The mayor of Rock Island says a Walmart on 11th Street is on track, but that only the retailer can offer a timetable for the project.
"We're on target. About three weeks ago, Walmart had their survey crew here from Chicago. Go down to the site. We're on target," Mayor Dennis Pauley said at his annual State of the City address.
The mayor also announced a lease has been signed for a small downtown grocery and fresh produce store on 2nd Avenue for people who live and work downtown. Called Healthy Harvest Urban Farms, the lease was signed last week and the place should open in April.
Pauley says property values in the city are up about 2 percent, and says property taxes have not been raised in five years.
The mayor says new retail and downtown revitalization are key goals for the city.
He said as of January 1, parking meters were removed from downtown and replaced with four hour parking to make downtown a little more user friendly.
The mayor planned to deliver the address again at the beginning of the city council meeting on Monday, February 1, 2016.