Welcome sign aside, here are 5 other key items Rockford City Council approved this week

March 3, 2025|By Kevin Haas|In Rockford, Trending, Featured, Rock River Current, 815 News, Local

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A debate around the city’s welcome sign grabbed news headlines and the public attention, but on Monday it was just a small part of the City Council’s business.

Aldermen had more than 30 measures to vote on Monday, ranging from approving liquor licenses at Vanakkam India, 1620 N. Bell School Road, and Smokey Bones, 6690 E. State St., to preparing for future road construction projects and tearing down blighted buildings. Aldermen’s discussion of the sign on Monday lasted for less than five minutes of the more than one hour meeting.

Here’s a look at five key items that aldermen also approved on Monday:

Workforce development

Pastor Albert “Tank” Weathers, the owner of LT Construction, congratulates Quavion Kimble on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, at a ceremony at Veterans Memorial Hall celebrating the graduates of a new workforce development program. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

City Council members unanimously approved a workforce development agreement with LT Construction for up to $675,000 to continue a program that helps young adults learn trade skills while building sidewalks around the city.

The program has led to more than 28,000 lineal feet of sidewalk being improved during its first three years in existence, according to the city. The work was done to close gaps in sidewalk near schools, parks and other pedestrian areas.

It also allowed for 14 mentees in the program to be hired by local union contractors and work in their respective trades.

This year, LT Construction will take on six city-hired summer interns for approximately 4,300 hours of job training and workforce development.

The $675,000 pricetag includes materials, equipment, supplies and incidentals.

Lead pipe replacement

Cameron McKee, an operator with N-Trak Group, prepares Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, to replace a lead water service line in southwest Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Aldermen voted unanimously to approve a $4 million contract with N-Trak of Loves Park for the latest round of lead water service pipe replacement. The work is funded by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

The city has thousands of lead service lines it’s working to replace over the course of several years and thousands more lines where the material is still undetermined.

The city expects to replace roughly 400 lines this year through the program.

Here’s a look at where it’s total water line inventory stands:

  • 14,237 lead service lines
  • 11,451 non-lead service lines
  • 1,088 galvanized lines
  • 28,598 unknown materials

Homebuilding incentive

 

Aldermen also voted Monday to extend a tax incentive program credited with spurring the most homebuilding in Rockford since the Great Recession.

The council voted 11-0 to approve an intergovernmental agreement that calls for the city and Rockford Public Schools to rebate property taxes for three years for single-family and multifamily structures built in the city this year. All other local taxing bodies have also been invited to participate, although it’s still unclear which ones will also offer the rebate.

The council also decided to again waive building permit, building inspection, plan review and water connection fees for new residential construction.

The City Council previously enacted a three-year property tax rebate and building permit waiver in 2023, but the measure expired at the end of 2024.

Harrison Avenue improvements

The council also approved a $696,700 engineering agreement with Fehr Graham for the future reconstruction of Harrison Avenue. The funding comes from the Rebuild Illinois capital funds and the city’s motor fuel tax.

The second phase of Harrison Avenue’s rebuild is slated to happen in 2027, rebuilding a western stretch of the road from Main Street to Kishwaukee Street.

“This is the final phase of engineering,” said Tim Hinkins, the city’s interim public works director. “We anticipate the actual design to take a year.”

Demolitions

The city approved a $26,384 contract with N-Trak Group of Loves Park to demolish dilapidated former commercial buildings at 422 Kishwaukee St. and 431 15th Ave. The tear down of the small structures is funded by federal Community Development Block Grant dollars.

A separate $144,000 contract was awarded to raze a vacant former warehouse at 3600 W. State St. That demo was funded through American Rescue Plan dollars.

Both measures are part of the city’s blight reduction efforts.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas