Decatur, IL – Today the City helped cut the ribbon on the North American Insect Innovation Center! We join in congratulating Innovafeed, ADM, and all the partners that made this sustainable, innovative, and exciting project a reality in Decatur! Thanks to Governor JB Pritzker for visiting Decatur and helping welcome our new French family to Illinois. Like many others, we can’t wait to see Innovafeed grow and we look forward to the future of this company and many other synergistic projects in the northeast quadrant of the city.
Category: News
Local taxes can now be submitted online using OpenGov portal
Decatur, IL – We have recently included a section for local tax collection to our online OpenGov portal. Businesses can now submit the Local Food and Beverage Tax, Hotel/Motel Tax, and Local Motor Fuel Tax online, eliminating the need to visit in person or mail in documents (although these options are still available). We are committed to updating our procedures to enhance the ease of doing business in Decatur.
Council approves demo of former Durfee & Coppenbarger schools, agrees to South Water Treatment Plant updates
Decatur, IL – Highlights from the April 15, 2024 Decatur City Council meeting include the approval to demolish two dilapidated former school buildings, and a financing agreement to support upgrades at the South Water Treatment Plant. Read more in the full news release
IDOT Roadwork on IL 121/Mt. Zion Road – resumes April 15
Decatur, IL – The Illinois Department of Transportation is resuming work on IL 121/Mt. Zion Road next week (April 15). The $11.9-million project started last year with upgraded traffic signals and sidewalk ramps, and now they will be resurfacing and striping the road. IDOT estimates completion by mid-June 2024.
Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction at times. Please drive with caution in the work zone! A temporary inconvenience will result in a much better driving surface and safer intersections.
Road Closures April 15-21, 2024
W. Decatur St./S. Main St. –
City of Decatur Forestry crew will be mowing hillsides starting at the intersection of W. Decatur St. and Main St. to approximately 720 S. Main St., beginning Friday, April 19, 2024. This work will cause the closure of outside right South Bound Lane only beginning at the intersection of W. Decatur St. and S. Main St. to approximation 720 S. Main St., starting at 7:30 a.m., Friday, April 19, 2024, until 11:30 a.m. There is no detour route, however signs and cones will be present in the work zone area to help direct traffic. Motorists should slow down, use extreme caution, and are encouraged to seek an alternate route around the work zone. For further details, please contact Dan Benscoter at (217) 875-4820.
N. Water St. –
Design Air Heating and Air Conditioner will be doing a replacement of air conditioners on roof beginning Wednesday, April 17, 2024. This work will cause the closure of N. Water from Park to E. Main, starting 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 17, 2024, and will continue to approximately 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Motorist should slow down and use extreme caution through the work zone. A detour route suggests, Northbound traffic to use North Franklin Street to South Park Street and Southbound traffic to use East Prairie Street to North Main Street. For further details, please contact Joshua Mower at 217-429-1105.
N. Brush College Rd. –
William Charles Construction will be conducting utility installation and road improvements beginning Monday, February 26, 2024. This work will cause the closure of the southbound lanes of Brush College Road, at Harrison Avenue, reduced to One (1) Northbound and One (1) Southbound lane in the eastern lanes, starting 7:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 16, 2024, and will continue to approximately 3:00 p.m., Thursday, April 18, 2024. Motorist should slow down and use extreme caution through the work zone. For further details, please contact Ben Gomez at 815-914-6510.
William Charles Construction will be conducting utility installation and road improvements beginning Monday, February 26, 2024. This work will cause the closure of Brush College Road, South of Olive Street to North of East Hickory Street. Also, Brush College Road, at Harrison Avenue, reduced to One (1) Northbound and One (1) Southbound lane in the eastern lanes, starting 9:00 a.m., Monday, February 26, 2024, and will continue to approximately 4:00 p.m., Saturday, October 26, 2024. All vehicle traffic use detour as follows on the attached maps BCR Detour Maps. Signage will be placed for detour route and the businesses on North Brush College Road up to East Hickory Street will remain open. Motorist should slow down and use extreme caution through the work zone. For further details, please contact Ben Gomez at 815-914-6510.
N. Florian Ave./N. Kenwood Ave. –
SAK Construction will be performing a Bypass Pipe Discharge Point at the intersection of North Florian Avenue and North Kenwood Court, beginning Monday, April 8, 2024. This work will cause partial closure between North Florian Avenue and North Kenwood Court, starting 8:00 a.m., Monday, April 8, 2024, and will continue thru 7:00 p.m. Friday, May 10, 2024. This will have North lane impacted . Yield to oncoming traffic. Motorist should slow down and use extreme caution through the work zone. For further details, please contact Nick Pryor at SAK Construction., at 636-385-1053.
