The East Moline City Council met Monday, April 18.
The City of East Moline operates under a Mayor-Council Form of government. The Mayor is the chief elected official and the Council is the legislative body comprised of seven members, one from each ward, elected on four year staggered terms. The Aldermen pass ordinances and resolutions that sets policies, approves expenditures, determines tax rates, and sets budgets. The Mayor, with approval of the Aldermen, appoints a city administrator to oversee day to day operations, enforce policies, and maintain fiscal responsibility.
East Moline City Council debates Storm Pump Project bid
| Courtesy of Shutterstock
Here are the meeting minutes as provided by the East Moline City Council:
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE MAYOR
AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST MOLINE,
COUNTY OF ROCK ISLAND, STATE OF ILLINOIS
MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 6:30p.m.
PLEDGE
Mayor Thodos led the City Council and all those present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
ROLL CALL
Mayor Thodos called the meeting to order and directed City Clerk Arletta D. Holmes to call the roll. The
following Aldermen were present: Helen Heiland, Gary Almblade, Nancy Mulcahey, Ed DeJaynes,
Humberto Aguilar, Robert Cheffer, and Mayor Thodos. Absent: Gary Westbrook.
Mayor Thodos noted that Alderman Westbrook called him earlier and he is on vacation and will not be
here this evening.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Jon Danley- 2821 9 ½ Street, East Moline, Illinois – Mr. Danley stated that several weeks back he was
here to address the City Council regarding the Community Garden. Since then he understands that it has
been put on hold, due to a potential development, with the old theater property and the area they were
looking at to be used as a parking lot for that theatre development. Mr. Danley stated that he is just here
to advocate for the garden, and he does not think we need another parking lot Downtown. If you look at
an aerial view of that area there are already two (2) public parking lots within a stone’s throw from the
building. The Dollar Store parking lot would probably be available on the off hours, so it just looks like
there is adequate parking, and once we lose that to a parking lot it can never come back, and that is his
fear. This development may look good on the surface, a few years down the road, something happens,
than we are stuck with a parking lot we do not need. Mr. Danley stated that he would encourage the
Council weigh all of the options, and he thinks a lot of people would view the garden as a better use of
the property then a parking lot.
Mayor Thodos reminded Mr. Danley that he was told there was a potential buyer for this property. The
garden is not done, we can use another location. Mr. Danley said that is the best location in the city for
the garden. It is right on the bus route, and it is in the heart of the Downtown.
CITY CLERK’S REPORT
City Clerk Holmes thanked the City Council and staff for their patience’s “I think I finally found the
clouds”.
ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS TO AGENDA
None
CONSENT AGENDA
City Clerk Arletta D. Holmes read the Consent Agenda that included the following:
A. Approval of City Council Minutes of April 4, 2016.
B. Approval of Committee-of-the-Whole Minutes of April 4, 2016.
C. Approval of Salaries for April 8, 2016 in the amount of $390,203.62.
D. Approval of Bills in the amount of $730,782.47.
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E. Approval of a Proclamation, proclaiming the Week of April 10th
- 16th as: “National Telecommunicator’s
Week.
A motion was made by Alderman DeJaynes, seconded by Alderman Aguilar, to approve the Consent
Agenda as presented. Upon roll call the following voted in favor: Cheffer, Heiland, Almblade,
Mulcahey, DeJaynes, and Aguilar. Motion carried.
REPORT BY MAYOR
Proclamation:
Mayor Thodos read a proclamation proclaiming the month of May as “Motorcycle Awareness Month”.
Mr. Tim Wassell, of the Blackhawk Chapter of A.B.A.T.E accepted the proclamation and thanked the
City Council for their continued support.
Updates
Mayor Thodos stated that he will be interviewing 2 potential individuals for the City Administrator’s
position. E-mails were sent out to some of the Department Heads, and he has requested that Alderman
Mulcahey, and Alderman Westbrook to be part of the interviewing process. Mayor Thodos extended an
in visitation to any of the Council members who would like to participate in the process.
Mayor Thodos updated the City Council his trip to Washington D.C., along with 30 other representatives
from the Quad Cities. Mayor Thodos gave a brief summary of the Washington D.C. trip.
Forest Park Nursing Home is now in its 3rd year being closed. The City was court ordered to go in and
remove hazards, meds and sharps. The City paid to board up the building, currently HUD has been into
the property. HUD has stated that this property is not there’s it belongs to the person in Chicago. We
believe it should be demolished. There are issues of medical records, personal records and labor records,
having attempting to get the Attorney General’s Office to do their job and having nothing as of yet,
Mayor Thodos has instructed our Attorney to send a letter to the Attorney General’s office to remind
them of their responsibilities to do something with these records, because the city does not have the
authority to do anything.
Mayor Thodos discussed with Attorney Callas regarding the City’s overdue water bill. We are exploring
other avenues so that the City can be paid by the state. The City of Galesburg is suing the State of
Illinois; this may be a course of action that we may take to get our money. If we have pending litigation,
they may be more willing to settle with us before they start releasing money to other people., who they
have to pay interest and late fees too. If this continues for another 6 months, we will conceivably could
have to get a line of credit to pay for the States outstanding bills, and this is not acceptable.
City Attorney Clayton Lee presented the following Resolutions:
RESOLUTION 16-19: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST MOLINE, ILLINOIS,
AUTHORIZING APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSAL TO EHLERS TO ESTABISH A BUSINESS DISTRICT AT THE
PROPERTY OWNED BY RIVER EAGLE INVESTMENTS, LLC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,500, FOR THE CITY OF
EAST MOLINE.
