MENDOTA - The Mendota City Council approved several requests and heard about the return of a popular food attraction at its May 6 regular meeting.

ALDERMANIC REPORTS

Alderman John Hessenberger presented several items for the council’s consideration. He said a Plan Commission meeting will be held at a date yet to be determined to review and accept updated Building Codes 129.

Hessenberger announced that the Plan Commission met on May 2 to consider a request from Mary and Butch VanKeulen for a plat in lieu of subdivision for the former Mendota Community Hospital property on 13th Avenue. Upon the Plan Commission’s approval, the council agreed to accept the request.

Alderman Jim Fitzpatrick presented requests from the Mendota VFW Auxiliary and the Mendota Area Christian Food Pantry. The council approved the VFW Auxiliary to hold Buddy Poppy Days on Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18, and the food pantry to hold a Tag Day on Saturday, June 1.

Fitzpatrick also announced that work will begin on the bridge in the area of Pennsylvania Avenue and Chicago Street on Wednesday, May 15, and the area will be closed to traffic for approximately one month.

Alderman John Holland announced the annual donation request from the Mendota Area YMCA for its summer SCAMP program, and the council agreed to the request of a $4,000 donation.

Alderman Jay Miller’s report included a request for a Class C liquor license for Joe’s Gaming Casino LLC, which the council approved. The establishment is located in the former Hub Tavern on Jefferson Street.

Alderman Vicki Johnson informed the council that the first Food Truck Mania will be held on Monday, May 13 on Main Street in downtown Mendota. Food trucks will be at that location the second and fourth Mondays of the month through October, with the exception of the Monday following the Sweet Corn Festival in August.

OTHER ITEMS

Mayor David Boelk said the expected revenue for the city for FY25 is $9,027,053. The city budgets will be formally approved at the next meeting.

Police Chief Greg Kellen said public nuisance notification door hangers will be placed on the doors of properties where no one is available to personally accept the notification from police officers. The door hanger will include the property inspection date and the corrective action date to address violations of tall grass and weeds, a public nuisance affecting health, and the maintenance of exterior of premises.

In a related item, Kellen said the first date for public nuisance violations to be heard in civil court in Mendota is Wednesday, May 8.

Kellen said there is one opening for a position of police officer within the department, and testing will begin in June. He said more applications have been submitted for this testing period than since 2018.

In a correction from the reporting of the April 15 city council meeting, the city previously had an unlimited amount of gaming licenses available, however, at the previous meeting, the council voted to set the number of gaming licenses at 27 to equal the amount of liquor licenses available.

The next regular meeting of the Mendota City Council will be Monday, May 20 at 5:30 p.m.