MATTOON — A bid for work involving a transformer at the city water treatment plant and coronavirus-relief grants for several businesses go to the Mattoon City Council this week.
A vote to award a contract for the water treatment plant work is on the agenda for the council’s regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday while the business grants will be addressed at a specially scheduled meeting on Thursday.
The regular council meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. On Thursday, a required public hearing on the grant applications is set for 4:30 p.m. with the council’s vote to follow.
Both meetings will be conducted remotely with public access available online or by telephone.
Community group to distribute 500 face masks in Charleston, Mattoon
During Tuesday’s meeting, the council is set to vote on the bid from Anderson Electric for the transformer relocation at the water plant.
Anderson’s bid was $116,700, the lower of two bids received, according to city records. The estimate of the cost of the project was just more than $158,000.
Other votes scheduled for Tuesday’s meeting include approving an easement to access water lines on 19th Street immediately south of Broadway Avenue.
Meanwhile, Thursday’s public hearing and votes will address applications from six businesses seeking grants available to help with losses from restrictions in place because of the coronavirus outbreak.
The applicants are Alamo Steakhouse & Saloon, Hubbartt’s Downtown Diner, the Ice House, Elliott Furniture, Gaines Photography and Taco Amigos.
With the Downstate Stabilization Grant program, the state of Illinois is funneling money through the federal Community Development Assistance Program, making funds available for small businesses impacted by the restrictions.
The grants provide up to $25,000 for two months’ of operating expenses for businesses that closed because of the virus restrictions.
A local unit of government has to vote to support the grant applications. The Mattoon council gave its support to seven other applications last month.
Wanted man arrested at Mattoon nature center after police pursuit from Charleston
Public comments or questions about either meeting can be submitted by calling the Mattoon City Clerk’s Office at (217) 235-5654. The city indicated calls should be made by 4 p.m. Tuesday for that day’s meeting and by 3 p.m. Thursday for that day’s meeting.
Online public access for both meetings will be available at bit.ly/MattoonCC200507. The access code will 623 311 521 for Tuesday’s meeting and 621 312 228 for Thursday’s; the password for both will be 20819.
Phone access to both meetings will be available at 1-408-418-9388 with the same access code each day as for online access.