Alton Postpones Purchase Of Downtown Planters

Alton City Council Meeting

ALTON – Alton officials are holding off on buying and installing 25 planters along Broadway as calls grow for the city to invest beyond downtown.

City Council members voted 5-2 to postpone an agenda item to purchase Earth Planter containers for Broadway in Alton using $11,814 in Food and Beverage Tax funds. The item is set to be reconsidered at the next council meeting on May 13, 2026.

The proposal calls for 25 planters to be placed along Broadway from Ridge Street to Market Street to promote beautification and economic vitality in downtown Alton. Resident Mike Batchelor acknowledged the importance of downtown investment, but said the city could better invest its money to address infrastructure issues and other needs beyond the downtown district.

“Many citizens see money being directed toward downtown planters while other areas across the city remain unmet – they see basic infrastructure concerns, neglected neighborhoods, underfunded community spaces, and see several local organizations that stretch every dollar to beautify their areas with volunteers, donations, and far less public support,” Batchelor said. “Consider the broader public sentiment … [that] includes growing frustration with spending that appears disconnected from everyday priorities.”

He added: “If and when other areas come before you seeking [your] support, I’m telling you now, they better not be met with resistance after watching how quickly these dollars flow from you so easily tonight. Yes, downtown deserves investment – but so does the rest of the city.”

Treasurer Betsy Allen later defended the city’s use of Food and Beverage Tax funds, framing these downtown beautification efforts as a return on the investment small businesses make into the city by paying the added tax.

“No one really talks about where this money comes from, but it comes from restaurants who have to work on a very small margin of funding and they have to add that on to the price of every burger they sell … it’s to then promote what they are doing,” Allen said. “Anybody who produces this tax should benefit from this tax.”

Alderman Chris Bohn pointed out these funds cannot be used for road repairs, and said he has spoken to several business owners in his ward who support the installation of these planters.

Alderwoman Stephanie Elliott moved to postpone the item while certain questions remain unanswered, including who exactly would be responsible for placing the planters. She said Cory Jobe, CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau, offered to answer remaining questions about the planters at this week’s meeting but was unable to attend.

Elliott also proposed expanding the ordinance to form a city-wide plan to install planters in phases in other areas outside of downtown. Her motion to postpone the item was approved by a 5-2 vote, with Aldermen Michael Velloff and Bohn voting against the postponement.

A full recording of the April 22, 2026 Alton City Council meeting is available at the top of this story or on Riverbender.com/video.

More like this:

Alton Advances Plans For Planters Along Broadway

Apr 20, 2026

Alton Postpones Funding Cuts For Great Rivers & Routes After Public Speaks Out

Apr 6, 2026

Alton Postpones Permit For Anzu Power Facility

Mar 26, 2026

Alton Committee Pushes Vote On One-Year Term Limits To 2029

Apr 7, 2026

Tourism Bureau Asks City Council to Vote Against Resolution that Would Decrease Great Rivers and Routes Budget

Apr 6, 2026