Troy Walker, left, a member of the Illinois Patriot Guard, presents a plaque to David Boelk in honor of Boelk’s father, Ralph, who passed away in February. (Reporter photo)

MENDOTA – License approvals and results from a recent Plan Commission meeting were among the items handled by the Mendota City Council at its regular meeting on April 16.

ALDERMANIC REPORTS

Alderman Bill Hunt told the council he attended a recent meeting of the North Central Illinois Council of Governments concerning the Illinois Housing Development Authority’s Abandoned Properties Program. Under this program, IHDA will make grants to municipalities, counties and land banks for securing, rehabilitating (exterior), maintaining or demolishing abandoned residential properties within their jurisdiction.

Hunt said there is $4 million in the fund, however, only about 15 percent is available to counties outside of Cook and its collar counties, so there is not much funding left to be distributed to the rest of the state. “I don’t see us getting a windfall out of this,” said Hunt.

Mayor David Boelk added that whatever money is out there for projects such as this, the city of Chicago, Cook County and the collar counties are going to get a majority of the funds.

In business from alderman Randy Morris’s report, the council approved license renewals for the new fiscal year.

Alderman John Pierson reported on action from a Plan Commission meeting on April 12 to consider rezoning property at 1200 and 1202 Sixth Ave. from M to B-3. Pierson said the Plan Commission recommended that the request be allowed. The council will formally act on the measure when the ordinance is written.

Pierson added that a Plan Commission meeting originally scheduled for April 26 has been changed to Thursday, May 3 at 6 p.m. in the council chambers. The Plan Commission will consider a request to remove the additional provision limiting the operation of motorsport activities for a Conditional Use of an Indoor Motorsports Arena in M-Zone. The motorsports facility is located at the former Motor Wheel building.

Alderman Jim Fitzpatrick commented that Street Department superintendent Carl Ambler said April 16 is the latest in the spring that his crew has had to spread salt on the roadways because of snow and ice.

MAYOR’S REPORT

Mayor Boelk presented a permit request from the Knights of Columbus Council #2090 to hold its tootsie roll fundraising drive on Friday, Sept. 14 and Saturday, Sept. 15. The fundraiser is for people with intellectual disabilities. The council approved the request.

Boelk also proclaimed May as Motorcycle Awareness Month as declared by A.B.A.T.E. of Illinois (A Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education).

OTHER ITEMS

Fire chief Dennis Rutishauser told the council that an ISO evaluation of the fire department will be done on Monday, May 7.

Mayor Boelk received a surprise visit from Troy Walker of Sandwich, who is a member of the Illinois Patriot Guard Riders. Illinois Patriot Guard is a 100 percent volunteer non-profit organization that ensures dignity and respect at memorial services honoring fallen military heroes, first responders and honorably discharged veterans. Walker presented a plaque to Boelk in honor of his recently-deceased father, Ralph Boelk, who was a decorated member of the U.S. Marine Corps in World War II and the Korean Conflict. Walker said he literally choked up when he learned about the service Ralph Boelk gave to his country while a Marine.

The next regular meeting of the Mendota City Council will be Monday, May 7 at 6:30 p.m.