Quincy City Council Meeting - November 10, 2025: Fire Apparatus Purchase, Special Permits, and Water Infrastructure Update
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Quincy City Council Meeting - November 10, 2025
The Quincy City Council met on November 10, 2025, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included approval of routine items, public comment regarding water infrastructure, discussion and votes on special permits for a senior living facility and a landscaping business, authorization for a substantial fire apparatus purchase, and multiple ordinance adoptions. Mayor's comments highlighted a recent water main break, community events, and recognition of veterans.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of the November 3, 2025 City Council meeting and October 14, 2025 Town Business meeting were approved.
- Township reports and resolution: The town supervisor's report for General Assistance for October 2025 was presented, showing total disbursements of $10,704.50 and a balance of $78,779.15. The Town Auditing Committee report for November 2025 was approved. A resolution approving a monthly payment of $475.00 for General Assistance and Emergency Assistance (with a $75 increase per additional household member) effective December 1, 2025, was adopted.
- Consent Agenda items were approved en bloc:
- Petition from Survival Flight to land a helicopter at John Wood Community College on December 9, 2025 (4:15–4:30 p.m.) for Santa Claus arrival (Ward 5).
- Petition from Jason Wollbrink (Bana Land Company) to subdivide an 8.95-acre parcel at Columbus Road and Arthurs Court (outside city limits, near Ward 3) referred to the Plan Commission.
Public Comments & Testimony
- One member of the public expressed gratitude for city workers who restored water service after recent closures, but emphasized the need for sustained infrastructure investment to prevent recurring water main breaks. The speaker noted that the city's water system is at risk without continued funding, stating that a temporary fix is not sufficient and that the city must commit resources to avoid repeated failures.
Discussion Items
- Special Permit for Senior Living Facility (9a): The Plan Commission recommended approval of a special permit for a planned development to construct a three-story, 50-unit senior living facility on Maine Street adjacent to 101 South 48th Street (Ward 3). The petitioner is granted two years from approval to begin construction. Council voted to approve the permit. No discussion recorded.
- Special Permit for Landscaping Business (9b): The Council discussed a special permit for a landscaping business at 2126 South 12th Street (Ward 6). The property is zoned single-family residential. Conditions recommended by the Plan Commission included a six-foot privacy fence on the west edge, hard surfacing of driveway/parking areas, and no parking south of an outbuilding. Alderperson Bruce moved to add two conditions: a 10-foot vegetative buffer along the west property line and a one-year timeframe for completing all conditions. This first amendment passed. A second amendment to make the permit non-transferable (non-assignable) failed (2 yes, all others no). The original permit with all conditions and the added amendment was then approved.
- Purchase of Fire Apparatus (10a): Fire Chief and committees recommended approval of a contract with Banner Fire Equipment for one 2026 E-One 78’ Select Series Cyclone fire apparatus at a cost of $1,516,184. A discount of $75,809.20 is available if the invoice is paid upon signing. The Chief explained the strategic decision: the department has aging apparatus, and by purchasing now they avoid future emission standard mandates (saving ~$120,000) and price increases (estimated ~2.5% or $70,000). The cost is approximately $1.5 million, but by leveraging an available build slot and discount, the city will save over a quarter million dollars compared to waiting. Council approved the purchase.
Key Outcomes
- Ordinances Adopted:
- Ordinance granting Adams Electric Cooperative the right to construct and operate electric distribution systems in annexed areas of the city. This brings the franchise fee in line with other providers.
- Ordinance amending Chapter 40 (Boards and Commissions) to increase the Human Rights Commission voting members from 9 to 11, allow the Mayor to appoint non-voting emeritus members, and change the quorum from 5 to 6. Adopted (11 yes, 1 retreat, 2 absent).
- Second presentation of an ordinance creating a 30-minute parking zone on north 18th Street from Oak Street to the alley (Ward 2). Approved.
- First presentation of an ordinance authorizing a lease with American Tower Corporation for a cell tower at 2018 Jennifer Lane (Ward 3). No vote taken; introduced.
