Guest Speaker: Ken Mundy
As Ken Mundy prepares to finish out his final term as Mayor of Sycamore, he’s looking back on the progress the city has made over the last decade – becoming a more sophisticated, transparent and cost-efficient operation, and making a number of badly-needed improvements.
But Mayor Mundy says the city still faces challenges to its budget and infrastructure; this past Monday, the City Council authorized the inclusion of a line item on water bills to cover radium treatment costs. Right now, the City pays an average of $310,000 a year under a ten-year agreement which is due to expire in August; when that runs out, the annual cost will more than double…to $647,000 a year or more. So a radium fee will be needed, to help cover that expense and to prove to users and officials that the city is in compliance.
Mundy also says that the city will be making a stronger push to maintain its streets, thanks to an influx of monies. Some city funds which have been put towards other purposes are being freed up, and over $3 million will be available to fix Sycamore streets.
In tribute to his years of service to the City of Sycamore, as both Treasurer and Mayor, the Sycamore Rotary Club presented Ken Mundy with a Paul Harris Fellowship. Rotary Foundation Chairman Paul Stromborg presented him with the award, alongside City Manager and Sycamore Rotarian Brian Gregory.