Road Closures Mar. 27- Apr. 3

County Highway 1 (Brush College Rd.) –

Weather Permitting; Monday, March 27, 2023, County Highway 1 (Brush College Road) will be reduced to one lane on the east side of the road (north bound traffic) for curb work during working hours only. The construction will take place until approximately March 31, 2023 just south of Reas Bridge Road. If you have any questions, please call the Macon County Highway Department at (217) 424-1404.

Tillamook announces new Decatur ice cream plant at former Prairie Farms

Tillamook, Ore – Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA), the farmer-owned dairy co-op and Certified B Corporation behind the fastest-growing family-size ice cream brand in the U.S., today announced plans to open an ice cream manufacturing facility in Decatur, IL in late 2024. The plant was previously owned by Prairie Farms and will be TCCA’s first owned and operated manufacturing facility outside of Oregon. Read full release opens in a new windowhereopens PDF file

City Council approves Tillamook development, ADM carbon sequestration, new childcare facility, sewer rate adjustments

Decatur, IL – Highlights from the March 20, 2023, Decatur City Council meeting include a redevelopment agreement with Tillamook for the former Prairie Farms ice cream plant, an approval for ADM to conduct carbon capture sequestration underneath the City, an agreement for a new childcare facility in the City’s urban core, and a sewer rate increase to keep pace with inflation. Read the full release opens in a new windowhereopens PDF file

Road Closures Mar. 20-26, 2023

County Highway 61 (Franklin Street Rd.) –

Weather Permitting; Wednesday, March 22, 2023, County Highway 61 (Franklin Street Road) will be intermittently reduced to one lane for drainage work during working hours only 7:00am until 5:00pm Monday-Friday. The road construction will take place between Hillshire Road and West Grove Road. If you have any questions, please call the Macon County Highway Department at (217) 424-1404.

W. Grand Ave. –

Operating Engineer’s Local 965 Training will be performing demolition at 1275 North Church Street beginning Wednesday, March 22, 2023, weather permitting.  This work will cause the closure of the outside eastbound lane of West Grand Avenue, from Union Street through Church Street, starting at 9:00 A.M., Wednesday, March 22, 2023 and will continue to approximately 9:00 A.M., Thursday, March 23, 2023.  Motorists should slow down and use extreme caution near the work or are encouraged to seek an alternate route around the work zone.  For further details, please contact Andrew Beyers or Patrick McCaherty at (217) 498-7798.

W. Center St. –

City of Decatur Forestry crew will be replacing the guardrail on W. Center St., between N. Florian Ave. and W. Hunt St., beginning Tuesday, March 21, 2023.  This work will cause the closure of W. Center St., between N. Florian Ave. and W. Hunt St., starting at 7:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 21, 2023, until 3:00 p.m. March 21, 2023.  Detour is as follows: West Bound traffic will turn Left on W. Hunt St, turn Right on N. Stevens Ave, turn Left on W. Division St., and turn Right on N. Florian Ave., and East Bound traffic will turn Right on N. Florian Ave., turn Left on W. Division St., turn Right on N. Stevens Ave., and turn Left on W. Hunt St.  Motorists should slow down, use extreme caution, and are encouraged to seek an alternate route around the work zone.  For further details, please contact Jordan Peck at (217) 875-4820.

N. Charles St. –

Ameren Illinois will be working in the 3200 block of North Charles Street, from Carrie lane to Delta Avenue, to install a new gas service, beginning Tuesday, March 21, 2023, weather permitting.  This work will cause the total closure of the 3200 block of North Charles Street from Carrie Lane to Delta Avenue, starting at 8:00 A.M. and continuing to approximately 2:00 P.M., Tuesday, March 21, 2023.  Motorists should use Pershing Road to Woodford Street to Running Reds to North Charles St or North Charles to Running Reds to Woodford Street to Pershing Road as detour routes.  For further details, please contact Ameren Illinois at 1-800-755-5000.

City Council approves state grants for T/CCI EV compressor facility, Staley Family Foundation watershed support

Decatur, IL – Highlights from the March 6, 2023, Decatur City Council meeting include an agreement with the State DCEO to help fund the conversion of T/CCI’s compressor plant, and an agreement with the Staley Family Foundation that will support Lake Decatur’s 100th anniversary and future watershed management initiatives. Read the full release opens in a new windowhere.opens PDF file

Free smoke alarm installation day for Decatur – Mar. 18

Decatur, IL – The Decatur Fire Department is teaming up with Red Cross, Ameren Illinois, and Crossing Healthcare to install FREE smoke alarms in Decatur on Saturday, March 18, 2023. Working smoke alarms can cut the risk of death from home fires in half. This event is for City of Decatur residents only. See opens in a new windowthis flyeropens PDF file for instructions on how to request your free smoke alarm.

 

Decatur Citizen of the Year – Jim Taylor

Decatur, IL – Decatur Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe presented Jim Taylor with his Decatur Citizen of the Year award at the Decatur Regional Chamber of Commerce Award Ceremony on March 1, 2023. He is recognized for his consistent behind-the-scenes work to make the community better.

“I just want to thank the Chamber and the Mayor for this award.” Taylor said. Taylor spearheaded the naming of Preston Jackson Park as well as honoring former State Rep. John Dunn for making the construction of the Civic Center possible. “We honor a lot of people after they have passed, but I think it’s important to also honor people who are still alive.”
Taylor is an active observer and participant in Decatur City Council meetings. He is a firm believer in “see something, say something” and that citizens should help their community be a better place.
Jim Taylor - Decatur Citizen of the Year