Quincy On Monday, the Quincy City Council decided, 13-1, to keep using the money collected from the food and beverage tax to support grants for neighborhood events.
Alderman authorized $100,000 for Legacy Events Program (LEGUP) projects and $150,000 for Bringing Events to Quincy (BET on Q) events. While LEGUP funding will support ongoing programs, BET on Q is focused on new projects.
While LEGUP applicants may receive money for up to four years, BET on Q events applicants may apply for up to two years.
The BET on Q Committee will now assess the LEGUP applications, according to Director of Planning Jason Parrott. SEE Quincy, the Quincy Convention and Visitors Bureau, was reviewing LEGUP applications.
Parrott stated that since the events must eventually become self-sustaining, it was crucial to cap the number of years that they might receive support.
The only person who did not vote was Alderman Jeff Bergman (R-2nd Ward).
Additionally, the Council authorized a number of infrastructure projects through the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and $650,000 in Motor Fuel Tax funding.
As a result of the allocation, $350,000 in motor fuel tax funds will be used to replace the video detection systems for traffic lights at several intersections, such as Maine Street at Third, Fourth, and 24th, 18th and 24th streets at Locust, 24th and Koch’s Lane, 24th and Wismann Lane, and 36th and Harrison.
Jeffrey Conte, the director of public works, stressed that the cameras will be used to both operate the traffic signals and gather data on traffic counts.
Improvements to the Broadway traffic signals between 12th and 38th streets will cost an additional $300,000. At the intersections, the cameras will be utilized to keep an eye on traffic flow.
Conte went on to say that several signals at the Broadway intersections of the 12th and 18th need to be removed since semi-trailers frequently strike them. On Monday, the aldermen also heard the first reading of a bill that would ban northbound semi-trucks from turning right on Broadway off of 12th Street.
Additionally, the low bid of little less than $2.7 million for the renovation of College Street between Fourth and Eighth was accepted by the aldermen. According to Conte, repairing the lead service water and sewer lines that were installed in the middle of the 1880s would be the majority of the job.
