City of Colona City Council met Feb. 9.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
a. Aldermen present: Stablein, Hillman, Lack, Swemline, Jones, Hergert, Waterman, and Strobbe.
b. Staff present: Mayor Johnson, Attorney Wright, Police Chief Powless, Public Works Director Erichsen, Finance Director Legare, and City Clerk Park.
4. REMOTE ELECTRONIC ATTENDANCE
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS
a. Pamela Henry – refuse – not present
b. Justin Critchelow – refuse – not present
6. MAYOR’S REPORT
a. Discussed but not limited to: The swearing in of Officer Kirk Pattison as a part-time Police Officer. Burrage update – meeting set for 2/10. Invitation to bid (ITB) on the City Hall parking lot is live. Budget Workshop date set for March 4th at 5:30pm. Report of Colona Business Connections meeting.
7. CLERK’S REPORT
a. None
8. COMMITTEE REPORTS
a. Public Works Committee – Alderman Waterman gave a summary of their last meeting b. Parks Committee – Alderman Hillman gave a summary of their last meeting c. Public Safety Committee – Alderman Hergert gave a summary of their last meeting
9. GOOD OF THE ORDER
a. None
10. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Approve payment of bills – Accounts Payable Invoice report for the period January 27 – February 9, 2026
b. Approve payroll for the period January 26 – February 10, 2026
c. Approve 01.26.26 City Council meeting minutes
d. Approve 02.04.26 Goal Setting Workshop meeting minutes
1. Alderman Lack made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda letters a-d. Alderman Hillman seconded the motion. Upon roll call; Ayes: Stablein, Hillman, Lack, Swemline, Jones, Hergert, Waterman, and Strobbe.
Motion passed with 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 abstentions, and 0 absent.
11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. None
12. NEW BUSINESS
a. Approve Ordinance [O-26-03]; amending Title 1 Administration, Chapter 6 “Aldermanic Council,” Section 1-6-2: Meetings; and Section 1-6-4: Committees of Colona, Henry County, Illinois
1. Alderman Hergert made a motion to approve. Alderman Stablein seconded the motion. Upon roll call; Ayes: Stablein, Hillman, Lack, Swemline, Jones, Hergert, Waterman, and Strobbe.
Motion passed with 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 abstentions, and 0 absent.
b. Discussion and Action; City of Colona Refuse and Recycle Services Contract 1. Alderman Stablein made a motion to accept the bid for refuse and recycle services, award the contract to Republic Services, and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute a 5-year agreement effective August 1st, 2026. Alderman Lack seconded the motion. Upon roll call; Ayes: Stablein, Lack, Hergert. Nays: Hillman, Swemline, Jones, Waterman, and Strobbe
Motion denied with 3 ayes, 5 nays, 0 abstain, and 0 absent.
2. Discussion:
i. Waterman stated, “For the record, I do have a friendship with Joe Swan from LRS, I have no financial ties to Joe or anything like that.”
ii. Q: Why the more expensive option was chosen, when according the IML you are supposed to award this to the lowest responsible bidder, and both in the state of IL are considered “responsible bidders?” A: The lowest possible bidder aspect is for public works contracts, refuse falls under term of art, which is a different section of the IL Code, the City reserves the right to select any contract/proposal that it deems in the best interest of the City (Attorney Wright)
iii. A lot of discussion was had about Facebook posts, services received or lack thereof, benefits and drawbacks of each option, locations each serve, and costs.
3. Alderman Hillman made a motion to accept LRS’s bid for refuse. Alderman Strobbe seconded the motion. Upon roll call; Ayes: Hillman, Swemline, Jones, Waterman and Strobbe. Nays: Stablein, Lack, and Hergert.
Motion passed with 5 ayes, 3 nays, 0 abstentions, and 0 absent.
c. Approve IMEG Maintenance Engineering Services agreement [Section 26-00000-00- GM]; totaling $1,250 and authorize the Mayor to execute the agreement
1. Alderman Waterman made a motion to approve. Alderman Jones seconded the motion. Upon roll call; Ayes: Stablein, Hillman, Lack, Swemline, Jones, Hergert, Waterman, and Strobbe.
Motion passed with 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 abstentions, and 0 absent.
d. Approve business license for Freedom Farm and Performance located at 162 Exchange St., Colona (pending appropriate paperwork is submitted)
1. Item was dismissed, location not within city limits.
13. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. None
14. ADJOURN
a. Alderman Waterman made a motion to adjourn at 6:51pm. Alderman Swemline seconded the motion. Upon roll call; Ayes: Stablein, Hillman, Lack, Swemline, Jones, Hergert, Waterman, and Strobbe.
Motion passed with 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 abstain, and 0 absent.
https://www.colonail.com/vertical/sites/%7BFC142F78-E9D2-49AE-8B50-7910B5B74E0C%7D/uploads/02.09.26_CC_Minutes.pdf
