ROCHELLE — At its meeting Monday, the Rochelle City Council heard a presentation on the status of a potential bus route in Rochelle in the future provided by the Reagan Mass Transit District (formerly Lee-Ogle Transportation System).

Public meetings have been held in recent months to gather feedback from residents and community stakeholders. The presentation Monday was made by Consultant Christy Campoll of RLS & Associates, who is carrying out the public transportation study for the RMTD, which is publicly-funded.

Campoll said a deviated fixed route system is being recommended with priority areas of shopping, medical care and social/government services. The route would make designated stops around the city but would deviate to pick up riders a certain distance from the route at their request. The plans include a potential future expansion to a demand response zone in the city's industrial park. The potential future services would supplement RMTD's current service, which provides on-demand rides with requests ahead of time to residents in Lee and Ogle counties.

The potential route would start downtown, proceed to South Main Street past Rochelle Foods, then to the dense residential area of Willis Avenue, back to Illinois Route 251 and then north to 9th Street to The REC Center and then to ALDI and the residential area behind it and May Mart, and then to Walmart and Caron Road before going to the hospital and back downtown. The route would take about 45 minutes.

Campoll said RMTD is considering different run times for the route, including Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ($224,400 yearly cost, 12,240 projected riders), 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. ($336,600 yearly cost, 18,360 projected riders) or 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. ($392,700 yearly cost, 21,420 projected riders). Potential expansion to limited weekend hours is being looked at as well.

Campoll said the project would also need to find a project manager and make capital expenditures such as a new bus and working with the city to construct bus stops. The route is tentatively planned to launch in fall 2025.

RMTD Executive Director Greg Gates said the route plans to address a need in the community and that his organization is always looking to work with community stakeholders to assist with their transportation needs.

"I think we do have a transportation issue that does need some resolution a little firmer than what we already have," Gates said.

Settlement

The council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing a $284,475.34 settlement agreement amendment with the Rochelle Firefighters Association and Jody Willis.

On March 10, 2021, Willis, a Rochelle Fire Department firefighter/paramedic, was placed on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of a criminal investigation which did not lead to a conviction. The leave period ended in February of 2024 and per the terms of the city's collective bargaining agreement with RFD's union, Willis is entitled to back pay and pension contributions outlined in the agreement. Willis was found not guilty after a Jan. 18 jury trial in Ogle County court.

Change order

The council unanimously approved an ordinance approving a construction contract change order for phase two of its wastewater treatment plant upgrades with Williams Brothers Construction for $485,330.

Construction on the project started in June and the contractor uncovered a construction debris site while excavating excess flow lagoons, which was unexpected. The north clarifier at the plant also had to be unexpectedly rehabilitated to maintain adequate treatment. The city will maintain the original approved contingency of $320,100 until the end of the project to cover any unexpected costs.

Airport

The council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing a fixed-base operator agreement with Triangle Aircraft Maintenance, which will operate out of its community hangar at the Rochelle Municipal Airport. That space hasn't had a fixed-base operator tenant in over four years and the five-year agreement will bring in rent revenue to the airport and increase traffic and fuel sales.

RACF

The city presented a check to the Rochelle Area Community Foundation during the meeting for $37,105 from its employee payroll deduction donation program.

"This donation reflects not only the generosity of our city employees, but also their strong commitment to enhancing the quality of life in our community," RACF Executive Director Emily Anaya said. "Contributions like this enable RACF to continue our mission of addressing local needs through our grants process, where we see firsthand the areas of greatest need."

Proclamations

Mayor John Bearrows read two proclamations in honor of Constitution Week (Sept. 17-23) and Gold Star Mothers and Family Day (Sept. 29) and presented them to the Rochelle Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution.