City Council Meeting- 11/9/2026

The Rock Island City Council meeting on November 9, 2026 included a presentation of the proposed 2027 budget. Staff sought general feedback—not formal approval—on a proposed $25 million bond issuance for water, wastewater, stormwater, and lead service line projects. Council members generally supported further study, while requesting updated utility-rate and debt-repayment analyses, including consideration of existing infrastructure debt. Staff said the bonds could help address mandated work sooner and would continue pursuing State Revolving Fund loans and other funding. The presentation also identified approximately $326,000 in ARPA interest for capital improvements, proposed a $60,000 Live Work Rock Island contribution, and included Mercury Public Affairs’ $105,000 contract for the first budget reading. Council feedback favored including the library’s additional $54,358 allocation (option two), though the budget remained subject to further review and later readings.

The council approved several purchasing and contracting items: a three-year Google Workspace renewal, with the stated $96,584.40 amount clarified as the annual invoice; a Turfware TR460 spreader-sprayer purchase not to exceed $12,100; $16,100 for view-only access to Harris Enterprise Resource Planning’s GEMS FMS software through December 31, 2026; and police community-room upgrades from CTI ($50,776.18) and Commercial Systems ($7,920). It also authorized the Public Works Director to execute a competitively solicited natural-gas supply agreement and lock in fixed commodity pricing for terms of up to 12 months when advantageous. The council approved property transactions, including purchases at 17 22nd Avenue and 910 12th Street (the latter for $1 plus closing costs), and a sale of city-owned property at 1123 6th Avenue for $1. During the Port District portion, officials reported a $9 million port infrastructure grant for Alter’s facility improvements, part of an approximately $14.5 million investment; the grant is restricted to the port project, not general city infrastructure.