The Bloomington City Council on Monday delayed a $112,572 contract for a second round of algaecide treatment at Lake Bloomington.
“It really has all to do with the weather and how effective the treatment is going to be,” said city manager Jeff Jurgens.
Algae management at the lake, the main one of two water sources for Bloomington, was previously done in April to counteract algal blooms that can affect the taste and odor of water. Drought conditions like Illinois experienced much of this year — lower reservoir levels, higher-than-normal temperatures and low precipitation — are considered a risk factor for algal blooms.
McLean County has been listed by the Illinois State Water Survey Group as experiencing a "moderate drought," something that is expected to continue into the foreseeable future.
“The numbers right now are just not telling us that we need to spend this amount of money to address it. So, we're going to continue to kind of sit back and wait,” said Jurgens. “And if we're going to make a $100,000 investment, we want to do it when it's going to be the most effective.”
Water treatment improvements
The city council also received a water update and approved a multi-faceted motion for about $2.55 million worth of water treatment plant upgrades — specifically, an agreement with P.J. Hoerr, Inc. for plant improvements and another with Donohue & Associates for carbon-related services.
The improvements are intended to address taste and odor issues through the release of powdered activated carbon [PAC] that will remove contaminants.
City officials continue to stress the city's drinking water is safe.
“The plan is to keep using Lake Bloomington,” said Scott Joyce, water purification superintendent. “And like last year, Lake Bloomington has a lot better numbers as far as the taste and odor compounds, so hopefully we can lean on that, and rain will obviously be what really drives our plan going forward.”
Evergreen Lake received algaecide treatment at the end of October, something Brett Lueschen, assistant superintendent of water, said will soon lead to results the water department can study.
Filters also have been replaced, a move Jurgens said should further improve water quality.
Funds to improve water services come from up to $36 million in bonds the city approved for such efforts in May.
Audit
In another matter, no major issues were found in the City of Bloomington audit presented to the council by Michael Mallat from Baker Tilly Virchow, LLP.
“Overall, the city had a strong financial year,” said Mallat.
The city operated at a fund deficit due to strategic spending and capital. Had the city not elected to spend as much, there would have been a surplus.
“So nothing unanticipated on a true operating standpoint. Without those capital works, it's still a strong performing year, despite the fact that revenues have declined throughout the state of Illinois through the year,” said Mallat. “So, it's a continuing thing of strong fiscal responsibility for the city.”
Pension funds were found to be stable. Certain funds, like the IMF fund, saw slight decreases and others like police and fire saw slight increases in overall funding.
Police
Several police-related items were approved, including a liability settlement, modernizing two elevators in the police department and funding the process by which certain officers earn promotions.
Money from the Bloomington Human Resources Department will go toward the $50,000 settlement filed by Jaylin Bones.
Bones filed a complaint against the city in 2019 for injuries suffered when he was struck by a vehicle fleeing from police in 2017. Damages would have been in excess of $50,000 if the city was found liable.
While the city maintained a denial of liability, a settlement was deemed worthwhile to pursue rather than paying for the costs of a trial.
Bones was sentenced to 80 years in prison in 2024 for charges related to a fatal shooting in 2022.
The council also approved two actions related to upgrading two elevators in the police department, including a $439,478 agreement with Georgia-based TK Elevator.
Updates include new controllers, electronic door detector interfaces, power supplies, communication equipment, cameras, lighting, fire alarm interfaces and other related items. Previously, $300,000 was budgeted for the project. An additional $139,478 from the city’s capital improvement fund covers the rest of the expense.
The council also approved a $17,960 change order increase for the police department’s promotional exam for sergeants and lieutenants.
