the fire department and the results will be known in about a month.

The next regular meeting of the Mendota City Council will be Monday, July 2 at 6:30 p.m.