Welcome to Atwood Sign Coming to Village in the Near Future
A new Welcome to Atwood sign will be installed in the grassy area east of Dollar General.
By Doris Elmore
Staff Writer
A new Welcome to Atwood sign will be installed in the grassy area east of Dollar General, according to information discussed at the Atwood Village Board meeting on Monday, December 9.
Village President Bill Fleming stated that the signed agreement has been sent to the contractor who is installing the Welcome to Atwood sign and the LED message sign. Village Attorney Kenny Crossman is working on the agreement between the owners of the property and village as well as an easement for the location of the welcome sign.
Fleming said the message center, which will be located near the police department, has been ordered and they are working to finalize the order for the monument sign. Their fabricator has the frame for the message center fabricated and on to paint. Once they have the monument sign order completed, they will begin installing the footings/bases for the signs.
In other business before the board, Fleming said the low-interest loan to make improvements to the sewer plant has been approved by the IEPA. It has been signed and returned to the IEPA. A total of $1,910,258 was approved at an interest rate of 1.4% for a term of 30 years.
Payments will be semi-annual. In accordance with the Loan Program, $567,077 will be forgiven by the state. This represents a 30% reduction. Fleming added, “There is a possibility that if some approved projects in other part of the state do not take place, our village may receive additional reductions in the loan amount.”
The contractor that is performing the storm tile project experienced some equipment breakdowns and is anticipating starting the project the end of this month or soon after the first of the year. The board are anticipating this will remedy the flooding areas on N. Indiana and W. Central Streets.
The contractor the village hired to remove spoils and concrete from the village dump area has been working when time and soil conditions are favorable and when the backhoe is available for use. This project is continuing.
Atwood Police Chief Joe Duncan presented Thatcher Rodmaker with a Letter of Commendation for exemplary service in the line of duty with a stranded motorist. Please watch next week’s paper for a complete story and picture.
It was announced that two sink holes near the water plant have been taken care of and filled in with rock.
The board approved expenditures in the amount of $11,028.63.
The board also voted to purchase a new hydro-vac machine at a cost of $140,513 from Premier using the lease to purchase program. This machine is used a lot in the village and the board thought it was best to get a new one with warranty, than purchase one two-years old for
$105,000 with no warranty. The next one available will be in March, 2025.
The board voted to approve a TIF Application from Vernita Henson of Top Knot Grooming in the amount of $13,643. 50 for completion of her business project. The board said she meets the requirements needed for the application.
President Fleming congratulated Maddix Stirrett, standout senior linebacker and running back for the ALAH Knights. Maddix made the Class 2A All-State First Team Defense and broke the ALAH football record for most tackles in a career with 335 tackles. Madix was also a first team unanimous pick on the Lincoln Prairie Conference All-State Academic Team which is awarded to athletes that earn first team all-conference honors and maintain a 3.5 GPA. This is his second year to receive this honor.
Fleming thanked the many volunteers who donated their time to prepare 120 food boxes and to deliver 73 of these boxes to homes in the Village of Atwood. He said it is especially great to see so many students and young families involved in a cause of Friends helping Friends.
He also thanked Harris Ag Museum for letting them use the space to store the food and pack it. Fleming added, “It is always great to see community spirit come together for the cause of helping our friends and neighbors and to help make this Christmas season a little brighter.”
Fleming added a thank you to the Atwood Chamber of Commerce for the Christmas decorations on the flower boxes in the downtown area. He said it was also great to see the Christmas decorations on Main Street as well as around the village beginning to appear.
