AMBOY — Some of the City of Amboy’s properties will be seeing improvements in 2018.

The Amboy City Council approved a bid from Restore Works Masonry for $89,000 to repair the Amboy City Hall and Police Department during its Monday night meeting. All board members were present. The bid also includes $2,500 for keystone repairs.

The city will also be replacing the window. During the committee meeting on Dec. 4, Alderman Eric McLaughlin priced a matching window that will cost the city $8,000 to purchase the city crew, with the assistance of McLaughlin, will be installing it.

The council also tabled a motion to accept a bid from Boss Carpet of $23,230.74 for new flooring in the Amboy Community Building. Because of the amount of the project, Amboy City Attorney Matt Keegan told the council that they needed to advertise the job out for bid and accepted sealed bids. The council has to wait until the January 2018 board meeting to approve a motion to advertise for bids for the flooring job because it did not appear on the agenda for the December meeting.

In other board news:

• The council approved a 5 percent increase in the water rates. Amboy City Clerk Melissa Eisenberg said that the city’s auditor told the council that the rates for the water needed to be increased to match the expenses.

Amboy resident Hank Gerdes asked if the city knew what the expense to the city is. He added that he doesn’t think the rates should raise until the city knows exactly what it’s costs are.

Amboy Mayor John Schamberger said the lowest user in the city would see a 50 cent increase, if the city raised the rates by 5 percent.

The council approved the 5 percent increase, with Alderman Dave Shaw being the lone no vote.

The council said that they would discuss doing an ordinance where the rate would automatically be increased every year.

• The city is looking to change its insurance provider. A proposal by Harrison Insurance could save the city about $13,000 a year compared to its current plan with the Illinois Municipal League. Before the council would vote on a motion to approve the new contract with Harrison Insurance which would start Jan. 1, Alderman Dennis Weidman said he didn’t know if the city could get money back from the Illinois Municipal League for the remainder of its current contract.

Keegan suggested to the council that it contact the Illinois Municipal League and see if the city can get its money back. He added that if the council can’t get its money back, that he wouldn’t suggest approving the motion tonight for a policy that wouldn’t take effect for six months.

The motion was amended and then tabled.

• The next Amboy Chamber After Hours will be hosted by The Last Alarm beginning at 5:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Jan. 17.

The next Amboy City Council meeting will be held at 7 p.m., on Monday, Jan. 15.