Emerald Ash Borer, Route 64 and Marathon on Committee Agenda Tonight

The St. Charles Government Services Committee meets tonight to discuss various issues facing the community, including electric reliability and the destructive Emerald Ash Borer.

Public Services Manager Peter Suhr will present the monthly update on the borer. Suhr should report there were no confirmed infestations in the city for the month of May. The city should remove 196 ash trees over the next month, though.

Throughout the spring the city planted 625 trees, according to city documents.

The committee will hear a report on electrical issues throughout the month of May, including a brief outage on May 4 caused by a squirrel.

Officials will discuss a request to close off downtown parking lots and streets in September for the Fox Valley Marathon, set for Sept. 16. Expenses for the closure, including police department expenses during the race, are expected to be $7,379.40. Expected closures include the parking lot on 1^st Street, 1^st Street on Sunday during the race, the Illinois Street bridge, and routes 25 and 31 will be reduced to single lanes during the times the runners are present.

Officials will also vote on a four-way stop sign at 7^th Street and State Street, which the city police department says is not necessary following a traffic study.

Public Works Engineering Division Manager James Bernahl will present information on construction projects on Route 64.

Prior to the meeting city officials will tour the Red Gate Bridge site, which will extend Red Gate Road across the Fox River to Route 25 south of Pinelands Road. The bridge includes a two-lane car deck and pedestrian walkway that connects a bike trail from across the river to the Fox River Trail near Pinelands Road.  

The Government Services Committee meets at 7 p.m. at the St. Charles Municipal Center.