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Politics & Government

City Council Briefs: Better Sidewalks, Suicide Prevention, Sworn Firefighters

Batavia MainStreet also provides an update on the latest and greatest in the downtown area, and Oktoberfest returns for another year on the Riverwalk.

Editor's note: A previous version of the sidewalk brief that incorrectly stated the status of the project was posted on the site early Monday morning. Batavia Patch apologizes for the error. The brief that should have been published is now below in bold.

Here are some more items voted on or discussed at the last full Batavia City Council meeting:

City Council Approves Sidewalk Improvement Contract

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The City Council on Monday night approved the contract for Geneva Construction in the amount of $85,045 for sidewalk improvements along Woodland Hills Road and Giese Road.  The sidewalks will be improved in the fall on Woodland Hills Road from Wilson Street to Meadowrue Lane and from Chillem Drive to Giese Road. On Giese Road, improvements will be made from Woodland Hills Road to Larkspur Lane.

According to the city memo, the budget for the project was $75,000, funded from the same account as the street program and various other street, sidewalk and curb improvements the city is completing in the community. There are sufficient funds in this account to support the additional $10,045 needed for the project, the memo stated.  

“Staff feels that this project has a significant benefit to the area and promotes our goals with both the sidewalk gap program and the Safe Routes to School program,” the memo stated.

Find out what's happening in Bataviawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

MainStreet Happenings

Batavia MainStreet Executive Director Joi Cuartero reported the following for July:

  • opened at 35 N. Water St.
  • , 227 W. Wilson St., closed its doors
  • Masus Financial Group relocated to the historic Challenge building at 515 North River Street in Batavia 

Residents will have two events to look forward to in September, according to Cuartero:

  • The MainStreet annual block party will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4, on North River Street.  The event will feature live music and dancing, a bags tournament, face painting and a “Taste of Batavia,” as local restaurants will serve up $2 tastings and drink specials, Cuartero said.
  • The MainStreet House Walk will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, at featured historic homes in Batavia. Tickets, on sale now, are $18, or $20 the day of the event.

For more information on these events contact Batavia MainStreet at http://www.downtownbatavia.com/  or 630-761-3528.

 Teens Donate $4,000 to Suicide Prevention Services

Emily Roberts and Ben Minnis, two Batavia teenagers who organized the fundraiser in July, presented a check for $4,000 to Steven Binns, coordinator of volunteers for in Batavia. The event was held in memory of their friend and Marmion Academy senior , who died in January.  The event raised $5,400 total.

“This is an amazing example of what people can do when they set their mind to it,” said Roger Breisch, Executive Director of the Batavia Chamber of Commerce.

“The work that Emily and Ben did triggered a response from the community,” said Mayor Jeff Schielke. “It speaks to the good and caring people we have in the Batavia community.”

Council Appoints 4 Paid-on-call Firefighters

The City Council appointed the following paid-on-call recruit firefighters: Dan Felber of Batavia, Michael Rippenger of North Aurora, Irv Rotter of Aurora, and George Smith of Batavia.

 Council Approves Liquor License for Oktoberfest Event Sponsors

The City Council unanimously approved a temporary liquor license for the German American National Congress – Chapter Fox Valley, for the Oktoberfest event to be held from Friday, Sept. 16, through Sunday, Sept. 18.

“We had a good experience with them last year,” said Alderman Victor Dietz. “There were no violations and we expect the same this year.”

Mayor Schielke also spoke about the next ACCESS meeting and that group's plans for a 10th anniversary event for 9/11. To read more about this, click .

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