Two important documents were the highlight of the Sycamore City Council meeting on Monday.

The council unanimously passed the 2005-200 fiscal-year budget of more than $34.1 million.

The budget appropriates $6.8 million to capital programs, including $1.3 million for Well No. 9 on Airport Road, $3.1 million for Bethany Road and $240,000 for sidewalk repairs, among others.

The sidewalks program generated much discussion. First Ward Alderman Alan Bauer was concerned the program funded too much creation and not enough repair.

Given the limited budget, City Manager Bill Nicklas said the city was accomplishing what it could.

“If we had five times the money, we would have had 5 times the list, ” he said.

Regardless, the program gives attention to each ward, he said.

The budget passed quickly, as did the Unified Development Ordinance.

This document acts as a sort of how-to guide for developers, allowing them to construct a plan with all the information they need in one place, Nicklas said.

Sycamore Mayor John Swedberg has worked with cities that have the plan and others that do not. He said having it makes the development process much easier.

“This is a nice little package,” he said.

On a related note, Sycamore’s economy will be supported by yet another high-dollar company.

Although Pulte Building Products has no intention of building within the city, it has located a sales office in the city’s downtown.

Like United Aviation Supply and American Aviation Supply, no building material will enter the town, but the sales of the company will be charged a sales tax.

In this case, that amount is $144,000, which can increase by 5 percent each year depending on the company’s fortunes.

The city council also voted to support families looking to live in Sycamore but lack the purchasing power.

Hypothetically, if a family pays $6,000 in property taxes, it could potentially receive a $1,500 tax credit, Nicklas said. As of now, this opportunity is available only through banks.

This meeting marked the last for Swedberg, 4th Ward Alderwoman Janice Tripp and 3rd Ward Alderman Andrew Larson.

Speaking to an unusually full room, Kessler thanked each with a wavering voice and short anecdotes.

Fire Chief Bill Riddle said to Swedberg, “You can stay in our firehouse anytime.”

At the same time, they looked forward to welcoming in the new aldermen and mayor at the upcoming city council meeting on May 2nd at 7 p.m. in the Sycamore Center, 308 W. State St.