ROCHELLE — At its meeting Monday, the Rochelle City Council unanimously approved four items related to improvements for Rochelle Municipal Utilities' Well 8. 

Design has been completed for an iron filter plant construction project for Well 8. The council unanimously approved an ordinance Monday to borrow $10 million in funds from the Illinois EPA to pay for the costs of the project. 

The city also awarded the bid for the project on Monday to Larson and Larson Construction for $6.7 million. That bid was the lowest of three. The IEPA loan the city received for the project includes a cap of $3.4 million in principal forgiveness. The project is slated to start this coming August and be completed by December 2025. 

Road work

The council unanimously approved a joint funding agreement for federally-funded construction work on Creston and Caron Roads.

The project will cost nearly $1.3 million. After federal participation, the city's portion will be approximately $312,000.

The project is over two miles in length. Work will be done on Creston Road from Interstate 39 to Caron Road. The work on Caron Road will run from Creston Road north to 7th Avenue. Both roadways are in need of work due to increases in truck traffic.

Bidding will likely take place in June and construction will begin by the end of August.

Transformers

The council unanimously approved an ordinance to allow the RMU electric department to purchase transformers for no more than $525,000. RMU has been operating on its reserve supply of transformers in hopes that the purchasing market for new transformers would level out after high prices and long lead times have been seen.

RMU Superintendent of Electric Operations Blake Toliver said Monday that the market does not seem to be returning to normal and RMU will be purchasing a number of different-sized transformers to meet its needs. 

Bucket truck

The council unanimously approved a resolution for the purchase of one Altec AT40-G Bucket Truck through Enterprise Fleet Management for $168,649.16 for the city's street department. 

The street department is currently in possession of two aging bucket trucks that have become difficult to keep maintenanced and safety certified. Both of those trucks will be traded in for the new truck. The city had previously budgeted $90,000 for a new bucket truck that will be put towards the purchase as well. 

RACF

The council heard a presentation by Rochelle Area Community Foundation Executive Director Emily Anaya to mark the kickoff of the city's payroll deduction program that it does yearly to benefit RACF. City employees donated $34,185 last year and have donated a total of $117,795 since the start of the program.

Proclamations

Mayor Bearrows read a proclamation in honor of Municipal Clerks Week May 5-11 and presented it to City Clerk RoseMary Huéramo and Deputy Clerks Rosie Belmonte, Brittany Olszewski and Jenny Thompson.

Bearrows also read a proclamation in honor of National Police Week May 12-18 and presented it to Rochelle Police Department officers.

Finally, Bearrows marked National Public Works Week from May 19-25 with a proclamation and presented it to Street Department Superintendent Tim Isley and RMU Superintendent of Water/Water Reclamation Adam Lanning.