Tree coming to downtown for Christmas

Pontiac will have a new focal point for the upcoming holiday season.

Members of the City Council earlier this month decided to plant a live tree downtown in Block 59.

“Not sure exactly of the location in there but we kicked around some ideas,” Pontiac Mayor Kelly Eckhoff said.

The tree may only be 8-10 feet to start with and the city will watch it grow over the course of several years. It will be decorated for the Christmas season.

Also at the recent Pontiac City Council meeting, a presentation was made to Officer Mitchell of the police department who came to the aid of a family when a man was under distress having a heart attack. He was the first to arrive on the scene and the CPR he administered likely saved the man’s life. The officer was presented with a Medal of Honor.

It was revealed that Mill Street bridge work should be done soon and reconstruction is underway on South Mill Street.

“That will be a major improvement,” notes Eckhoff.

The fire chief gave an update with clarifications on the termination of the transfer agreement with OSF to clear the air on concerns about that.

A presentation was also given on the Main Street program.