City of Kankakee - License & Franchise Committee Livestream

The City of Kankakee License & Franchise Committee held a meeting on June 4, 2026, focusing primarily on updates from Kexus regarding their ongoing fiber optic construction project in the city. Kexus representatives addressed concerns about construction disruptions, restoration efforts, contractor accountability, and communication with residents. They outlined plans to improve cleanup, appoint a restoration manager as a city liaison, and hold contractors financially accountable for substandard work. The project is expected to complete by September 2026, with phased service activations following construction. Additionally, the committee discussed a proposed ordinance to regulate smoke shops within the city, including limiting the number of smoke shop licenses to five, establishing registration and licensing requirements, and defining smoke shops versus convenience stores based on sales percentages. The ordinance also addressed enforcement challenges and proposed a two-reading process before final approval. The committee voted in favor of proceeding with the two readings of the smoke shop ordinance, aiming to better control the proliferation of such businesses and ensure compliance with city regulations.