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Bloomington Public Works Director Kevin Kothe shares a map of planned resurfacing projects, during Bloomington City Council s virtual meeting Monday, May 24, 2021.
The Bloomington City Council Monday night approved spending the bulk of its annual roadwork budget on a $5.1 million street resurfacing plan.
Also during the virtual meeting, the council voted to bring the Bloomington Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau to downtown and learned how the city plans to share $700,000 in federal housing assistance grants.
The council voted unanimously for Rowe Construction, part of United Contractors Midwest, to complete the resurfacing. Technical bidding requirements were waived.
Public Works Director Kevin Kothe said while last year’s resurfacing focused on major stretches such as Hershey and Six Points roads, this upcoming project list is much longer, as crews will hit more neighborhood streets.
Minnesota Post-It Note Inventor Passes Away at 80
RIP to the chemist and inventor that is responsible for keeping so many people organized on the job. Spencer Silver passed away May 8th at 80 years old in his home in St. Paul.
One of the 37 patents awarded to him during his time at 3M is for microsphere adhesives Post-it. In 1974 colleague Art Fry came up with the idea of using Spencer s invention to prevent paper bookmarks from falling out of his hymnal when he sang in church. Thus, Post-it Notes were born.
Silver retired from 3M in1996, and won multiple awards for chemistry and inventing, but it wasn t all science for him. He was also a talented artist who had his work displayed at the Bloomington Center for the Arts and other venues. He also enjoyed cooking and traveling with his wife.
Post-it note co-inventor dies at 80 in St. Paul, Minnesota home
By FOX 9 Staff article
Spencer Silver, 80, died in his St. Paul, Minnesota home Saturday. He is credited with inventing the adhesive that lead to 3M s famed Post-it Notes. (3M)
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - The co-inventor of the Post-it Note died Saturday at his home in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Spencer Silver, 80, invented the adhesive that would later be an integral part of the popular 3M product, the company announced in a release Wednesday.
Silver made the breakthrough in 1968, discovering a formulation of adhesives that was strong enough to hold paper together but that could be removed and re-stuck again without damaging the paper.
The Bloomington City Council meets remotely, Monday, May 10, 2021.
Bloomington plans to reopen all city facilities June 1 or 2 as part of the state’s bridge to Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois Plan, City Manager Tim Gleason told the city council on Monday.
Gov. JB Pritzker announced last week the month-long “bridge” will begin Friday. The transition aims to return Illinois to normal operations and capacities by June 11.
In other pandemic-related news, Gleason told the council the first half of Bloomington’s $14 million due from the latest federal COVID-relief package arrives this week, and the state will begin a rental assistance grant program next week. The council voted unanimously to eliminate late payment penalties for water bills through Phase 4.
Bloomington performing arts manager James Mack pleaded guilty Friday to battery in connection with an incident in December.
Under a plea agreement with the state, Mack, 52, was sentenced to 18 months court supervision and ordered to pay a $75 fine. Required anger management training has been completed, according to the plea agreement.
In initial charges accusing the city employee of domestic battery, the state alleged Mack pushed a minor during a Dec. 11 argument. The minor was pushed off a chair at the kitchen table, said charges.
The city’s website indicates Mack is still employed as performing arts director.
Mack began his tenure with the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts in January 2018 after he left his position as managing and facility director for the Mesquite Arts Council in Mesquite, Texas.