St. Charles Aldermen Advance Permits for Fox Valley Marathon

St. Charles aldermen this week gave the initial go-ahead to streets closures and a sound amplification permit for the 2013 Fox Valley Marathon, which will be Sept. 22.

The layout and route will be similar to the one in 2012, with the race staging at 7 a.m. on 1st Street, heading south to Route 31, and out of the city limits into Geneva before returning to St. Charles along Riverside Avenue. The marathon will end on the west side of the Illinois Street Bridge.

The city’s cost for providing police, emergency medical, fire department and public works services — totaling $7,377 — will be paid for by the event’s sponsors.

The aldermen’s recommendation on Monday for formal council approval did not come without discussion. Ward 4 Aldermen James E. Martin and Jo Krieger of the 4th Ward expressed concerns about the use of amplifiers, particularly on Sunday morning, for the start of the race.

The amplification permit request also is for 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, for the CASA Fox Valley Kids Marathon, which was held at 5 p.m. on the Saturday before the 2012 marathon. Prairie Street would be closed for the kids event.

But the greater concern for Martin and Krieger was Sunday morning. The permit asks to use the public address system equipment from 6:15 a.m., a full 45 minutes before the start of the marathon, until 1:30 p.m.

Deputy Police Chief David Kintz reassured the aldermen that the even sponsors had agreed to keep the use of the amplification equipment down as much as possible prior to the start of the marathon at 7 a.m., although sound tests will need to be conducted before that. He also said marathon organizers have agreed to “keep things down at start of race.”

Ultimately, aldermen voted 8-1 to recommend formal council approval of the street closures and amplification permit for the event. Krieger cast the dissenting vote.

Aldermen on Monday also:

• Voted to recommend formal council approval of a Class E-1 liquor license for the Geneva Chamber of Commerce’s “Sixty Men Who Can Cook” event at the Kane County Fairgrounds from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on April 19.
• Discussed traffic concerns along Madison Avenue, where residents are concerned about cut-through traffic largely associated with the Route 64 reconstruction. Police said that while traffic has increased significantly during the construction, increased police visibility in the area has reduced the average speed along the street from 32 mph to just 25 to 27 mph. The city intends to continue monitoring the area.
• Recommended formal approval of a franchise agreement with Comcast. Aldermen also directed the city administration, during its next community survey, to poll residents to determine interest in video coverage of City Council meetings.
• Recommended a bid award of $24,354.25 to Train Supplies Ltd. To relamp the city’s Public Works Department garage.
• Recommended approval of a contract with Pomps Tire Service Inc. for nonstocked auto parts at an estimated cost of $35,000.
• Recommended approval of the $42,180 purchase of a 6iinch portable trailer pump for emergency use by the city’s Sanitary Sewer Division.
• Recommended approval of a $34,932 contract extension with Meade Electric for traffic signal maintenance.
• Recommended approval of revisions to the city’s Engineering Design and Inspection Policy Manual and annual update.

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