From the City Manager's Desk: |
|
|
City Manager Pamela Reece
|
|
How about our Illinois State University Redbirds? I know the entire community enjoyed watching them play for a national title. And, Redbird fans showed up in Nashville! Such fun to see (and hear!) Redbird fans on TV at the game.
Congratulations to Redbird Football for such a great season and for representing Normal across the nation. Illinois State, our community and Redbirds across the country have much to be proud of! Thank you, Redbirds!
|
|
|
On Jan. 5, Town of Normal Finance Director Andrew Huhn previewed the Town's Community Investment Plan. The 2026-27 fiscal year includes 80 projects totaling $61.3 million. Watch the Jan. 5 meeting or use our interactive tool to learn when and where these capital projects are planned. Speaking of strength, we're well into the Town's budget process, with a budget review session for the public on Jan. 20.
It's about more than financial strength ... we maintain our community's well-being through collaboration. In 2026, we'll highlight the Town's partnerships in our community. We kick it off with a spotlight on the Normal Police Department (NPD). Also, kudos to Assistant Chief Nick Thacker who recently graduated from the FBI Academy. Read on for details.
Our community's strength also comes from a commitment to cooperation and fostering mutual respect. On Jan. 17, the Normal and Bloomington Human Relations Commissions host the 50th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Luncheon. Recipients of the "I Have a Dream Awards" are recognized at this event.
As a reminder, the next Council meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 20, as Town offices are closed Jan. 19 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
|
|
|
On Jan. 5, the Normal Town Council took the following actions:
|
- Authorized an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Bloomington, McLean County and the Ecology Action Center (EAC) for solid waste management. The agreement ensures the EAC continues as a central resource for environmental education, information and outreach.
-
Approved a site plan for The Tabernacle, 1845 W. Hovey, which allows the church to expand its parking lot to accommodate a growing congregation.
- Accepted the Community Investment Plan for FY2025-26 to FY2030-31.
- Approved an appointment to the Asahikawa Sister Cities Committee.
|
Investing in our community |
|
|
The Community Investment Plan provides a visual representation and description of capital projects proposed in the upcoming five-year budget.
Each project entry includes a project description, financial requirements and funding sources. The interactive map provides users with information about when and where projects will happen.
|
| |
|
| Tuesday, Jan. 20 Budget Review: Council hosts this session, beginning at 5:30 p.m. to review the proposed 2026-27 budget
Monday, March 2:
|
-
Public Hearing (prior to Council meeting) allows time for public to provide input to the Council
- Budget Adoption (included in agenda of Council meeting)
|
|
|
Department Spotlight: NPD |
|
|
The Town of Normal’s partnerships with Heartland Community College and Illinois State University are powerful examples of what’s possible when education and local government work together. We are proud to align resources and share expertise to expand learning opportunities, strengthen our community’s workforce and support long-term economic vitality for residents of all ages.
|
| |
|
In this issue, we explore the Normal Police Department's HCC and ISU collaborative efforts:
|
-
In 2025, NPD started a wellness initiative, “EMS-First initiative” through the ISU School of Kinesiology, to assess the physical fitness of first responders and use the findings to develop training programs that enhance job performance and reduce the risk of injury. ISU students conduct one-on-one training sessions with NPD officers to measure strength, endurance, agility and body composition.
-
With the ISU Police Department, NPD officers provide ISU Preview students and their parents/guardians with information about keeping the students safe, aware, and responsible for their actions, typically providing more than 30 presentations each year.
- As requested, NPD officers present criminal justice-related information to ISU and HCC students on topics such as crime mapping, child sexual abuse material investigations and other police-related topics.
|
Collaboration comes naturally to NPD, and so does engaging with our people, all while keeping the community safe. In 2025, NPD also completed the following great work:
|
|
|
|
- hosted its largest Summer Youth Program ever, welcoming more than 60 energetic kids from across Bloomington-Normal
- racked up more than 100 community engagement events, leading more than 15 tours of the police department
| -
sent NPD's Wellness Canine Officer Olive on a community-wide, fan-club tour where she made 30+ school visits
- made safe roads and safe drivers a top priority, issuing more than 4,500 traffic citations and 4,000 written warnings and making about 200 DUI-related arrests
|
|
|
NPD assistant chief graduates from FBI |
Normal Police Department (NPD) Assistant Chief Nick Thacker graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. The FBI National Academy is internationally recognized for its rigorous academic and leadership curriculum. Participants are drawn from elite law enforcement leaders across the country and around the world.
|
|
|
NPD Assistant Chief Nick Thacker
|
|
“Completion of this program reflects the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and commitment to public service. This experience and training strengthens the effectiveness of The Normal Police Department, directly enhancing our ability to deliver effective public safety services to our community.”
|
-- NPD Chief of Police Steve Petrilli
|
|
|
| Jan. 19 - Curbside Reminder |
On Monday, Jan. 19, Town offices are closed. Only garbage/household waste and recycling will be collected.
All other collection services (e.g., bulk waste - including Christmas trees, landscape waste and brush) for residents with Monday collections will be collected the following week as weather and schedules permit.
|
|
|
Get news delivered right to your inbox |
| |
|
| Don't miss an email! In your inbox, tag the Normal Now emails as Primary (Google) or Focused (Outlook) to ensure you get them as soon as they are delivered.
|
|
|
|
Thank you for being part of our community! We want to hear from you! Let us know how we're doing and what you'd like to see in future editions of Normal Now.
|
|
|
Manage your preferences | Opt Out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
|
Town of Normal Communications Dept | Normal, IL 61761 US
|
|
|
This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
| | |
|
|
