Marseilles council approves bid advertisements for Broadway Street boat launch

The Marseilles City Council soon will bid out construction on the East Broadway Street Boat Launch, starting a project Mayor Jim Hollenbeck said has been in the city’s comprehensive plan since the mid-1990s.

“Finally,” Hollenbeck said. “That’s been in our comprehensive plan dating back to 1994 or 1995.”

The project picked up steam after the city swapped land in 2019 with Nucor for a site just southeast of Marseilles Elementary School. Then in 2020, Marseilles was one of six communities selected for grant funds to improve public boat access areas in Illinois, receiving $200,000.

Bidding on the project opens Wednesday, May 12.

Research in the community showed an interest in boating and fishing options as well as attracting tourism.

Hollenbeck had previously said the boat launch has been on the city’s agenda for a while its his hope the additional traffic will mean a boost to businesses in the area. Boat launches in Seneca and Illini State Park have filled to capacity during summer weekends.

The boat launch and floating boat dock as well as concrete bathroom facilities and a parking lot were part of the plans.

The City Council also approved a resolution authorizing it to advertise bids for their 2021 street program, which will see 14 streets receive improvements in a project estimated to cost $421,407.

Those streets include: Meadowview Lane from Seventh Avenue to the cul-de-sac; Prairie Street/10th Street from Prairie Court to the dead end; 11th Avenue from Bratton Avenue to Rutland Street; Overton Street from Third Street to the dead end; Clark Street from Sycamore Street to Glenwood Avenue; Young Street from 900 feet east of Sycamore Street to 360 feet west of Railroad Street; Young Street 600 feet east of Sycamore Street; Young Street 550 feet west of Sycamore Street to the dead end; Perry Street from Clark to Bluff streets; Washington Street from Gum Creek to La Salle Street; Illinois/Chicago Street from Liberty to Broadway streets; Magnolia Street from Lewis to Glenwood avenues; Commercial Street from Sycamore Street to the city pool; Fillebrowne Street from Gray Street to the dead end.

“This is without us having to pull money from anywhere,” said Commissioner Nate Schaefer. “This is what’s already budgeted and what we have in our line item to work with.”

This project will be open for bidding Wednesday, May 26.