A block of Archer Avenue is being vacated by the City of Monmouth for the construction of a new gymnasium at Immaculate Conception School. Aldermen approved the ordinance on first reading with a 6-2 vote to vacate the 200-block of West Archer for the new construction which has seen community members speak both for and against the vacation. WGIL previously reported that the plans for the school would see the new gym built along the north side of the existing road. Ideally, the school would build a connecting hallway from the current facility to the new building, hence the desire to vacate Archer Avenue. City Administrator Lew Steinbrecher says that the ordinance includes language that should the project not go forward, the land reverts back to the city as a street. "What they included some amended language that should the school not proceed with the project and not build the new gymnasium on the north side of Archer, that the street would revert back to right-of-way, to the city, a
June 9, 2021
The City of Monmouth could be issuing bonds to help take on a large amount of around $20M in capital improvement projects.
City Administrator Lew Steinbrecher talked previously to the City Council about refinancing bonds issued in 2006 that would lead to a savings of $1.7-2.1M over a 15 year period.
The city has also identified possible savings and with the pending sale of the municipal-owned transfer station freeing up thousands in revenue.
He tells WGIL that given today’s interest rates, the city could finance millions in bonds to take care of a significant amount of work.
“And given today’s interest rates, that could finance about 4-5 million dollars and we have well over 20 million dollars in capital improvement needs. And so, this could be used to help leverage other State and Federal grant funds and take on a fairly significant number of capital improvement projects.”