Medial Dr. –
Burdick Plumbing will be performing a watermain installation at Medial Drive, beginning Tuesday, April 2, 2024. This work will cause the COMPLETE closure of Medial Drive, between Route 51 and West Imboden Drive, starting at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 2, 2024, to approximately 5:00 p.m. Thursday, May 2, 2024. Motorist should slow down, use extreme caution, and are encouraged to seek an alternate route around the work zone. For further details, please contact Jared Burdick at 217-429-2385
E. William St./Rt. 36/N.22nd St. –
Kinney Contractors Inc. will be performing pavement removal for the permanent closure at East William Street railroad crossing, beginning Monday, April 1, 2024. This work will cause the closure of the right turn lane on Route 36 to North 22nd Street and the closure of East William Street between North 22nd Street and North 23rd Street, starting at 7:00 a.m. Monday, April 1, 2024, to approximately 5:00 p.m. Monday, April 15, 2024. Motorist should slow down, use extreme caution, and are highly encouraged to seek an alternate route around the work zone. For further details, please contact Kevin Ashby with Kinney Contractors at 217-229-3322. See attached map.
Grove Rd. Bridge –
C-Hill Civil Contractors will be replacing the Grove Road Bridge over the Sand Creek Arm of Lake Decatur, beginning Wednesday, March 13, 2024. This work will cause the closure of Grove Road Bridge over the Sand Creek Arm of Lake Decatur, starting at 7:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 13, 2024, and continue until complete, Friday, August 9, 2024. Detour will be as follows: Eastbound use Franklin Street to South Shores Drive and Westbound use Southland Drive to South Shores Drive or continue on South Shores Drive. Motorists should slow down, use extreme caution, and are encouraged to seek an alternate route around the work zone. For further details, please contact Frank Libera at (618) 426-4282.
E. Sangamon St. –
JP Cullen/TCCA Tillmook., Inc. will be working Construction on E. Sangamon Street between North Morgan and North Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., beginning Monday, January 2, 2024, weather permitting. This work will cause the partial closure of E. Sangamon Street between North Morgan and North Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. (Closed- E. Sangamon Street between North Morgan and North Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.) starting 6:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 2, 2024, and will continue to approximately 6:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 14, 2024. Motorist should slow down and use extreme caution through the work zone. A detour route available vehicle should utilize E. Marietta St. For further details, please contact Noah Alsteen at JP Cullen/TCCA Tillmook, at 608-754-6601.
Water Main project continues in South Shores
Decatur, IL – The City of Decatur is replacing water mains in the South Shores neighborhood on Medial Drive, Imboden Drive, and a section of South Franklin Street. The water mains in this area are more than 50 years old and have been prone to leaks.
Our contractor, Burdick Plumbing and Heating, Inc. is working on Medial Drive this month (road is closed to thru traffic until approx. May 2) and is storing materials in the area. Work on Imboden and S Franklin will be coordinated with school schedules. Please drive safely in these areas and mind the workers who are improving our infrastructure.
In addition to new water mains, we are installing new fire hydrants, which will improve safety in the area. This project is expected to last until June 2025.
Recycling 101: Pizza Boxes
Recycling tips from Midwest Fiber: Pizza boxes are always a confusing one. Is it all recyclable? Do I tear off the top? What if there is a little grease but not a lot? This picture is a great example of a good and bad pizza box. Usually, the pizza box is fine to recycle unless there is a ton of grease and food scraps.
IDOT roadwork on Eldorado St. – starting April 9
Decatur, IL – The Illinois Department of Transportation is starting work on Eldorado Street between IL 48 and Church Street next week (April 9). The $8.36-million project involves resurfacing the road, ADA improvements with sidewalk ramps, traffic signal modernization and replacement, and bridge joint replacement. IDOT estimates completion early summer 2025.
Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction at times. Please drive with caution in the work zone! A temporary inconvenience will result in a much better driving surface and safer intersections.
Road Closures Apr.8-14, 2024
N. Jasper St. –
City of Decatur Concrete crews will be repairing the road in front 2600 N. Jasper St., between E. Pershing Rd. and E. Garfield Ave., beginning Tuesday, April 9, 2024. This work will cause a portion of N. Jasper St., in front of 2600 N. Jasper St., to be reduced to two (2) lanes with the North Bound lanes closed and the South Bound Lanes split., starting at 7:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 9, 2024, and continuing to approximately 3:30 p.m., Friday, April 12, 2024. Cones and signs will present to help direct traffic. Motorists should slow down, use extreme caution, and are encouraged to seek an alternate route around the work zone. For further details, please contact Ray Lamber at (217) 875-4820
N. Florian Ave./N. Kenwood Ave. –
SAK Construction will be performing a Bypass Pipe Discharge Point at the intersection of North Florian Avenue and North Kenwood Court, beginning Monday, April 8, 2024. This work will cause partial closure between North Florian Avenue and North Kenwood Court, starting 8:00 a.m., Monday, April 8, 2024, and will continue thru 7:00 p.m. Friday, May 10, 2024. This will have North lane impacted . Yield to oncoming traffic. Motorist should slow down and use extreme caution through the work zone. For further details, please contact Nick Pryor at SAK Construction., at 636-385-1053.
