City of Aledo City Council met June 1.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
The City Council of the City of Aledo met in Regular Session via video conferencing communication. MAYOR HAGLOCH called the meeting to order at 6:46 P.M. The roll was called, whereupon the following answered present:
Aldermen ILA BERTRAND, TERRY BEWLEY, MICHAEL CHAUSSE, BARRY COOPER, DENNIS DIXON, JIM HOLMES, CHRIS KOPP, and LINDA SARABASA. Mayor CHRISTOPHER HAGLOCH.
Also present were CHRIS SULLIVAN, City Administrator / Chief of Police, JUSTIN BLASER, Director of Public Works & Utilities, CYNTHIA PARCHERT, Finance Director, BRAD THIESEN, Eide Bailly, LLP, and JAROD DALE, City Clerk.
The media was represented by Cala Smoldt, Rock Island Argus & Aledo Times Record, and Jim Taylor, WRMJ.
Due to Covid-19 concerns, public attendance at City Council and committee meetings will not be allowed until further notice from the City. Any comments or questions about any matter on the agenda for a meeting may be submitted by email to the City Clerk at cityclerk@aledoil.org.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Public Comment: Cynthia Parchert, Finance Director, appeared before the Committee of the Whole to present F/Y 2019 Financial Audit Report. Brad Thiesen, Eide Bailly, LLP was also present via telecommunications to provide additional overview of the audit as well. Mr. Thiesen reviewed the financial statement audit, government auditing standards audit, and TIF compliance audit.
FINANCE DIRECTOR reviewed the governmental activities revenues for F/Y19. Decreases were seen from the prior year regarding “charges and services”, and “grants and contributions”. Increases were seen from the prior year regarding “property tax” and “other local tax”.
Governmental activities expenses saw an increase for “general and administrative”, “police”, “cemetery maintenance”, and “community development”. Decreases in governmental expenses were in “street and alley” and “retirement and unemployment”.
FINANCE DIRECTOR reported there was a net loss in Parks & Recreation which was noted as a concern for the staff. This is related to the City now managing the Aledo Park District budget that was entered into in 2019.
Brad Thiesen, Eide Bailly, congratulated City Administrative Staff with no findings during the prior year audit. Also, it was noted by Mr. Thiesen, with the smaller size of the organization the city staff were commended on the excellent ability regarding separation of duties and the checks and balances set in place by staff.
Communication & Correspondence: No Report.
Requests & Petitions: No Report.
Public Works Activity Report:
Streets: The basketball court located at the SW Water Tower was striped and basketball hoops were painted; removal of old landscaping at City Hall; re- striping of parking at City Hall; spraying of weeds in the downtown area; painting of the south Welcome to Aledo sign; and preparation of Central Park for YMCA exercise programs.
Water: JULIE’s and finals. Valve work; assist gas division with the Gas Main Extension project; South Lagoon aerator review meeting; we are in the process of scheduling the sludge judge in the next couple of weeks; performed a couple of water and sewer disconnects for house demolitions.
Gas: JULIE’s; continue work on Gas Main Extension project; continue digital mapping.
Cemetery: One (1) funeral occurred. mowing and weed-eating and foundation repairs.
DPW: Applications for the street division worker and W/WW Division worker were due Friday, May 29th. Gas Division worker interviews are scheduled for June 2nd with five (5) applicants scheduled to interview. TIF Application Review; Subdivision Review; Building Permit inspections; Downtown Revitalization discussion; review of downtown businesses that will be opening for sidewalk services; and installed plexiglass in City Hall and Aledo PD reception areas.
Aledo Police Department Activity Report: CITY ADMINISTRATOR/CHIEF Sullivan reported the School Resource Officer program will begin June 1, 2020. Although there is some question as to the timing of students returning to the school buildings and participation in classroom, Officer Brock will be assigned to the School District for the full 2020/2021 school year. At this time, no training is being conducted and none is allowed. The Department will be working with ILETSB and the Mobile Training Unit to work out the training issue.
The final weekly Corona Cruise hosted by Aledo Main Street was held on May 27th. The cruises have been discontinued as the restaurants and bars the events were designed to support will be reopening for business on Friday, May 29th as State of Illinois enters into Phase III of the reopening procedures dictated by the Governor.
The lobby at the PD has opened for business. The Department resumed normal walk-in business hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
Administration Report: CITY ADMINISTRATOR/CHIEF Sullivan reported all parks in the City of Aledo were reopened on May 8th by unanimous consent of the City Council and the Mayor. Public Works removed the “park closed” signs. The parks have now been open for over two (2) weeks and there have been no issues noted thus far. People are beginning to use and enjoy the parks again. There are plans for the YMCA to hold some exercise classes in Central Park. Aledo Main Street plans to begin the Farmer’s Market & Bake Sale events again in June, which will be held in Central Park on Thursday afternoons, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. weekly.
City staff worked with all of the restaurants and bars in Aledo to assist in any possible way with the reopening process. All food and beverage related businesses were encouraged to reopen and the City has made all possible accommodations to allow them to reopen. Some of the businesses do not have private property available that is suitable for outdoor dining. The City has allowed those businesses, temporarily, to utilize City sidewalks and rights-of-way to conduct retail business until they can seat patrons indoors again.
CITY CLERK Dale provided utility billing and payroll information for the month of May, 2020.
CITY CLERK reported the City has hard-copies of the financial audit available for the City Council. City staff noted if any of the Aldermen are interested to contact the City Clerk’s office.
