Approve new police radios
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By Ariana R. Cherry
The Arthur Village Board approved at the June 15 meeting the purchase of six upgraded portable radios for the Police Department in the amount of $55,731.84 over the next seven years. The Board discussed the importance of reliable communication for the department.
The new Motorola N70 radios represent a significant improvement over the department’s aging equipment and are needed to address ongoing communication challenges. The testing of alternative Kenwood radios failed to provide the needed performance improvements, prompting the department to move forward with the Motorola system instead. Because the purchase was delayed during testing, the village also lost part of its trade-in value on existing equipment, increasing the overall cost by approximately $2,000.
It was noted that the new handheld radios transmit at substantially higher power than the department’s current portable units and could potentially be delivered before Arthur’s annual fireworks celebration.
Board members questioned warranty options and long-term maintenance costs before unanimously approving the purchase. Discussion of an optional extended service agreement was tabled pending additional information.
Village employees, volunteers, and community members were praised for their assistance during the clean-up following recent storm damage. Officials commended Public Works Director Grant Corum and his crew for their efforts, while noting assistance from the fire department, township personnel, and mutual aid agencies.
Several trustees remarked on how quickly roads and public areas were cleared after the storm, with one Board member noting that residents had commented positively on the cleanup efforts. The Board also discussed the possibility of hosting a luncheon to recognize volunteers who assisted in the recovery.
OTHER TOPICS DISCUSSED AND VOTED UPON
• approved a temporary sign request for the Arthur Fireworks display at the northeast corner of Vine Street and Illinois Route 133 through June 27.
• accepted the donation of property located at 406 W. Fourth St. to the Village of Arthur.
• approved an ordinance establishing additional handicapped parking spaces in portions of the downtown area and discussed appropriate signage and accessibility.
• approved an ordinance creating a “Slow – Children at Play” zone on Fourth Street between Walnut and Beach streets.
• authorized up to $20,000 for cleanup work at the village lagoon property.
• postponed action on a proposal to replace the blower building at the wastewater treatment plant to allow for competitive bidding.
• approved a $16,000 proposal for demolition of the structure at 406 W. Fourth St., which was recently donated to the village.
• heard updates on storm recovery efforts, including potential FEMA documentation should a disaster declaration be issued, and discussed beginning the process of replacing an aging police squad truck after recurring mechanical issues.