Rock Falls alderman: City economy improving
Sewer plant wins merit award from state engineering group
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| The Rock Falls City Council learned Tuesday that the city's new wastewater treatment plant won recognition from a trade group. (SVM file photo) |
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ROCK FALLS – The economic climate in Rock Falls is improving, one Rock Falls alderman noted at Tuesday’s council meeting.
Alderman Daehle Reitzel, who owns Wheelock Furniture, pointed out several openings and expansions.
Among them: The Silicon Wrench, a computer store, will open soon on West Second Street, and All Star Photography also is coming to town. Good Times Pizza recently moved to larger quarters, and the remodeling of Rock Falls Billiards is “beautiful,” Reitzel said.
“I think it’s a sign the economy is turning, I really do,” Reitzel said. “Confidence in the area – a number of these businesses held off because they were afraid – every one of them is an absolute asset to downtown.”
Reitzel also said he wants City Council members to do more to help downtown business owners, and make the area more appealing.
He noted trees that died years ago that have not been replaced and other trees that have not been maintained.
“There’s a lot of things that could be done downtown to make it look better,” Reitzel said. “A few extra shrubs here and there, a little bit of decoration, just like you would at your home.”
Also Tuesday night, the council learned that the city’s new wastewater treatment plant won recognition from a trade group.
The American Council of Engineering Cos. of Illinois gave the plant a merit award, the council learned at its meeting Tuesday night.
Mayor David Blanton, wastewater reclamation superintendent Ed Cox, and Bob Gasper, project manager for engineers Willett, Hofmann & Associates, went to Normal Friday to receive the award, which Willett, Hofmann applied for on behalf of the city.
The plant was judged on the basis of “engineering excellence and the degree to which the client’s needs are met and the benefits to the public welfare and the private practice of engineering,” Gasper said.
“We thought we had an award-winning plant; now we know we do,” the mayor said.
The plant, off west U.S. Route 30 north of Rock River Provision, can process up to 3 million gallons a day. Under peak conditions, such as a large rainstorm, it can process 7.5 million gallons a day.
Cox said the award is a testament to the hard work that went in to building the facility.
“That’s what was good about getting this award,” he said. “It was a total team effort from the operators right through the engineers.”
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Too bad they didn't put in a much needed public boat ramp in that area while putting in that sewer plant. That would have been a good spot for one. Sterling and Rockfalls are neglecting fisherman, there is no ramp down river where the water is deeper and Lawrence Park is too shallow and too far away from the deeper water down river. |
