GRAFTON FERRY traffic growing
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By Steven Spencer
The City of Grafton approved an ordinance regarding the expense breakdown for ferry operations at their City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 21.
Mayor Mike Morrow said the ordinance for the operations agreement was part of the continued work for the ferry, and an estimated year one expense breakdown.
“This is part of the continuing paperwork that we’re doing with the ferry through IDOT. What this does is this gives us an annual, what we think, expenses are going to be,” Mayor Morrow said.
Morrow added that a $250,000 check had just been received by the city from IDOT for operational funding, and they are looking for an additional $55,000 from the state, specifically for fuel.
During the Mayor’s Report, Morrow thanked IDOT for their help in establishing the Grafton Ferry Program.
“We wouldn’t be where we were today if it weren’t for IDOT,” Mayor Morrow said. “Like I’m telling everybody with the ferry, use it or lose it. Our numbers are up.”
Morrow said more than 30 people used the ferry that first Monday morning of service and users have reported saving more than half an hour on their commutes.
“We thought it would be a few, but it was over 30. So that’s excellent and they’re building since then,” he said.
Mayor Morrow also gave an update on the National Memorial of Military Ascent and said statues for the memorial are completed and scheduled to arrive in Grafton in early May.
The National Memorial of Military Ascent will be unveiled on Saturday, June 6, with a special ceremony that morning and a 1940s Gala Ball at the Loading Dock.
The ball is a ticketed event and will feature dinner from Andre’s of St. Louis, singing by Elise Parker and the Poor People of Paris and the Michael Burke Big Swing Orchestra from St. Louis. Tickets for the ball can be found at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/d-day-nmma-celebration-dinner-dance-tickets-1933676481409?aff=oddtdtcreator
In other business, council approved their annual budget, a special event permit for Sip, Sample and Stroll on May 9, a proclamation declaring May as Motorcycle Awareness Month, and approved the mayor’s nominations of Mary Jo Cote, Rone Cote, Dan Ebbing, Gary Box, JD Lorton, and Betsy Higdon to the Grafton Tourism Committee.
