The Centralia City Council Monday night honored retiring Fire Lieutenant Robert Smith, Junior. He served on the Centralia City Fire Department for 27 years.
“Just the greatest job in the world. I’ve been treated well, I’ve been lucky enough to work with a great group of guys who looked out for me. And I’m walking out of here healthy which is a bonus so thank you.”
The council agreed to move forward on demolition of 14 more derelict homes in the city. They are at 862 East Broadway, 903 Howard, 903 North Beech, 335 and 201 North Walnut, 1001 Dover, 524 and 614 South Elm, 528 South Maple, 515 West 6th, 932 Cormick, 737 North Poplar, 529 South Sycamore and 1021 South Elm.
The council agreed to donate a vacant lot at 330 Melrose to Centralia High School which will use the land for the construction class to build a new home.
Five other vacant lots from previous demolitions were declared surplus with bids to be sought for their sale. They are at 215 West 3rd, 908 North Elm, 614 and 614 and a half South Pine, 615 North Lincoln and 825 East Rexford.
The fire department was congratulated for receiving an Illinois State Fire Marshal small equipment grant for $25,000. It will be used to pay for six new sets of turnout gear.
In other action:
- The council approved a $110,218 bid from T and L Contracting for sidewalk and street restoration on North Poplar from Rhodes to East McCord.
- The council approved a Phase III Engineering Services Agreement with Volkert, Inc to oversee the upcoming Gragg Street Road improvements.
- Bids were waived and a proposal accepted from Brentwood Industries, Inc. for Wastewater Treatment Plant Clarifier Maintenance in the amount of $187,600.
- A bid was approved for purchase of a dump truck for water department use from Parks Industries, LLC at a cost of $58,500.
