City of Aledo Committee of the Whole met Jan. 19.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
The City Council of the City of Aledo met in Regular Session in the Council Chambers at the Aledo City Hall building on January 20, 2026.
MAYOR HAGLOCH called the meeting to order at 6:19 P.M. The roll was called, whereupon the following answered present:
Aldermen BARRY COOPER, DENNIS DIXON, MARIO PAULEY, and CARMEN RUH. Mayor CHRISTOPHER HAGLOCH. Aldermen MARK FRIESE, LINDA SARABASA, JASON SNYDER, and ANDREW WEEKS were excused.
Also present was MICHAEL CHAUSSE, City Administrator, ADAM BAKER, Chief of Police, JUSTIN BLASER, Director of Public Works & Utilities, SCOTT EARL, Parks & Recreation Superintendent, LINDSEY DUNN, Aledo Main Street, and JAROD DALE, City Clerk.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Public Comment: No Report.
Communication & Correspondence: Lindsey Dunn, Aledo Main Street, appeared before the Committee of the Whole to update the City Council on the following:
• Community Connection meeting – January 21 at the YMCA.
• Ladies on the Loose – May 2.
• Review of 2026 yearly update later this month. Applied for a marketing grant to continue making website advancements and for professional services to put together a monthly newsletter.
• 2026 partnership letters & friends of Main Street letters were sent out. • Hiring a new AMS Executive Director position and posted in January. • 2025 annual report to be submitted to the City Council in February.
Requests & Petitions: Special Event: Night in a Car, Mercer County Better Together, Friday, February 6 – Saturday, February 7, 2026 located at the city parking lot of the Mercer County Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1571.
Public Works Activity Report: DPW Blaser reported the following: • Streets: Review budget; Truck maintenance; final salt delivery; take down holiday decorations; took delivery of the loader grapple.
• Gas: JULIES; review budget; read meters; assist New Boston in repairs to the gas boiler at the elementary school; work on inventory and leak survey’s; install one anode; assist the water division with a water leak and lift station pump repair, and complete 2025 DOT report. Final 2025 tally for JULIES – 1,788.
• Water: JULIES; review budget; Hydrovac service; repair one water leak at Fenton Park; repair lift station pump (due to the flushing of disposable vapes and get stuck in the pump propellers) pesticide applicator review; jet sewer on 700 block SE 2nd Ave.
• Cemetery: Review budget; One funeral; clean out & work on minor remodel; pick up trash and old decorations; write specs for new mower; train on using Incode.
• DPW: Operational and CIP Budget review with all PW Divisions; 2020 ION Environmental Operator contract; ISO meeting; building inspections; review and approve personnel status forms; Sponsler Manor 4th Addition Lot 18 & Phase I Infrastructure documentation; prepare for the February ZBA Text Amendment hearing; review proposed subdivision plat; prepare PW truck specifications advertisement for the Street Division pickup; assist the Cemetery Division with office clean-up & minor remodel; FOIA request for 2024 & 2025 projects; Bank Orion utility coordination site meeting; Aquatics Center progress meeting; WTP Plant OSHA Compliance review; W/S Committee meeting; obtain 2026 lawn care estimate for Central Park, Memorial Park, and Veterans Park.
Aledo Police Department Activity Report: Chief Baker reported Thursday, January 8th, Aledo Police Officers attended a virtual training for the new Quicket E-Citation printers and computer application. Chief Baker attended the administrative virtual training on Friday, January 9th. The system is in testing phase and will be used full-time in the next month or two.
Monday, January 12th, Chief Baker met with members of Illinois TASC (Treatment Alternatives for Safer Communities), at the Aledo Police Department. This group has a smaller deflection group called WISE (Western Illinois Support & Engagement), which covers the counties of Rock Island, Mercer, Henry, Warren and Knox. Deflection personnel are often separate from first responders and may have lived experience in recovery, mental health challenges, or navigating the criminal justice system. Their shared experiences can help make stronger rapport with individuals, which makes them more likely to engage with the services offered.
The deflection personnel work from referrals from law enforcement partners, and offer services to people who need help with drug addiction, mental health issues, family issues, financial woes, or any other issues. Officers make a referral to WISE, and their deflection personnel reach out and walk these people through processes that can provide help to them to overcome issues. This is a positive for our community as we can help people who do not follow through with their own help process, do not have a loved one to help them along the way, or someone who might be intimidated by a police officer and would otherwise refuse treatment or help. This can help make our communities safer, all while helping community members in need. Another goal is to deflect these people from jail, and to point them to the help they need.
Parks and Recreation Activity Report: Aledo Park Board will offer Nathan Wicks the Baseball Commissioner position this coming baseball season. Stacey Marston has resigned from both positions from last year and has offered to help with transition. The Park Board is looking for a Concession Manager. The new Northside Baseball Diamond is on schedule and will be available this spring.
Aledo Aquatic Center: Met with Rick Newcomb, Bi-State, and he will write for the T-Mobile Hometown Grants (Up to $50,000). The application Deadline is March 31, 2026, and has a 60-day turnaround with the project to be completed by May 31, 2027. PRS will be working with Courtney Lill, Aquatics Coordinator, to interview new lifeguards and run current YMCA Lifeguard staff meetings and training.
Mercer County Family YMCA: The Basketball Program has 103 kids enrolled. K-1st has 50 participants (34 in 2025), and 2nd-4th has 53 participants (49 in 2025). Coaches began practicing last week with their first game Saturday, 1/24/26. Season will last 6 weeks. We had 11 of 12 Sponsors returned from 2025 and invoices have been sent out. Program registration for YMCA Track, Baseball and Softball will begin in February.
Administrative Report:
CITY CLERK Dale provided the CITY COUNCIL with sales tax comparisons and the building reports for fourth quarter, 2025.
CITY CLERK reported the Administrative staff are working to close out FY 2025. Year end reports were generated on December 30th regarding payroll and utility billing. W-2 and 1099 forms to be generated on or before January 9th. Tyler Technologies is assisting the City in that process.
CITY CLERK reported Aledo IL America 250 Commission to meet in late January. An introductory meeting was held with the City Clerk’s office and Northern Lights Drone Shows to begin planning of the event on July 4th. A draft storyboard to be presented to the Aledo IL America 250 Commission.
CITY CLERK reported Historic Preservation Commission to meet in late January. HPC continues to work on Aledo Historic Downtown District placards project. Six (6) additional buildings placards to be created in 2026 and tentatively set before the Rhubarb Festival.
ADMINISTRATOR Chausse reported on an overview of highlights of what the Administrator (and others) have worked on since the last council meeting:
ADMINISTRATOR facilitated and attended various meetings: attended the Mayor’s Department Head meeting; attended the Water, Sewer & Storm Drain Committee meeting; participated in a webinar concerning data centers and their impacts on communities; met with PRS Earl; attended a construction update for the Aledo Aquatics Center project; and met with Bi-State Regional Commission regarding a $50,000 T-Mobile Grant.
Mayor’s Report: No Report.
Committee Report: MAYOR Hagloch reported the Water, Sewer & Storm Drain Committee met on January 12th. The committee reviewed an amendment to Title 8, Chapter 6 of the City Code regarding multiple reconnections and a timeframe for reconnections. Committee recommended approval to allow up to 24 hours for reconnections. The Committee also reviewed a water/sewer rate analysis with continued discussion to be held at a later date.
https://www.aledoil.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_01202026-488
