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Naperville tweaks carillon jobs

The documents that define who maintains two of downtown Naperville’s best-known amenities — the Riverwalk and the Millennium Carillon in Moser Tower — are set to be updated early next year.

While the city and Naperville Park District still will handle maintenance responsibilities and costs for the 1.75-mile path and the bell tower, the role of one group previously involved in caring for the carillon is becoming less formal.

The Millennium Carillon Foundation, which formed to raise funds for the 72-bell carillon and the 160-foot tower that houses it, will not be included in a new five-year maintenance agreement the city council and park board are likely to approve early next year, said Bill Novack, the city’s director of transportation, engineering and development.

“Maintenance obligations fall upon the city and the park district,” Novack said. “The Carillon Foundation doesn’t have any true obligations.”

Foundation President John Colucci said the organization is working to establish a new group called Friends of the Carillon. The friends group will focus not on fundraising but on volunteering as tour guides and hosts during concerts at the carillon, located along the Riverwalk near Aurora Avenue, west of Eagle Street.

Under the updated agreement, the park district will oversee tours, recitals, carillon instruction and the position of city carillonneur, now held by Tim Sleep of Warrenville. The park district will continue to handle everyday maintenance issues, including graffiti removal on the tower, and submit a budget to the city for reimbursement.

The role of the Riverwalk Commission, which oversees conditions, use and development of the popular path, will not change in the updated agreement, Novack said.

The city’s role will continue to include responsibility for larger maintenance projects. Novack said one such project planned for next year is redoing the 13-year-old tower’s caulking and waterproofing.

The park board is expected to begin review of the new agreement next month and then forward the document to the city council for final approval.

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