Knoxville City Council last night agreed to apply for an Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program grant that would cover 80 percent of up to $2 million in beautification projects.
Mayor Pro Tem Dennis Maurer says aldermen are leaning toward an option that would cost the city more than $387,000, leaving $1.5 million to be paid through the grant.
The option includes installing Main Street pedestrian lights along with 15 benches, 18 trash receptacles, planters, and raising sidewalks to make them level with business entrances.
Maurer tells WGIL he likes the idea of improving the downtown’s sidewalks.
“If we could get all the sidewalks to maybe where they’re all consistently the same height, curbs same height, that would help the appearance of the downtown quite a bit,” he says.
The option would cost the city about $214,000 less than the most expensive proposal by city grant-writer Ange Lee and around $93,000 more than the least expensive option.
Once a version of the ITEP grant is submitted ahead of the June 17 deadline, Council can reduce the amount paid. The vote to apply for the grant passed 4-1 with Fourth Ward Alderman Lester Naslund the lone no vote.
In discussion items, Knoxville City Council is now leaning toward renovation work to the town’s current lift station instead of building a new one. City Engineer Kevan Cooper said the two-decade-old sewage lift station operates about 30 minutes per day now.
The inclusion Love’s Travel Stop & Country Store — planned to open by Thanksgiving — is expected to increase that to around three hours per day. Cooper says the current station can handle added sewage, but should still be refurbished.
Estimates made in February called for a $135,000 price tag to refurb the station. Building a new one would run about $550,000.
