Spring Valley awards grant for future restaurant

The Spring Valley City Council awarded a business redevelopment grant for a prospective restaurant Monday.

Pedro Ruiz, owner of Ruiz Food Market, was awarded a grant for a property on East St. Paul Street, across from the Food Market. Ruiz plans to open a restaurant, Marisqueria Ruiz, at the property. A business redevelopment grant application for adjacent properties on West St. Paul Street was tabled for further discussion.

In another item, an increase in the number of available liquor licenses from 21 to 22 was approved in order to accommodate additional applicants.

The council closed Monday’s meeting by approving a new collective bargaining agreement with Local Union 393 of the Laborers’ International Union of North America. The agreement, which was approved after a 40-minute executive session Monday, is for three years and serves employees in the city’s Street, Water and Sewer Department.

The council voted to approve landscaping work on the bump outs on St. Paul Street, establishing a preliminary budget of $15,000 for the project.

The council also approved Mayor Melanie Malooley-Thompson’s appointment of the law firm Applington, Kaufman, McClintock, Steele and Barry to represent the city, and Tom McClintock presided over Monday’s meeting as the new city attorney.

Closure of the 100 block of East St. Paul Street was approved for the Christmas in the Valley Vendor Show Nov. 13. Malooley-Thompson indicated 18 vendors have registered for the show so far. Permission was approved for the Santa’s On the Run 5K Run and One-Mile Walk Nov. 27, and Malooley-Thompson said the annual Light A Tree Parade will be the same day.

Malooley-Thompson said the city plans to submit a proposal for a grant opportunity with the North Central Illinois Council of Governments. The mayor intends to form a committee to determine the scope and projected costs of the proposed project. The deadline for submissions is Nov. 10.

The council’s next meeting will be Monday, Nov. 1.