ALEDO, Ill. — A familiar voice filled in for Mayor Chris Hagloch on this week’s Focus segment on WRMJ. Instead of Mayor on the Air, it was City Administrator on the Air, featuring Michael Chausse, who shared exciting updates on Aledo’s aquatic center project, Rhubarb Fest preparations, and even took a turn at answering civic trivia in a lighthearted “Five Questions” segment.
Chausse brought good news to the broadcast, noting that bids for the long-awaited pool project came in lower than expected.
“We’re looking at a number of $6.4 million to complete the whole project,” said Chausse. “We currently have $5.3 million in pledges, so we’re getting close. We’ll use $4 million in bonds to cover the upfront costs, which we expect to pay off in five years.”
He also acknowledged the strong community support through fundraising efforts like the “100-Gallon Challenge,” where donors commit support over a five-year span.
Looking ahead to Rhubarb Fest—now just 16 days away—Chausse highlighted improvements to the downtown area, particularly the expanded plaza and cleaner layout around the renovated Opera House.
“You’re not going to see the hoses and electrical cords people used to trip over,” he said. “It’ll be a much cleaner, safer space for people to gather.”
One minor hiccup: the new grass in the medians hasn’t come in as hoped. Rather than rush a fix that could get trampled during the festival, the city is mowing down the weeds to give the area a groomed look—at least until Rhubarb Fest wraps up.
Then, it was time for fun. Terry James quizzed Chausse with five real terms pulled from recent Aledo City Council agendas. Chausse held his own with solid—and often humorous—answers, explaining everything from “right-of-way” to “ad hoc committees” and “RFPs” (Request for Proposals).
“Robert’s Rules of Order? As an old ag teacher, I did parliamentary procedure with FFA contests,” Chausse said with a grin.
As the show wrapped, Terry promised to invite him back next time the mayor is out.
“It’ll be another year,” Chausse joked.