Sterling City Council Approves Final $314,417 Payment for Northwestern Steel and Wire Park Phase 1

Sterling City Council voted unanimously on October 19 to approve a final payment of $314,417 to Sjostrom and Sons for Phase 1 of the Northwestern Steel and Wire Park, bringing the project's total Phase 1 cost to $5.4 million. Yahoo reported the vote.

Sjostrom Warranty and Punch List Closeout

The final payment closes out Phase 1 work on the riverfront park. Sjostrom and Sons agreed to provide a five-year extended warranty on the ice skating ribbon because of earlier problems with the quality of the ribbon's concrete.

Ward 3 Alderman Josh Johnson, who also serves as co-chair of the Sterling Riverfront Commission, said at the October 19 meeting that the commission was satisfied with the warranty addition, though not completely satisfied with the quality of the work. "Basically, the consensus was that this is a better option than tearing it out," Johnson said. "We had issues with the concrete with the skating ribbon. It wasn't the best quality."

Johnson said the commission decided against tearing out the existing concrete and pouring a new ribbon. "At the end of the day, if we tear it out, it's going to be Sjostrom putting it back in," he said. "It would cost a lot of money, and we can't guarantee it's going to be any better with the same company doing it."

Alderman at Large Allen Przysucha asked whether punch list items had been addressed. Johnson said the painting had been fixed and that the concrete was the only item the commission worried about. Other concerns discussed by the Riverfront Commission and City Council included chipping and peeling paint on the park pavilion, trees that were not planted correctly and were tilting or coming out of the ground, crooked permanent trash receptacles, and leaking gutters on the pavilion.

Sterling City Records on Taxes and Development

According to akta.pro company records, Sterling City is a Type A General Law City and county seat of Sterling County, Texas, delivering water, sewer and natural gas services to approximately 977 residents. The same records show the city set a fiscal year 2021-2022 property tax rate of .730674 per $100 of assessed value, with a city sales tax of 8.25% that includes a 0.50% economic development component dedicated to SCEDC funding. Sterling City operates the Sterling City Economic Development Corporation to recruit energy companies and manufacturing and industrial firms.

Earlier Sterling City Council Actions

Sterling's city council voted unanimously on October 28, 2026 to merge the plan commission and zoning board of appeals, citing efficiency, Yahoo reported. The consolidated board granted a variance request from the Aitkens to combine lots and add a pool house.

On October 23, 2026, the council voted unanimously to enter executive session to discuss complaints about the building and zoning department after a heated exchange between aldermen, according to Yahoo. On October 19, 2026, the council was set to vote on a redevelopment agreement with Sterling Investments LLC for Northland Mall, with the developer investing $9-12 million, Yahoo reported.

Phase 2 Grant Application

Sterling has applied for an Illinois Department of Natural Resources Open Space Lands and Acquisition and Development grant for part of Phase 2 of the project, which will be an amphitheatre with seating and a parking lot adjacent to the park.