City of Aledo City Council met April 15.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
The City Council of the City of Aledo met in Regular Session in the Council Chambers of the City Hall building on April 15, 2019. MAYOR HAGLOCH called the meeting to order at 6:38 P.M. The roll was called, whereupon the following answered present:
Aldermen ILA BERTRAND, TERRY BEWLEY, MICHAEL CHAUSSE, BARRY COOPER, JIM HOLMES, and CHRIS KOPP. Mayor CHRISTOPHER HAGLOCH. Alderman JAY DOHERTY was excused.
Also present were CHRIS SULLIVAN, Interim Administrator / Chief of Police, JUSTIN BLASER, Director of Public Works & Utilities, SARAH BOHNSACK, Finance Director, and JAROD DALE, City Clerk.
An attendance sheet has been marked Exhibit “A”, attached hereto and made a part of these minutes. The media was represented by Cala Smoldt, Rock Island Argus and Aledo Times Record, and John Hoscheidt, WRMJ.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
The meeting was opened in prayer by ALD. Chausse.
Appearances: Kyle McEwen, Mercer County Better Together, appeared before Committee of the Whole requesting financial support in F/Y 2020. The collaborative process has assisted the community in the $30,000 park district project funded by the Looser-Flake Foundation. MCBT has assisted in identifying gaps and connecting stake- holders for the mental health grant recently received in Mercer County. Also, MCBT has assisted in finding funding for the new roof at the Merchants Building at the Mercer County Fairgrounds.
MCBT in 2018 implemented a Mercer County Strategic Plan; helped enhance parks & recreation with $150,000 in “new money” to complete 11 projects; and, supporting technology upgrades in schools. There is $100,000 in “new money” to complete these upgrades as well.
MCBT is working on business retention & expansion (BRE) by tracking common & unique needs of businesses. Will connect needs to resources through feedback; develop database of Mercer County businesses; and, feedback used to develop an advocacy agenda. Also, MCBT is helping with the “Imagination Library” program which provides free books to children birth to age 5. MCBT to also participate in a legislative visit on May 9th. Finally, MCBT is working on a countywide “fiber hub” project which would establish a public “access point” in each township.
Communication & Correspondence: No Report. Requests & Petitions: No Report.
Public Works Activity Report:
Streets: street sweeping; storm sewer catch basin cleaning, stump clean-up; and assisted the cemetery division. Also, some patching was done as well.
Water: JULIE’s; leak investigations, sewer backups; and monitoring WTP.
Gas: JULIE’s; two (2) gas odor calls; meter changes; read meters on 4/5; deliver shut-off notices; and assist waster division.
Cemetery: Three (3) funerals occurred. Grounds clean-up and mowing.
DPW: attended a two-day class on the new 2018 Illinois Accessibility Code. This code to replace the 1997 version starting on October 1 of this year. DPW attended a Trees Forever presentation. Interviews conducted for summer / seasonal workers and attended the presentation by Bluestem.
Aledo Police Department Activity Report: CHIEF Sullivan reported Mercer County Family Crisis Center will be holding the annual Blue Kids Walk on Saturday, May 4th at 9:00 a.m. in Central Park.
The next DEA-sponsored National Drug Take Back event is scheduled for Saturday, April 27, 2019. PD will be collecting unused, old or unneeded medications from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. that day.
The Department is preparing for the Rhubarb Festival which is held the first full weekend in June. National Night Out is scheduled for the first Tuesday in August and Antique Days in late August. Officers will be selling 50/50 tickets for the $5,000 minimum Antique Days raffle until the drawing occurs at the end of the car show.
Administration Report: CITY CLERK Dale highlighted the anniversary of City Incorporation. This year will mark the 134th Anniversary and was officially incorporated on April 21, 1885. CITY CLERK provided a brief history regarding the months and weeks leading up to the municipal election held in 1885. Formal transition from a village board to a city council was held on June 1, 1885. Three (3) wards were established and each alderman proceeded to draw a ticket out of a hat determining if they would be serving a one (1) year term or a two (2) year term.
City Treasurer’s Report: The Treasurer’s Report has been marked exhibit “B”, attached hereto and made a part of these minutes.
