Bloomington welcomed three officers to its police force and recognized property owners who make the city prettier at the city council meeting on Monday.
Officers Kevin Busfield, Mackenize Phillips and Derek Flaughter completed their probationary period and became fully-fledged members of the department. Each was awarded a certificate and congratulated by council members, City Manager Jeff Jurgens and Mayor Dan Brady.
The city council also recognized six homeowners and one business for their work creating eye-pleasing landscaping and scenery. The Citizen Beautification Committee selects Beautification Award winners every year.
The 2026 class of winners included Tom Kirk’s home at 1905 Garling Drive that features several sculptures in the front yard, and Illinois Wesleyan University’s campus at 1312 N. Park St.
The addresses of the other winners are: 507 S. Roosevelt St.; 609 Northway Lane; 602 W. Bissel St.; 22 Sunset Road; and 9 Woodruff Drive.
The city spent $469 to purchase engraved garden stones for each location; the cost is covered in the park maintenance account of the FY 2027 budget.
Other business
Also Monday, the council entered into multiple agreements and made some purchases as part of its consent agenda. The consent agenda is not debated unless a city council member specifically requests an item be removed from it.
One item was pulled from the consent agenda related to the reappointment of council member Sheila Montney to the Behavioral Health Coordinating Council and the Mental Health and Public Safety Fund Advisory Council.
Council member Abby Scott suggested there could be a conflict of interest due to Montney’s position as a managing partner with a municipal consulting firm. Montney said the city was aware of that during her first appointment period.
The appointments are made by the mayor and approved by the council. Brady defended his appointment and said he has heard positive reviews from those who work with Montney on the two councils.
The appointment was ultimately approved, though council members Jenna Kearns, Cody Hendricks, Mollie Ward and Scott voted against it.
The remaining items on the consent agenda were approved unanimously.
- TK Elevator will upgrade the elevator inside the Lincoln Leisure Center that was formerly Abraham Lincoln Elementary School. Parks and Recreation runs multiple programs in the two-story space. TK Elevator will modernize the controller, door interfaces, communication equipment, cameras, lighting and other aspects of the elevator for $127,138; $150,000 was set aside for the project in the Capital Improvement Fund of the FY 2027 budget.
- JG Stewart Contractors Inc., will replace the sidewalk around the clubhouse of The Den at Fox Creek for $51,370; $75,000 was set aside for the project in the buildings account in the FY 2027 budget.
- Miller Park Zoo will partner with University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Teaching Hospital for care of its animals through June 2031. This extends an agreement that expired in June 2026. The partnership must not exceed $125,000, which is what is set aside for veterinary services in the FY 2027 budget.
- The city will purchase 43 HP EliteBook 6 G2i laptops and 4-years’ worth of technical support for $103,194 from HP. The funds were included in the Information Technology portion of the FY 2027 budget
- Two outdoor warning sirens from Innotech Corporation were purchased for $107,890. They will replace sirens at 2602 Danbury Drive and 614 IAA Drive. The purchase also waives project labor agreement and apprenticeship training requirements, citing Innotech’s size as a company; $120,000 was set aside for the project from the fire department’s portion of the FY2027 budget.
The city also approved expanding the types of alcohol that can be sold at the Freedom Oil service station at 1331 N. Linden St. The station now has a gas station grocery convenience store license that allows all types of alcohol and Sunday sales.
