Michael Bradley hired as a part-time police officer for the Arthur Police Department

Michael Bradley, pictured with Police Chief Mike Goodman and Village President Rod Randall, was hired and sworn in as a part-time officer at last Monday nights village board meeting. Bradley previously worked for the Arthur Police Department from 2011-2016.

By ARIANA CHERRY
Staff Writer

Michael Bradley was sworn in as a part time officer for the Village of Arthur at their most recent meeting held Monday May 15. He had previously been hired in 2011 and then left in February 2016. Presently, Bradley lives in Arcola and works as the midnight officer for the Arcola Police Department. He has a masters degree in History and Education and also student-taught in Arthur for a few years.

A joint purchase between Public Works and the Arthur Police Department for a 2023 Polaris UTV from the World of Power Sports in Decatur for the amount of $19,923.82 was approved. The UTV was already a budgeted item and will be useful for day to day maintenance for the lagoons and spraying herbicide up and down the alleys. In the past, the Arthur Police Department has had to borrow utility vehicles from other nearby departments for events and to put up signs. By making this purchase, there will not be a need to borrow other utility vehicles now. With average use, most of these vehicles can last up to 15 years. The cost will be divided 50/50 between Public Works and the Police Department.

A few ordinances were also passed. Ordinance 05-15A-2023, an ordinance authorizing the exchange of real estate and the execution of an agreement with Clarence Bontreger was passed. Ordinance 05-15B-2023, an ordinance authorizing variance at 305 Oak Street which would allow a placement of a porch with the area between the lot line and front yard building setback line was passed. An ordinance to vacate the alley between North Beech Street and North Walnut Street from West 2nd Street to West 3rd Street was approved. This will be so people will not be driving behind the duplexes once they are completed. Ordinance 05-15C-2023, an ordinance authorizing rezoning of the bare lot on the corner of North Beach Street and Second Street from R-1 single-family residential to R-3 multi-family residential was authorized. This will be for quality housing for those with special needs for the Legacy of Love organization. The fees were waived.

Other items that were discussed/voted upon included:

•A TIF Construction grant in the amount of $1,985.25 was granted to VIP Rentals/Serenity Salt Therapy for 122 South Vine Street.

•The same street closings that are made each year for the Arthur Strawberry Jam Festival and Social to be held on Friday June 2 and Saturday June 3 were approved. (Vine Street to Progress Street to the entrance of IGA and the first block of Illinois Street east and west.

•A discussion was had about miscellaneous expenditures for the Sesquicentennial Celebration. An amount of $30,000 was budgeted for the event which includes expenses for fliers, mailings and the dinner. Board members recommended ticket prices of about $30 per person for the dinner. A motion to authorize the expenditures was approved.

•Stephanie Wierman announced that the Walldogs will be in Arthur May 31 and begin painting the new Rural Patriot mural on June 1. The project is planned to conclude June 4. It will be painted on the south wall of First Neighbor’s Bank building.

•A total of $94,833.45 of expenditures were approved. Part of those expenditures included a payment for the IEPA loan in the amount of $51,288.