At the June 13 City Council Meeting, the Council approved repairs to the motor for the Santa Fe pump house, the Chestnut pump house, and repairs at the old Santa Fe well. The Council authorized the City Attorney to draft an ordinance amending the City Code to allow for an increase of $5.00 to the User Fee for water, with the increased revenue to be placed in the Water/Sewer Improvement and Extension Account. This fee will support the well renovations and the additional costs for the installation of a new well.

Street improvements are coming in July as Council approved the use of Motor Fuel Tax Funds-Rebuilding Illinois Roads for the overlay of the western portion of Sycamore Street. Another street improvement approved is Benedict Street from railroad tracks to bridge. Have you noticed some streets marked up? The City is planning various locations for potential spray patching and/or full depth patching.

TIF Central Business District comes to a close as the City Council approved an 8th Amendment to the closeout of the TIF Central Business District/Riverfront Redevelopment Plan. The redevelopment plan shows how the city plans to use the remaining funds in the account.

There are plenty of July events happening in Chillicothe. The Chillicothe 4th of July Fireworks will be held at Three Sisters Park at dusk on Monday, the 4th, with a rain date of July 5th. Gates will open at 4pm. Pearce Community Center’s biggest fundraiser of the year, its 29th annual 5K Run for the Health of It, starts at 7am, July 9 with an After Party of food, drinks, and music. Also on July 9th, plan to support your local retail shops on 4th and 2nd Streets and Santa Fe Avenue during their 2nd Saturday Market. Many of the businesses have sales and specials for this event running from 10am to 3pm. Following the Market, the Mill will continue their Summer Concert Series, featuring Whiskey Bent, starting at 5pm. Downtown Thursday 2nd Street Market-the Corn Boil, is set for July 21. Traditionally, our largest Downtown Thursday 2nd Street Market, this event will draw people from all over the area to sample our fresh local sweet corn dinners. From 5–8pm 30+ vendors line the streets, selling homemade treats, movie posters, garden produce, arts & crafts, etc. and Historic Downtown merchants extend their hours to accommodate the market.  The Chamber sponsored Citywide Garage Sales will occur on July 28–30 and The Mill’s Summer Concert Series featuring Revel in Red will open at 5pm on the 30th.