Teutopolis Village Board Agrees to Seek Grant Funds for Sidewalk Improvements

Sidewalk improvements are on the way in Teutopolis.

The Teutopolis Village Board Wednesday voted to commit the 20% local share needed to seek ITEP grant funds. An application for the funds is due by the end of the month.

Among the projects planned is one to extend sidewalk west along Route 40 in front of Teutopolis High School. The sidewalk would also be constructed on the north side of the highway in front of Dollar General and McMahon Meats and on east into town.

The Village Board also approved an unsewered grant agreement with Milano and Grunloh Engineers. A grant for engineering work has been secured, now the Village is working on a grant to cover construction engineering. While there is water service throughout the village, there are some areas without sewer service and this project could remedy that.

The Board awarded employee health insurance coverage that involves the same plan as was in place, and retained South Central Illinois Regional Planning and Development Commission for TIF reporting to the State Comptroller for the past fiscal year.

Board members discussed the recently-completed resurfacing of Route 40, or Main Street, through Teutopolis. A couple of drainage issues dealt with earlier this week should wrap up the project. Consideration, though, of a quote to have the ditch and creek area by Mainz Circle cleaned out was tabled.

Shelby Dupont from CQI Associates spoke with the Board about the village's electrical aggregation rate. It's anticipated that rates will go up. A reminder that village residents have the choice to opt out of the plan and seek their own deal.

Board members discussed whether to approve an ordinance that would require inground swimming pools to have a fence put up around the perimeter of the pools. Village Attorney Tracy Willenborg will be asked to develop a tentative ordinance. There was also further discussion of guidelines regarding solar panels in the village, and Willenborg may be asked to draft an ordinance on that matter as well.