Breese residents Stacy Albers and Jodi Winkeler both approached the Breese City Council on Tuesday, Nov. 19, to get approval to host an upcoming event.
Albers and Winkeler approached the board requesting permission to host a 5K and 10K walk for friends and family in memory of Geralyn (Lammers) Vogel. The walk is on Dec. 7 and those interested are asked to meet at Miner's Park at 7:30 a.m. with the walk starting at 8 a.m.
The walk is to support St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Albers said it is not going to be a 5K or 10K run or race, it will just be an event where participants will walk at their own pace.
Albers was asked to contact Breese Police Chief Mark Berndsen and give him the route of the walk. They initially wanted to start the walk at Northside Park, but that route would have crossed US Highway 50.
Breese Mayor Kevin Timmermann said they always try to have events like this stay on one side of US 50 and not cross the highway. Board members suggested to Albers they should start the walk at Miner's Park to avoid crossing US Highway 50.
Albers said she anticipates the walk to be just a small group of friends and family, but anyone is welcome to join the walk.
Also during the meeting, Alderman Bob Berndsen talked about a power outage that happened in Breese on the weekend of Nov. 9-10. The power outage happened between 5:30 and 6 a.m. and they were able to restore power quickly. The cause of the outage was a raccoon on top of a transformer in the substation. Berndsen said the transformer is OK at this time and they will continue to check on its status.
Also during the utilities portion of the meeting, the council approved a wholesale connection agreement with Ameren and Illinois Municipal Electric Agency.
During the public works portion of the meeting, Alderman Carl Ratermann said the city employees are working to put a culvert by the railroad crossing on Walnut and Broadway streets. They are hoping to widen the road out and make it safer. Ratermann said the project could take two weeks, weather pending.
During the recreation portion of the meeting, Alderman Jason Davinroy said Northside Park is looking very festive with the holiday lights and displays. Anyone who would like to donate to help fund the lights and displays can contact city hall.
The annual Breese Chamber of Commerce Lighted Parade is on Saturday, Nov. 30. The parade will march down Main Street in Breese and finish at Northside Park. There will be a visit from Santa Claus and a fireworks display at Northside Park.
The rain date is 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1.
During the health portion of the meeting, Alderman Steve Hellige reminded residents to keep leaves off the road to keep the drains open.
Timmermann ended the meeting by praising the Mater Dei volleyball team and the Central football team.
The Mater Dei volleyball team won its ninth overall state championship after beating Bloomington Central Catholic in three sets to win the Class 2A crown for the second straight year.
The Central football team finished its historic season at 11-1 following a loss to Mt. Zion in the Class 4A quarterfinals.
"Congrats to both teams," Timmermann said. "Both schools represented our area very well this fall."
The next Breese City Council meeting is set for 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at city hall.
