City of Belvidere Illinois Live Stream

The Belvidere City Council meeting was held November 2, 2026 (the stream metadata is dated November 3). Council approved an estimated 2026 tax levy of $6,625,027, including a $895,340 increase over the current levy; the amount remains subject to further discussion at the November 9 committee meeting before final approval. Council also approved renewal of the city’s property, casualty, and workers’ compensation coverage with IML Risk Management for January 1, 2027, through January 1, 2028, at $85,170.17, including $2,000 in dues. The motion specified payment by November 13 to receive a 1% discount.

Much of the public comment concerned the proposed Project Hawkeye data center from Datawatt Energy, including residents’ concerns about farmland, water, noise, energy use, and environmental impacts. Council passed Resolution 2026-24, as amended to cover the project if referred to by another name, directing the mayor and city administration to cease negotiations, discussions, or meetings with Datawatt Energy about the data center. The vote count was not clearly captured in the transcript. During discussion, the city attorney said a $150,000 escrow agreement signed by the mayor was intended to cover outside consultant costs if the project advanced, with unused funds returned; the agreement itself was not a project approval. No data-center contract award or final development approval was recorded.