E. Grand Ave. –
City of Decatur Water crews will be repairing a water valve in the 1200 block of East Grand Avenue beginning Wednesday, April 3, 2024. This work will cause the closure of one lane on each side in both directions in the 1200 block of East Grand Avenue, starting at 7:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 3, 2024, and continuing to approximately 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 10, 2024. Motorists should slow down, use extreme caution, and are encouraged to seek an alternate route around the work zone. For further details, please contact Jason Lawson at (217) 875-5705.
Medial Dr. –
Burdick Plumbing will be performing a watermain installation at Medial Drive, beginning Tuesday, April 2, 2024. This work will cause the COMPLETE closure of Medial Drive, between Route 51 and West Imboden Drive, starting at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 2, 2024, to approximately 5:00 p.m. Thursday, May 2, 2024. Motorist should slow down, use extreme caution, and are encouraged to seek an alternate route around the work zone. For further details, please contact Jared Burdick at 217-429-2385
E. William St./Rt. 36/N.22nd St. –
Kinney Contractors Inc. will be performing pavement removal for the permanent closure at East William Street railroad crossing, beginning Monday, April 1, 2024. This work will cause the closure of the right turn lane on Route 36 to North 22nd Street and the closure of East William Street between North 22nd Street and North 23rd Street, starting at 7:00 a.m. Monday, April 1, 2024, to approximately 5:00 p.m. Monday, April 15, 2024. Motorist should slow down, use extreme caution, and are highly encouraged to seek an alternate route around the work zone. For further details, please contact Kevin Ashby with Kinney Contractors at 217-229-3322. See attached map.
Grove Rd. Bridge –
C-Hill Civil Contractors will be replacing the Grove Road Bridge over the Sand Creek Arm of Lake Decatur, beginning Wednesday, March 13, 2024. This work will cause the closure of Grove Road Bridge over the Sand Creek Arm of Lake Decatur, starting at 7:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 13, 2024, and continue until complete, Friday, August 9, 2024. Detour will be as follows: Eastbound use Franklin Street to South Shores Drive and Westbound use Southland Drive to South Shores Drive or continue on South Shores Drive. Motorists should slow down, use extreme caution, and are encouraged to seek an alternate route around the work zone. For further details, please contact Frank Libera at (618) 426-4282.
N. Brush College Rd. –
William Charles Construction will be conducting utility installation and road improvements beginning Monday, February 26, 2024. This work will cause the closure of Brush College Road, South of Olive Street to North of East Hickory Street. Also, Brush College Road, at Harrison Avenue, reduced to One (1) Northbound and One (1) Southbound lane in the eastern lanes, starting 9:00 a.m., Monday, February 26, 2024, and will continue to approximately 4:00 p.m., Saturday, October 26, 2024. All vehicle traffic use detour as follows on the attached maps BCR Detour Maps. Signage will be placed for detour route and the businesses on North Brush College Road up to East Hickory Street will remain open. Motorist should slow down and use extreme caution through the work zone. For further details, please contact Ben Gomez at 815-914-6510.
E. Sangamon St. –
JP Cullen/TCCA Tillmook., Inc. will be working Construction on E. Sangamon Street between North Morgan and North Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., beginning Monday, January 2, 2024, weather permitting. This work will cause the partial closure of E. Sangamon Street between North Morgan and North Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. (Closed- E. Sangamon Street between North Morgan and North Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.) starting 6:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 2, 2024, and will continue to approximately 6:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 14, 2024. Motorist should slow down and use extreme caution through the work zone. A detour route available vehicle should utilize E. Marietta St. For further details, please contact Noah Alsteen at JP Cullen/TCCA Tillmook, at 608-754-6601.
First home sold under new home rehab program with Central IL Land Bank and City of Decatur
Decatur, IL – With grant support from the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), the City of Decatur and the Central Illinois Land Bank Authority (CILBA) recently sold its first rehabbed home at 439 S Maffit Street. The rehab was completed in 2023 with two different IHDA grants and American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funding the City provided to the land bank. Four more home rehabilitation projects are underway and should be completed in 2024. Read more about the program in the news release
