Pam Reece

Last year, many Bloomington-Normal residents saw their electric bills jump 40% in some cases, even after the municipalities teamed together with other Illinois governments. And there are signs the summer could produce some volatile electric rates again.

A $1.9 million federal grant announced by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin will fund engineering and construction of the new stretch of trail that will extend the current endpoint at Gregory Street and Parkside to the west and south.

Town of Normal staff are signaling a potential need for significant rate increases in several programs including water and sewer, recycling, landscape waste and trash pickups. City Manager Pam Reece said a need for new sewage lift stations and cost recovery for hauling will require a council policy discussion.

The various projects, including public infrastructure, water, sewer and parks, total $188 million of planned capital spending.

2025 was a good year for Normal, according to City Manager Pam Reece, noting town achievements include a range of infrastructure projects, opening a refurbished skate park at Fairview Park, and advancing the town's public arts plan.

The senior member of the Normal Town Council says there's something missing in debate over closing the College Avenue fire station when a new east side station opens in a couple months.

The Normal Town Council approved a raise for City Manager Pam Reece at its meeting on Monday.

A debate is emerging about the optimum size of the Normal Fire Department and the positioning of fire stations.

To get the decade-old Uptown underpass project over the finish line will require increases in food and beverage and hotel-motel taxes. That staff recommendation emerged at a special town council meeting on Wednesday evening.

Another approved use of money is to replace an aging electronic record management system that integrates information for the courts, law enforcement, and other McLean County stakeholders. There has been a lot of unhappiness about that project too.