Peru approves Wenzel Road project bid

Before the Peru City Council approved the bid Monday to improve Wenzel Road/24th Street in a joint project with La Salle, Peru Mayor Ken Kolowski wanted to clarify a point.

Faith Church, 800 Wenzel Road, will be open to traffic.

The rest of the roadway east of Marquette Road to the Peru city limit will be closed for the duration of the project, said City Engineer Eric Carls. The construction will begin soon with a date yet to be determined and wrap up by mid-summer, Carls said.

The city accepted $1,020,545 bid from Advanced Asphalt of Princeton.

To complete the intergovernmental agreement, the La Salle City Council also will have to approve the bid at an upcoming council meeting.

Carls noted businesses west of Marquette Road will not be affected, such as Progress Boulevard.

In other items, the council:

• Approved a $21,529.83 purchase from Cunningham Recreation for a new swing set at Washington Park. The swing set at Washington Park is outdated and out of code. Aldermen said there may be a short period of time with no swings until the city can install the new set.
• Learned it will have to adapt its ordinance not to restrict access to solar power generated by businesses or homeowners as long as its for on-site use.
• Heard from Peru Police Chief Bob Pyszka there will be more than 1,200 guests at the Illinois Valley YMCA for a swimming tournament, noting there will be an influx of traffic in that area.