Rock Falls alderman resigns

Council OKs K-9 pickup, pledges support for riverfront project

ROCK FALLS – Ward 4 Alderman Bob Thurm has resigned, City Council members learned Tuesday night.

The council also OK'd the purchase of a $35,000 pickup for the K-9 unit, and a memorandum of understanding about the proposed riverfront development.

Thurm, who has missed the past several city council meetings, including Tuesday's, sent a letter to Mayor David Blanton and his fellow members, announcing his resignation effective Aug. 1. The letter was delivered to City Hall on Monday, City Clerk Bill Wescott said.

He did not disclose his reason.

"I would like to thank the citizens of the fourth ward for allowing me to serve them for the past 7 years," Thurm wrote. "It has been a great pleasure to work with the mayor and all members of the City Council, past and present."

Blanton is asking the council and citizens to suggest a Ward 4 resident to replace Thurm for the remainder of his term, which ends in April. At that time, he or she can run for election.

Thurm was chairman of the city's personnel committee; a committee member will be chosen to replace him.

AlsoTuesday, the council approved the police department's request to buy a 2012 Ford F-150. It will replace its 2001 Ford Explorer, which has 95,000 miles on it, and will be passed on to another department.

The $35,000 will come from his department's budget, Chief Mike Kuelper said.

As expected, members also approved a memo acknowledging their support of a proposed 10,000-square-foot building and parking lot along the riverfront.

"We're looking for an anchor, and this will be our first project on the riverfront. We're excited about that," Blanton said after the meeting. "The council's very supportive of getting that development moving forward. This is a memorandum to say, yes, we want to work with you."

A group being referred to only as Project Eagle approached Rock Falls Community Development Corp. about putting the building on the former Reliant site, on the north side of East Second Street.

Blanton and other officials have declined to reveal the type of development.

Alderman needed

To be considered for appointment as the Ward 4 alderman, a Rock Falls resident must be 18 or older, live in the ward and have no outstanding city debt.

Go to rockfalls61071.com/government to see a map of the ward.

Call City Clerk Bill Wescott, 815-622-1104, for more information on applying.