Town of Normal

The mayor of Normal is answering criticism of the town council decision's to move ahead with the Uptown underpass project despite steep price increases and a larger town share of the $40.3 million cost.

The Uptown underpass project, first proposed 10 years ago, was approved Monday night by the Normal Town Council with a sunset provision on tax increases needed to complete financing.

Some Uptown business owners are criticizing a proposal to raise food and beverage and hotel-motel taxes in Normal. They’re also not happy about an accelerated timeline to a council vote on Monday — just three business days after the proposal became public.

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.

McLean County government has offered an olive branch in its response to notice of default from the City of Bloomington and Town of Normal in a protracted dispute over shared sales tax money.

Tynessia Edmonds was one of 397 managers to receive the Ray Kroc Award, named for the businessman responsible for turning McDonald’s into the global fast-food chain it is today.

The Van Leer Memorial Bell Tower will now play music twice daily as it did last century.

Normas Director of Zoning and Planning Mercy Davison said town staff is making great progress in the town’s Vision 2050/Sustainability plan. Davison gave an update to the Normal Town Council at Monday's meeting.

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.

Connect Transit is launching a new seven-day-a-week bus route called the Mint Route, aimed at serving shoppers throughout Normal.