Streator’s Hart described as a “true believer of his hometown”

A seat was be empty when the Streator City Council met Wednesday evening. Commissioner Bruce Hart died Monday in his home. Hart was 76 years old and serving his second term on the council.

Mayor Jimmie Lansford says Hart was a true believer of his hometown and was very interested in improving the city. He says with his education and qualifications, you can’t replace Hart.

Discussion about who will fill his seat on the council will come after his services this weekend.

Lansford says they thought about postponing the meeting but they think Hart would have wanted them to meet.

Ottawa streetscape work planned for West Main Street

New lampposts, sidewalks and flowerbeds are in store for another block of downtown Ottawa. The streetscape beautification work that has added color to La Salle Street is being continued around the corner in the 200 block of Main Street.

The city council Tuesday night accepted a $28,000 bid from Clegg-Perkins for the new lampposts and a $35,000 bid from Dean’s Dynamic Concrete for sidewalk and curb work.

Mayor Bob Eschbach says it will look similar to what they’ve done to La Salle Street. The work is part of a rural development grant worth $99,000.

Four people arrested after allegedly trying steal from a car

There’s nothing you can steal out of a car that would make it worth a felony charge. La Salle County Sheriff’s Deputies tracked down four people accused of trying to steal from a car in rural Utica.

The owner called the police Tuesday night, giving them a description o f a car and the people inside. Soon Amey McDonnell of Joliet, Derrick Aquino of Marseilles, and Jose Avila and Anthony Brito, Jr. of Ottawa were stopped in Utica and arrested for burglary to a motor vehicle.

They’re being held in the county jail awaiting a bond hearing.

Ottawa reaches agreement with their police union

Negotiations for a new police contract in Ottawa ended with a two-year contract with which both sides agree. Officers will receive a 2.4% raise in year one and a 2.5% in year two.

Mayor Bob Eschbach says the negations went well. The contract was placed on file Tuesday night by the city council. It begins May 1.

The city council also agreed the police department should get a new computer server for nearly $152,000.