By Jim Hagerty
Reporter

LOVES PARK- The City of Loves Park is halting a project to reconstruct a portion of River Lane and suspending its annual residential road resurfacing plan because of coronavirus shutdowns.

“The pandemic has put many of our friends, businesses and residents in financial
distress,” Community Development & Public Works Director Steve Thompson said in an email. “The City is no different. The ordered closure of many of our retail tax
generating business partners is having a large impact on the City’s fiscal status. This
anticipated retail sales tax allows the City to be able to provide full City services, like
Police, Fire, and Public Works, and continue to levy a zero percent municipal property tax.”

Thompson said the uncertainty of the pandemic has forced Loves Park to make difficult decisions in order to be fiscally responsible to residents.

“This necessary decision is not one we wanted to make, nor did we make it in haste,” he said. “The understanding by our residents of this decision is greatly appreciated.”

Thompsons expects the City to be in position to complete the projects in the 2021 construction season.

Loves Park staff is also asking aldermen to suspend a previously approved annual water rate increase for this year.

“The rate increase originally to be made effective on May 1, 2020 would now be implemented on May 1, 2021,” Thompson said. “All subsequent annual increases will be pushed back on a yearly basis as specified on the originally approved rate schedule.”