By Heart of Illinois ABC
NORMAL – Normal Town Council member Stan Nord was again up against a majority of council members in a battle over spending priorities.
All of Nord’s favored candidates for mayor and three open council seats lost to incumbents in local elections April 6, so he faces two more years of being the lone dissenter on many issues.
Monday night, Nord was the only no vote on a $471,000 project connecting the Route 66 biking and hiking trail to Normal’s community trail system. The project will bring trail users near Sprague’s Super Service on Pine Street, which is a local landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places.
The local government is using a $150,000 state grant to help pay for the extension.
Nord said the town should be spending the money fixing roads.
“Now we’re at the point where we’re going to be approving money that came into the general fund to build more bike trail?”
Mayor Chris Koos said no roadway dollars will be spent on the trail, and Council member Kevin McCarthy took offense to Nord’s remarks.
“I ask Mr. Nord to quit this divisive commentary. You’re only hurting the town,” said McCarthy.
“There’s no conspiracy theory going on,” he added.
In other business, the town council unanimously approved spending nearly $2 million in gas tax money to resurface several major streets.
Work is scheduled to start next month to resurface the following roadways:
• W. Raab Road (Constitution Trail Collegiate Br. to Bradford Ln.)
• Bradford Lane (Miles Ln. to Raab Rd.)
• Gregory Street (Parkside Rd. to Cottage Ave.)
• Bowles Street (Main St. to University Ct.)
• N. Fell Avenue (Willow St. to Sycamore St.)
• Normal Avenue (Locust St. to Gregory St.)
The resurfacing is expected to start next month and will be completed around October 1.
Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected].
