A banner year for local tourism
Pontiac saw a 67 percent tourism increase from January through June 2025 compared to the same period this year.
“That’s a pretty astounding number,” Director of Community Enrichment Liz Vincent told members of the Pontiac City Council Monday evening.
The city recorded visitors from in and out of Illinois – with many coming from different countries. Vincent noted that one of her summer workers observed visitors in Pontiac from all 50 states. Plus, visitors came from over 60 countries.
“International travel on Route 66 is alive and well,” added Vincent.
Pontiac saw a 4.6 percent increase in its hotel tax revenue. Digital media was even summarized, including the most popular posts online. From June 2025 to June 2026, a visit by Governor J.B. Pritzker to Wally’s was a top performing social media post along with the Skoolies visit to Pontiac back in the spring. The top video reel, which had 28,000 views, was when the Bob Waldmire bus was moved.
“Those are pretty solid numbers of people seeing what we are doing here,” Vincent explained.
A Visit Pontiac webpage was redone two years ago and the city has seen excitement surrounding it. Vincent described this as a “banner” year so far. There has even been plenty of media coverage from Chicago and Peoria television and even CNN. International press representatives have visited from the UK. Germany and Japan.
“This year has just been fabulous – the number of people walking the streets,” observed First Ward Alderman Michael Barr.
Also during Monday’s regular Pontiac City Council meeting, Seth Brown reviewed the 2026 season of the Pontiac Municipal Band. Three summer performances were held in the Pontiac Township High School auditorium due to the weather.
“We had a great turnout, especially at the Fourth of July concert,” said Brown.
He noted that most instruments were well represented and they typically performed nine pieces following the National Anthem with a few featured soloists. Audience feedback was mainly positive.
The group will celebrate its 100th anniversary as a municipal band next year. Brown will look into having a piece commissioned in honor of the centennial observance.
“I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish in the upcoming season.”
An engineering proposal was authorized for a wall repair on the Vermillion riverbank behind the splash pad. This is to design a fix to replace a section of the wall. The plan calls for a drainage system and concrete surface gutter to help direct water away from the wall. Also, pipe will go through the wall.
HVAC emergency repairs were authorized at the Pontiac Rec Center as the two big units are nearing the end of their life.
“The north unit pretty well died this winter,” Street Superintendent Chris Brock told the council.
They have spent much of the summer sourcing parts for what is currently there. The units are in need of burner pilot assemblies, burner motors, pullies and air dampener motors, which need to be replaced. Estimated costs to replace the units range from $240,000 to $360,000. New units would either be ground mount outside of the building or rooftop units.
“Our plan would be to get the machines working so we have heat in there,” stated Brock.
Mid Illinois will be hired to make necessary repairs to get everything working for $34,000. The benefit of a new system is computer diagnosis of problems.
An ordinance was approved regulating video gaming in the city. The council had previously discussed the matter in committee.
“We feel that there’s plenty of gaming now,” City Administrator Jim Woolford said following the meeting.
He said they wanted to have rules in place since it was being administered by the liquor code only. Definitions explain what a gaming establishment is and what the eligibility requirements are.
Pontiac currently has 25 gaming licenses and that will be the cap, according to Woolford. A new applicant would have to wait until one of those licenses is open.
Mayor Kelly Eckhoff revealed the city pedestrian bike survey is now live and door hangers are coming. As of Monday morning, they received 132 responses. Eckhoff encouraged the public to watch out for kids and pay attention around town as school has started. She also said the Play Park path is open.
“There are no golf carts allowed on the path.”
Fifth Ward Alderman John Wille received questions from residents about an eyesore on north Main Street.
“They’re concerned about property values,” he said. “What’s it say about our city?”
Mayor Eckhoff has talked to Building and Zoning about this and admitted it needs to be figured out.
“It’s gone on way too long,” noted the mayor. “It’s really not what we want here.”
Fourth Ward Alderwoman Jayme Bradshaw spoke of her recent experience touring the wastewater treatment plant, calling it “impressive” and a good tour.
“I think that’s one of the best examples of planning that our city does,” added Mayor Eckhoff.
First Ward Alderman Frank Giovanini admitted he doesn’t know a solution to the electric bike situation but said it seems to have improved a bit from earlier in the summer.
“Maybe that’s temporary,” Giovanini said.
Administrator Woolford said a committee has been looking at how to keep pedestrians safe. Many of the problems have been with adults driving the e-bikes or similar vehicles. He reminds citizens that the police can enforce rules of the road at any time.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, area resident Tom Kerr shared complaints about certain drivers working for the Futures Connections transportation program.
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