Committee of the Whole
Apr 13, 2026
The lede
- Life-saving awards presented to police and fire department personnel for rescuing an unconscious resident from a March 7, 2026 apartment fire on Blit Road
- Council approved engineering design work ($310,500) for the $5.9 million Fifth Avenue storm sewer overflow project to address chronic flooding issues
- Council approved adding stop signs at Fifth Avenue & West 6th Street intersection (not a four-way stop), but split vote defeated four-way stop proposal at East 5th Street & Caswell
- Rush Power Systems annexation approved for 1014 Irene Road (13 acres) for business expansion in Belford Industrial Park
- City recognized with Tree City USA Arbor Day proclamation; approved $6,350 for downtown tree purchases
Decisions & votes
Approved by voice vote:
- Independent contractor agreements for electrical ($22,430/year) and plumbing ($19,076/year) inspection services (both 3% increases)
- 1014 Irene Road annexation agreement and territory annexation (Rush Power Systems LLC)
- Tornado siren maintenance agreement with Braniff Communications ($7,110)
- Urban forestry grant tree purchases ($6,350 total from three nurseries)
- Cathodic protection maintenance agreement with Corrpro ($4,100)
- Well #11 Facility Construction Change Order #2 ($7,813.80 increase)
- Resolution supporting Illinois America250 Commemoration
- Special Olympics Athlete Victory Parade permit (May 14, 2026)
- Intergovernmental Agreement with State Line Area Narcotics Team
- Sale of 2003 Kawasaki jet ski (Fire Department)
Amendment failed (5-5 roll call):
- Four-way stop at East 5th Street & Caswell Street (Albertini, Brereton, Gramkowski, Montalbano, Stevens voted aye; Fleury, Frank, Hoyness, McGee, Peterson voted nay)
Approved after failed amendment:
- Replace yield signs with stop signs at East 5th Street & Caswell (original motion)
Special vote on Fifth Avenue & West 6th Street:
- Motion passed to add stop signs (convert to four-way stop) despite staff recommendation against it due to warrant criteria not being met
Discussion items
Intersection traffic control debates: Extensive discussion on two intersections near Washington School. Fifth Avenue & West 6th Street saw council override staff recommendation (which found warrants not met) after Alderman Brereton cited school district request and consistency with surrounding corners. East 5th & Caswell failed to get four-way stop upgrade despite similar request from retired police officer constituent.
Flooding relief project: Mayor Morris emphasized significance of Fifth Avenue storm sewer project as culmination of decades-long effort dating to Peterson and Brereton mayoral administrations, noting it provides relief without “$45 million referendum.” Project includes new connection to detention pond and river outlet, plus reconstruction of Fifth Avenue (7th to Pleasant) and Allen Street (5th to 7th Avenues). Construction staged in two phases to avoid school disruption.
Swift House HGTV feature: David and Lisa Camo announced their historic home will appear on HGTV House and Garden Channel on April 30, 2026, with 12-hour filming involving 12 crew members and multiple trucks.
Development activity increase: Community Development Planner Gina DelRose reported “extremely high” phone volume from companies looking to expand or locate in Belvidere, predicting significant zoning and permit activity for summer/fall 2026.
Stop sign effectiveness concerns: Mayor and Alderman Peterson raised concerns about false sense of security created by stop signs not meeting warrants, referencing Pearl Street example where drivers routinely run signs, creating pedestrian hazards especially for school children.
Financial / operational notes
- Building Department issued 85 permits in March 2026 valued at $2 million (9 commercial, 76 residential including 3 single-family homes)
- FY 2027 budget includes $5.9 million for Fifth Avenue storm sewer project; design engineering approved at $310,500 (6% of estimated construction cost)
- Change Order #2 for Well #11 removed chlorine analyzer from contractor scope (saving money by avoiding BABA compliance markup; city will purchase directly to match existing systems)
- Urban Forestry Grant provided $6,660 for 25 trees in downtown area
- Parking Lot 7 improvement project begins April 27, 2026 using combined DCEO grant and federal ITP funding through Region One Planning Council
- Public hearing on Urban Forest Management Plan draft scheduled April 30, 2026, 5-7 p.m.
- Upcoming projects: Wings Etc tenant build-out (Chrysler Drive), Dutch Brothers (next to Chipotle), MRS addition (Morium Drive), Dave’s food truck taking over old Taco Bell
Public comment
David and Lisa Camo announced their Swift House (historic home across from YMCA) will be featured on HGTV on April 30, 2026, with 12-hour filming session involving approximately 12 crew members. They requested police assistance with no-parking signs and noted the filming could impact YMCA, police, and fire department traffic access on major road. The Camos serve on Historic Preservation Commission and Parks & Conservation Foundation and have previously hosted town meetings and events at the property.
Notable moments
Ceremony honors life-saving teamwork: Emotional presentation recognized Officers Tyler Stanford, Michelle Bogdonis, Ethan Shook, and Anthony Jones plus 11 firefighters for March 7, 2026 apartment fire rescue. Deputy Chief Bird emphasized seamless police-fire coordination that enabled firefighters to locate and rescue unconscious resident within 10 minutes of notification. Chief Shadel praised the “incredibly swift, incredibly professional” work, noting the entire response occurred before mutual aid arrival.
Brent Anderson’s farewell tribute: Assistant Public Works Director Jordan Keck, upon receiving Arbor Day proclamation, redirected recognition to Director Brent Anderson, thanking him for “40 plus years of service with the city.” Mayor noted Anderson “has been around here since Belvidere first had storm sewers” and witnessed many administrations discuss flooding solutions.
Jet ski retirement: Fire Chief Shadel requested sale of 23-year-old Kawasaki jet ski due to extremely limited use. Kishwaukee River typically too shallow for operation; department primarily uses Zodiac for water rescue. Alderman Montalbano joked about “one owner, not many miles.”
Mayor’s flooding project reflection: Mayor Morris provided historical context spanning Peterson and Brereton administrations, emphasizing pay-as-you-go approach over expensive referendum. Corrected common terminology: “I think we probably do it a disservice by calling it a 100-year flood anymore…people know that’s a lie. People know that they’ve lived in their house 20 years and they’ve seen it four times.”