Marseilles to beef up security at memorial, new City Hall with $180,000 purchase

The Marseilles City Council took a step on Wednesday to protect two of its most valuable assets: the Middle East Conflicts Memorial Wall, and its new City Hall and police station.

The Marseilles City Council approved expenses totaling nearly $180,000 for security measures around the property at 200 Riverfront Drive, the riverside lot where the memorial sits as the city is moving its offices and police into the old Illinois Valley Cellular building.

The city agreed to pay Per Mar Security of Rockford the amount of $35,662 and Ficek Electric and Communication Systems of La Salle $139,497 for video cameras and associated electronics.

Commissioner of Public Property Jim Buckingham said that the purchase was a necessity in that area on the edge of the downtown, that there has been substantial vandalism around the memorial and that is sure to spill over to the new City Hall, a purchase of which Buckingham opposed.

However, he’s putting that disappointment behind him and sees the need to protect the city’s future asset.

“I know I voted against this, but the council didn’t agree with me. It’s time to move on,” Buckingham said of the $1.35 million purchase finalized in November of 2023.

Buckingham is not concerned about the people going behind the memorial to the river bank to fish on days when weather allows, but does have concerns about those people and teens drinking in the area, mostly after dark.

The area also has been known to attract homeless people, in some cases looking for the coins and donations made to the memorial and its museum after hours.

“I worked in that building 24 years and know it inside and out, and security is the No. 1 thing, no matter where you go, even if it is our own police department. There were not enough cameras there and we needed more of them to keep that entire area safe.”

Street projects targeted

Commissioner of Streets Michael Scheib informed the council that the Street Department will target three projects for motor fuel tax revenue expected. Those are Union Street between Sherman and Day streets, Second Street, West Prairie Street and Lincoln Street between Chicago and La Salle streets.

He added that he’s aware of a “structural issue” on Williams Avenue and admitted that may take as much as $300,000 to repair, but hopes there may be some of the $390,000 in general obligation bonds approved earlier in the meeting, left to address that problem.

The GO bonds, Scheib was informed, are earmarked for the Broadway Park renovation, the Rutland Street sidewalk project and the “Safe Schools” infrastructure work.

Mayor Jim Hollenbeck also commended the firefighters and officers for their work in saving the resident of a home fire on Jan. 30 and the police officers for apprehending the suspect.

In other action, the council:

• Approved its annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade for March 15, waiving the permit and fee.