City of Chenoa City Council met Feb. 24.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
The Chenoa City Council met in Regular Session at City Hall on February 24, 2025 called to order by Mayor Shane at 6:30 p.m..
The City Clerk was directed to call roll. The following council members were present: Shane, Lopeman,, Shipley and Bell. The following council members were absent: Commissioner Hernandez. The following members of staff were present: Chief Cornwall and City Clerk Rhoades. The following members were absent: Attorney Mann and Treasurer Rowold
Mayor Shane led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Consent Agenda
Motion by Shipley, second by Bell to Approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 10, 2026; bills and payroll be allowed, and orders on the Treasurer be drawn in payment of same. #5905 Motion carried by unanimously affirmative vote.
Nancy Todd gave an update on the multi-sport recreational project at the main city park. They would put an acrylic surface on the entire existing tennis court. This would turn the batting cage to run North and South and place pickleball courts North and South. She said they talked to Mike Embry at the time the Eagle Scout project was being done to work with them. The Eagle Scout project was too far down the road to make any changes. They thought it was a good idea to keep what they were doing and just move it later to get the pickleball in there. She has worked with Farnsworth and the City to do a comprehensive plan at the park over the last year. She said the pickleball installer requires the courts to be North and South in order to install it. The first phase of the project is about $61,000 which would cover the acrylic surface, relocating the batting cages, the pickleball court and the basketball court. The Chenoa Revitalization Committee has raised all the funds for the first phase thanks to the donations, the Park District and Prairieland Foundation. Phase two would be adding drinking fountains, benches, tables and some lighting. She asked for support and approval from the council to move forward with the project and have a legal review of the contract by the City’s Attorney. If they can get the contract signed by the middle of April they can get started this fall. Mayor Shane said he had done some investing after talking with Nancy the other day. He found out that if the Eagle Scout project gets moved it will come off the national registry for it. JC Spence said he designed it for both worlds to work there. He made it to where there wasn’t a pole in the middle so there wasn’t a pole in the way of pickle ball courts running North and South. The cages were made to retract to allow them to be put out of the way when pickleball was being played. Carl Spence asked Nancy how many people on her committee had volunteered over at Prairieland, who is funding her project. She said none of them have. Carl said since 2011 several of the boy scouts of all ages have done numerous jobs like building a pavilion, building a bridge and many others. Ameren, Pheasants Forever and University of Illinois Extension have actually paid per man hour for the scouts, parents and any other volunteers for these projects which is where Prairielands gets their money. He wondered how Nancy could go ask an organization that gets their money from projects like Eagle Scout projects, to use the funds to tear down an Eagle Scout project. He said he is frustrated that he has been trying to work with this group and it has been going on for over two years. The Council agreed that they will all need to work together to come up with a new plan for the park without moving the batting cage that was the Eagle Scout project.
Chenoa Cub Scout Pack 3822 attended the meeting as a requirement and to learn about government meetings. They also asked permission and for help to make bird or bat boxes to pout around town. There are a total of 15 kids in the Pack which means they would like to do up to 15 boxes. The Council agreed to help fund 15 boxes and told them they would let the Cub Scouts know if they would like the bird or the bat boxes. Danni Burger also asked on behalf of the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and 4-H for permission to place a suggestion box for the community to put their ideas in for community improvement projects they would like to see. The Council agreed to allow them to put one at City Hall.
Comments
Public: A resident asked if they could extend the pickleball court 12 feet to the other side to make it work. Mayor Shane said the batting cage will not be moved and the plan will be looked at again for the pickleball court.
Attorney: None
Treasurer: None
Commissioner: Commissioner Lopeman said the vac truck will be picked up to bring back tomorrow. There is one piece that has been temporarily fixed but the truck is in working condition. When the part gets in they will send a tech up to put it on or our guys will do it. They have finished making and painting the new barricades, helped with water main breaks, picked up brush, did some road repairs and filled potholes. They grinded 57 stumps and filled in the holes. It was very cost effective for our guys to rent the equipment and do them ourselves. Commissioner Bell said Cleary got them the invoice for the storm damage repairs. That leaves them with a little over $9,000 of the insurance money to either put towards the salt shed or quinset for repairs. Commissioner Shipley said he has been doing some research on getting a Data Center in town. A lot of towns will offer a discounted water rate to get them in their town. He does not feel that is a good idea as they will cause a lot of wear and tear on the system. He would like the Council to get it guaranteed for a higher rate for water for a Data Center if they come to town in the future. Mayor Shane said they are supposed to start building the solar farm next week. He met with Jason Bunting and it sounds like not much will get done this summer. He has met with Farnsworth regarding updating our sewer system as nothing has been done with that in years. The paperwork is ready to be submitted for the forgivable loan and he is trying to get us to the top of the list. He said Dairy Queen should be opening sometime next month. Chief Cornall said the new car is in and will be having the lights done next week and striping done April 1.
Motion by Bell, second by Shipley that the council do now adjourn. #5906 Motion carried by unanimously affirmative vote.
https://www.chenoail.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif6431/f/minutes/2_24_26.pdf
