September is Hispanic Heritage Month, and the City Council Monday approved a local celebration of the month.
The council granted a request from the city’s Commission on Human Relations to use a portion of East Third Street near the End Zone bar from 5-11 p.m. on Sept. 23.
The request asked for permission to block off East Third Street and the parking strips from the alley behind Good’s Furniture to Burr Boulevard.
“The requested area will be used for vendors and activities such as food vendors, face painting, etc.,” Human Relations Commission member Jessica Fornander wrote in a letter to the council.
“This event is being hosted by the Kewanee Commission on Human Relations in partnership with End Zone to bring awareness of Hispanic culture,” Fornander wrote. “This celebration is to recognize and celebrate the many contributions, diverse cultures and extensive histories of the American Latino countries.”
Fornander told the council Monday that September was chosen in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Month because a number of Latin American countries gained their independence in September.
Mayor Gary Moore expressed his support of the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, saying, “I think it’s important that we do that.”
He added, “I hope that this becomes such a popular event that in future years you have to ask for a lot more.”
Also Monday:
— The council approved the city’s participation in the Mutual Aid Box Alarm system. Fire Chief Stephen Welgat said the system facilitates the sharing of emergency equipment and personnel in the event of a major fire or other disaster.
Welgat pointed out that the Kewanee Fire Department has an aerial ladder truck, ambulances and paramedics that could provide needed help elsewhere in Henry County.
The chief noted that the city has insurance to cover the use of its resources in these situations.
— Welgat also was authorized by the council to use budgeted funds to purchase Motorola Starcom radio equiipment. This purchase will complete a transition to the new radio system that was begun last year.
The Starcom system will connect radios to the speaker system in the fire station, so that firefighters won’t have to have their handheld radios with them at all times they are in the station.
— The council approved appointments and reappointments of seven people to city boards and commissions.
Kevin Zimmerman was appointed to the Fire and Police Commission; Nathan Smith, Janet Silva and Clara Hemphill were appointed to the Planning Commission; Mark Schueneman and Charles Eastman were named to the Cemetery Board of Managers; and James Webb of Toulon was appointed to the Fire Pension Board.