Mayor’s Report: MAYOR Hagloch reported he met with 353 Court and toured Aledo. Discussions included future needs of the community; city property ownership; school district; and the park district areas were also discussed. MAYOR attended the Aledo Park District meeting held on 4/14 and discussions regarding that meeting to be held further under old business.
Committee Report: No Report.
REGULAR COUNCIL SESSION
Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag,
ACTION ITEMS
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Motion was made by ALDERMAN CHAUSSE and seconded by ALDERMAN KOPP to approve the meeting minutes of April 1, 2019 as presented. A Roll call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Bertrand, Bewley, Chausse, Cooper, Holmes, and Kopp. NO: None. Motion carried. 6 yeas, 0 nays.
FINANCE: INVOICE LIST:
Motion was made by ALDERMAN BERTRAND and seconded by ALDERMAN HOLMES that the Invoice Listing, which has been marked Exhibit “C”, attached hereto and made a part of these minutes, be authorized and checks issued. A Roll call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Bewley, Chausse, Cooper, Holmes, and Bertrand. NO: None. ABSTAIN: Kopp. Motion carried. 5 yeas, 0 nays, 1 abstention.
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS: A Public Property, Streets & Sidewalks Committee meeting to be held on Monday, April 29, 2019 at 6:15 o’clock p.m.
OLD BUSINESS: A Discussion on the Independent Accountant’s Report on Applying Agreed-Upon Procedures – Aledo Park District: (Bohnsack & Frommelt, LLP)
FINANCE DIRECTOR Bohnsack reported the review was completed as part of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement between the City of Aledo and the Aledo Park District. Bohnsack & Frommelt completed a review of their books thru 12/31/18. All bank statements, reconciliations were reviewed and samples were completed on a majority of the receipts during that period. They also obtained information regarding current debt and any other agreements with third (3rd) parties. The Y.M.C.A. is currently running the pool for the Park District during the summer months. The tax levy was also obtained from past years and reviewed.
The financial information was provided to the City Council and was also provided by the Park District’s current accountants. The District has a loan with Bank Orion. The loan balance as of December 31, 2018 is listed in the amount of $130,113.06.
Bohnsack also presented the same report and information before the City Council, to the Aledo Park District on 4/14. Recommendations and changes were also presented to the Park District.
Compton Accounting, New Windsor, Il is currently managing the Park District’s funds but discussions are to move those items thru the City in the future. MAYOR reported he anticipates the Park District will pass a 7-month budget this year and begin their fiscal year on calendar year going forward. Thoughts are to mimic the City’s fiscal year and reasoning for the transition. MAYOR noted they are taking in revenue for baseball in early spring and then a new fiscal year begins on May 1 of each year.
Within the Intergovernmental Agreement, the Park District is to form a “Youth Baseball Program” or Association. MAYOR noted they will have to create a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Discussions have also been held in possibly hiring a Parks & Recreation Director as well. In the meantime, Gary Finch will continue to take care of all ball diamonds, Fenton Park, and the Pool. Part-time summer staff will maintain parks.
FINANCE DIRECTOR highlighted the Park District’s major sources of revenue would be property taxes; corporate replacement tax; and fees for sign-up of the baseball program. Also, rental fees of the diamonds, pool revenue, and land rent are a source as well. Out of those payments the loan payment (debt) would need to come out of these sources of revenue each year.
NEW BUSINESS: Discussion regarding the Preliminary Notice of Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund – Contribution Rate for Calendar Year 2020:
CITY CLERK Dale reported the City received notice from IMRF regarding the pre-rate for calendar year 2020. The total employer rate is listed at 7.18%. This year, IMRF is providing an optional phase-in rate at 7.04%. The City is to select either the ADC rate, the optional phase-in rate, or a rate between the two on or before August 30, 2019.
After review, the City Council provided a consensus to continue with the ADC rate at 7.18% for calendar year 2020.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, motion was made by ALDERMAN KOPP and seconded by ALDERMAN COOPEr that the meeting be adjourned. A Unanimous voice vote followed in agreement. Meeting was adjourned at 6:57 P.M.
https://aledoil.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_04152019-172
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