A motion was made by Alderman Cheffer, seconded by Alderman DeJaynes, to approve Resolution 16-
19. Upon roll call the following voted in favor: Cheffer, Heiland, Almblade, Mulcahey, DeJaynes, and
Aguilar. Motion carried.
RESOLUTION 16-20: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST MOLINE, ILLINOIS,
DECLARING 1006 15TH AVENUE, EAST MOLINE, ILLINOIS, AS SURPLUS REAL ESTATE, AND AUTHORIZING
THE PUBLICATION OF ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS FOR SALE AND PURCHASE OF SAID PROPERTY ON
BEHALF OF THE CITY OF EAST MOLINE.
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Mayor Thodos stated for clarification purposes; this is the Strand Theater, it does not include the lots.
They are requesting that bids be accepted and brought back to City Council for discussion and
consideration.
A motion was made by Alderman DeJaynes, seconded by Alderman Mulcahey, to approve Resolution
16-20.
Alderman Almblade – stated that he thinks the Garden idea was an excellent idea for the Downtown,
but he thinks it is more important to get traffic downtown. Mayor Thodos agreed, and said there are
other locations.
Upon roll call the following voted in favor: Cheffer, Heiland, Almblade, Mulcahey, DeJaynes, and
Aguilar. Motion carried.
RESOLUTION 16-21: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST MOLINE, ILLINOIS,
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF EAST MOLINE TO FILL AN UPCOMING VACANCY IN THE
INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE CITY OF EAST MOLINE.
A motion was made by Alderman DeJaynes, seconded by Alderman Aguilar, to approve Resolution 16-
21. Upon roll call the following voted in favor: Cheffer, Heiland, Almblade, Mulcahey, DeJaynes, and
Aguilar. Motion carried.
COMMITTEE-OF-THE-WHOLE (Alderman DeJaynes)
Alderman DeJaynes had no items for discussion. All other items have been covered under the Consent
Agenda or Resolutions.
CITY STAFF COMMUNICATION:
Each City Staff member present was given the opportunity to inform the City Council and those
present of events in their departments:
Mr. Banaszek, City Treasurer – Mr. Banaszek had a question regarding Resolution 16-19, is there
anything at all as far as what type of businesses they are talking about. Mayor Thodos said there has to
be a study done just like the SSA did. Ehlers is the company that was used for the SSA Study.
According to State law we must do a study, it’s not specifying what types of businesses, this is to
establish a Business District.
John Reynolds, Police Chief – Chief Reynolds reported that Centre Station hosted a Passport to Safety
at Wharton Field House, and it was well attended. Yesterday the Police Benevolent and the U. T.
Boosters had Panther punts and it was a success.
Ms. Petersen, Finance Director – Ms. Petersen informed the City Council that the EM Correctional
Center now owes the City over $534,000 in water and sewer bills
Mr. Kammler, Director of Engineering Services – Mr. Kammler informed the City Council that only
one bid was received on the Storm Pump Project in the amount of $774,890, which was well above our
Engineer’s estimate. Missman is working on an explanation as to why the bids came in high, and only
one (1) bid was received. The engineer’s estimate was $651,000 which is about $125,000 over the
engineer’s estimate. Mr. Kammler said that he hopes to have more information so that the City Council
can make an informed decision, before the next meeting. There will be another bid letting on April 19,
2016 at 10:00a.m. – 28th Avenue and 4th Street A. Utilizes Street Improvements.
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Alderman DeJaynes – is anything going on with the 7th Street wall. Mayor Thodos replied nothing yet,
but we said we were going to bring this item back to the Committee-of-the-Whole. Mr. Kammler stated
that he has not taken any action other than conversationally with regards to that wall.
Mayor Thodos - asked if they are ready to discuss this again, cost wise the consensus was to clean the
wall and paint it. Mr. Kammler noted that since we had those discussions, we have put the lights back
up at a minimal cost.
Alderman Mulcahey – what is the status of the 26th Avenue Court resurfacing project, Mr. Kammler
stated that recently there was a federal lawsuit that involved the City of Philadelphia. A new law states
even if you simply resurface a roadway you have to improve the ADA Ramps, even resurfacing
constitutes enough of an improvement to warrant ADA Ramps. We use MFT Funds, the financial
implications to us, and other municipalities are sufficient, and we are still trying to work through that.
ADA citywide would cost an additional $25,000 to the project.
Mayor Thodos comments on a grant that was received for the Safe Schools Project that was federally
funded.
Rob DeFrance, Fire Chief - Chief DeFrance reported that the Fire Safety Campaign was a success; they
had 45 volunteers and installed 120 smoke detectors in the city. Big thank you to all who participated.
Mr. Lambrecht, Maintenance Services, Director - Mr. Lambrecht reminded everyone that this week is
Bulky Item Clean-up Week Citywide, to be picked up on your regular garbage day. No tires, electronics,
or white goods.
Mr. Drake, WWWTP Facilities, Director – Mr. Drake stated that there has been a lot of information in
the news about lead in drinking water. There is no lead in East Moline’s drinking water, and we do
comply with state testing according to EPA Regulations.
Mayor Thodos announced that the City Council would not be having a Closed Session tonight.
ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Alderman DeJaynes, seconded by Alderman Aguilar, to adjourn the City Council
meeting. Upon roll call the following voted in favor: Westbrook, Heiland, Almblade, Mulcahey,
DeJaynes, and Aguilar. Motion carried. 7:02p.m.
Minutes taken and submitted by,
________________________
Arletta D. Holmes, City Clerk
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