Vance honored for ZBA service

Gerry Vance, left, and Mayor David Slagel / photo via Dale Maley for Fairbury News.

Gerry Vance was honored for his many years of service to the Fairbury Zoning Board of Appeals.

Mayor David Slagel awarded a plaque to Vance at the most recent Fairbury City Council meeting in early February.

Also at the meeting, the group voted to begin the process of applying for a 10 million loan to cover the cost for upgrading the drinking water plant on South First Street. Preliminary project cost estimates are about $8.5 million but the exact costs will not be known until specifications are completed and bids received.

The project would automate many manual tasks at the water plant today and construction would not begin until the fall of 2026.

Council members also approved the purchase of a $310,500 van with two cameras to replace the current system. A trailer with a single camera is currently used for sewer pipe inspections. The new system will reduce some of the excess digging required to repair sewer mains compared to the current system.

City Superintendent Brett Ashburn reported the cold weather has caused five water main leaks in the past two weeks. Old piping systems struggle to cope with significant temperature changes.

In another matter at the early February meeting, police chief Chris Edwards reported he is bringing some accounts up to date regarding submitting claims to the State of Illinois and the city receiving reimbursements from the state. The chief is also making progress in disposing of the seized vehicles currently stored at the water treatment plant with 12 vehicles ready to be picked up and sent to auction.