Charity requests park use

Melissa Cooper with CARE Charity speaks to the Fairbury City Council Wednesday night.

Melissa Cooper with the local CARE Charity appeared before members of the Fairbury City Council Wednesday night seeking permission to hold a Fall Fling event featuring vendors, a car show, food trucks and kid activities.

They would like to reserve North Park from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 19.

“We are always taking donations,” Cooper explained.

Mayor David Slagel told Cooper Larry Ray, who handles park reservations, would need to be contacted. City Superintendent Brett Ashburn said this needs to be an agenda item for the next meeting so it could be officially passed by the council.

CARE Charity is an anti-alcohol and drug resistance event for kids. The organization holds fundraisers so parents can receive monetary assistance, if necessary, to get their kids involved in sports or other activities.

According to Cooper, 95 percent of their donations come from Fairbury businesses, though the group actually originates from Chenoa.

“We are going to try and bring in as many vendors as possible,” added Cooper.

CARE Charity is planning another event May 2 and 3 in Chenoa.

Also at Wednesday’s regular council meeting, the group approved an engineering services amendment for Farnsworth Group for the new water treatment plant project. This is to close out the loan application.

Farnsworth has designed rehab work and submitted for an IEPA permit and low-interest loan to fund the project.

“The amendment tonight was to cover the bidding of the project once the loan agreement is approved by the EPA and then for construction phase services to have our staff present at the water plant while the contractors are working on all of the upgrades,” explained Joe Russow, project engineer for Farnsworth.

Superintendent Ashburn said they have put in for a grant for up to $5 million and there is still a possibility for loan forgiveness.

“Hopefully we get something to offset this,” noted Ashburn.

Prairie Central High School students Lydia Kilgus and Samantha Slagel appeared before the council representing the National Honor Society, which wants to host a 5K on city streets May 2. This will happen around the walking trail by the cemetery and near Serenity Villa. Part of the route is on the streets and the morning events takes place at 9:30 a.m. The matter was approved.

A quote to rebuild the chlorination system at the water treatment plant was approved. This must be done every few years, according to Ashburn. The company will perform the work.

“How soon would this take effect?” asked Alderman Jim Tipton.

“In the next month,” replied Ashburn.

Ashburn said they will get away from gas chlorine at the new plant and move to liquid chlorine which is safer.

The purchase of a new garbage truck was authorized from CIT. Streets Superintendent Lonnie Rhoads admitted the Kenworth comes with a few items not available from Freightliner which would be handy.

“We do have $350,000 toward equipment such as this that we’ve already allocated,” added Ashburn.

Council members also approved a quote to paint the memorial basketball courts at Marsh Park. The company recently did the pickle ball courts in Pontiac.

“I’d really like to see this get finished up,” said Tipton.

Rhoads reported he worked on getting most of the sand back in the volleyball court at North Park but they need to figure out how to keep it there.

Ashburn reminded the council about the need for a supplemental appropriation hearing ahead of the next council meeting to cover things that have come up.