- Mayor's Comments and Recognitions:
- A water main break occurred on Friday night; repairs were completed within six hours, and a boil order was issued and lifted by noon on Saturday. Thanks given to city crews and Adams County for assistance.
- Recognized the birthday of Alderman Morning (50th) and his wife Joanne.
- Recognized Veterans Day; city offices closed on November 11, but trash pickup and transfer station will run regular hours.
- Annual tree sale update: 28 of 40 trees sold; remaining varieties include Japanese lilac, Ivy, spring slope, apple, and redbud. The sale ends soon.
- City employee food drive collected 4,500 items so far; top teams are police department admin, engineering, and mayor's team; collection ends November 17.
- Salvation Army red kettle campaign begins November 15 at Walmart.
- Council members thanked veterans, parade participants, and spouses for their support.
Meeting Transcript
I don't know if I mean we're gonna get started just by couple months early. Um indicator that last week's name, November is up for Miami, and it's a month that we are recognizing to all the meeters can just go above and beyond a little bit up out of the time. Um we have to recognize after all of them. He's not only watching the basketball, but it does have been a father, a few well-down and a lifelong policy. In addition to the pastoral duty, we also have to prevent the council for continual here. And so for them up to now for helpers community in every way possible. We recognize that we all do, please dedicate. Um just want to show thank you for me and so uh thank you to the mayor for uh even acknowledging the things that were just to be able to do and to the community of thank you and have children and ball and how people can really work together when they have to be done. Well, um obviously the thing just to understand the marine, you know, today and um thankful for uh the protection of peace of Ireland and uh bad provides for us and all the roads of potential that's real with uh the government systems and so forth and people blessings for some of the uh and so on. Blessing for someone from uh stuff so just pay blessing upon the other comments that we'll look at my head to you we welcome you and could it be a month first for business council or give us uh wisdom the work and guidance with that and then you please with the both uh within this place and we can put in Ireland and then we'll panic which we make a few cards and now this meeting to order and pick this part of all and fatty five inning and so three twelve thousand and two hours okay, uh thing in the shuttle for case you have in favor I appear to pay me. Uh any motion to approve the webinar meetings as well as we can talk about any discussion. Now I'm in favor I call me, must be very much. Most important, all in favor I can tell no board, we went back to our time business, and then we will get back to full business and have public funding. Just in my and are there any council requests to speak? Again, any time we have to speak. And if there are no country test for speaker or mobile with the time business. Before we think it costs it supervisors for general assistance for the month of October 2025, the second ten thousand seven hundred and four dollars and fifty cents to money market 186,000, 1880. $2,355. How many costs would be from $4,000 five hundred and three dollars and twenty cents? I'll be getting closer in the month. 17,987, about for October 31st, I was 78,779 and 15 cents. And we won't be received in five seconds. And we've been supplement in a discussion. I in favor I see. And now we thank you very much. Um discussion? If you think we cut away. And we'll be back because you can. And we've been seconded you discussing. If you nine fifty following up, add and down. Oh. Oh, in Birdman. Two hours and two acres. Make them pay thank you now. And are there any counters and comments? Any comments? Any comment, if not? Maybe we included three cycles for any discussion. All in favor city council. I close now, nothing to thank you very much. We're now sitting at the city council. And now we'll come to public comment. We have three speakers. Uh and I'll remind you post the name and you will be limited to three minutes. Once you press the summer button on a microphone a clock will come up and you'll have to remove our first people or same now. So um I got my road in public button. And that was a very personal and everybody in the heart will I thank you very much. And I think for all the closures by the 35 and 50 and I can't say as a country that we want to recognize and public workers and restoring the walls to this and really don't know how that would have been clear time and for those of us who work in the public those of us who work in West Blas or things like that. And look at multiple public uh closed and I declined and if they happen make it possible for us to make that thing. That was also it's important to mount on and just in our infrastructure because if we don't do that we're going to kind of have these colours again and again and again.
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