CITY CLERK reported cemetery donation cards were delayed in being sent out in spring, 2020. With the Executive Order by the State of Illinois going into Phase III on May 29th, City Staff has prepared the donation request cards and those items have been mailed out to those on the cemetery donation master listing. We will be able to report back to the City Council later this summer regarding the donations for the upkeep and beautification of the Aledo Cemetery.
Mayor’s Report: MAYOR Hagloch provided a reminder E-Cycle & Paint Collection services to resume on Thursday, June 4th at the City Garage between the hours of 9:00 am – Noon & 12:30 pm to 3:00. The service to residents is every 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month. Social Distancing will be required.
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 SARABASA and seconded by ALDERMAN DIXON to approve the meeting minutes of May 18, 2020 as presented. A Roll call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Bertrand, Bewley, Chausse, Dixon, Holmes, Kopp, and Sarabasa. NO: None. ABSTAIN: Cooper. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 0 nays, 1 abstention.
PUBLIC COMMENT: No Report.
FINANCE: INVOICE LIST:
Motion was made by ALDERMAN BERTRAND and seconded by ALDERMAN HOLMES that the Invoice Listing, which has been marked Exhibit “B”, attached hereto and made a part of these minutes, be authorized and checks issued. A Roll call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Bewley, Cooper, Dixon, Holmes, Kopp, Sarabasa, and Bertrand. NO: None. ABSTAIN: Chausse. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 0 nays, 1 abstention.
RESOLUTION NO. 21R, SERIES OF 2020; ESTABLISHING PARAMETERS FOR OUTDOOR SERVICE RESTAURANTS AND LIQUOR LICENSE HOLDERS DURING THE PHASED RE-OPENING PERIODS UNDER THE STATE’S DIRECTIVES AND EXECUTIVE ORDERS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC:
Motion was made by ALDERMAN CHAUSSE and seconded by ALDERMAN KOPP to approve Resolution No. 21R, Series of 2020; Establishing Parameters for Outdoor Service Restaurants and Liquor License Holders during the Phased Re-Opening Periods under the State’s Directives and Executive Orders during the Covid-19 pandemic. A Roll call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Chausse, Cooper, Dixon, Holmes, Kopp, Sarabasa, Bertrand, and Bewley. NO: None. Motion carried. 8 yeas, 0 nays.
RESOLUTION NO. 22R, SERIES OF 2020; APPROVING DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PROGRAM LOAN AGREEMENT FOR KRSTIC REALITY, INC / BRAD KRSTIC:
Motion was made by ALDERMAN BERTRAND and seconded by ALDERMAN KOPP to approve Resolution No. 22R, Series of 2020; Approving Downtown Revitalization Program Loan Agreement for Krstic Reality Inc. / Brad Krstic; for property located at 118 N College Avenue, Aledo, Il., 61231; the City shall reimburse the property owner one-half of the actual costs incurred by the property owner for roofing in the form of a loan in an amount not to exceed $7,493.00. The amount of the loan shall thereafter be forgiven at the rate of $312.21 per month for each month that the property is owned by the property owner. A Roll call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Dixon, Holmes, Kopp, Sarabasa, Bertrand, Bewley, and Chausse. NO: Cooper. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 1 nay.
RESOLUTION NO. 23R, SERIES OF 2020; APPROVING DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PROGRAM LOAN AGREEMENT FOR PERRYTON, LLC / WILLIAM J. ALBERTSON:
Motion was made by ALDERMAN SARABASA and seconded by ALDERMAN DIXON to approve Resolution No. 23R, Series of 2020; Approving Downtown Revitalization Program Loan Agreement for Perryton, LLC / William J. Albertson; for property located at 129 E. Main Street, Aledo, Il., 61231; the City shall reimburse the property owner one-half of the actual costs incurred by the property owner for replacement of roofing and windows, installation of fire sprinklers and architect design work in the form of a loan in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00. The amount of the loan shall thereafter be forgiven at the rate of $833.33 per month for each month that the property is owned by the property owner. A Roll call vote was recorded as follows: YES: Dixon, Kopp, Sarabasa, Bertrand, Bewley, Chausse, and Cooper. NO: Holmes. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 1 nay.
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS: No Report.
OLD BUSINESS: ADMINISTRATOR / CHIEF Sullivan reported the Aledo Fireworks were scheduled to be held Saturday, June 27th this year, but has been postponed due to COVID-19 Pandemic. Central States Fireworks, 18034 Kincaid Street, Athens, Il., 62613 is to provide the fireworks display and has requested if the City would be interested in a “rain-date” for later in 2019. CITY COUNCIL provided a consensus to move the fireworks display for Aledo to Saturday, August 29th to coincide with Antique Days. Total amount to be spent was listed in the amount of $8,000.
ALD. Cooper requested re-consideration that the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee meet as a whole to review TIF applicant projects going forward in the future. The MAYOR and CITY STAFF noted the request and would discuss further with 353 Court, LLC.
City Staff quickly discussed sales tax revenue and the potential impact due to COVID- 19. FINANCE DIRECTOR Parchert reported some communities are actually seeing an uptick due to the purchasing of supplies in March, 2020 and constituents were shopping somewhat more locally.
NEW BUSINESS: ALD. Chausse reported he was approached by an individual inquiring if the City would be interested in seeing a spur of a railroad back into Aledo. It was noted by Ald. Chausse that there was some local interest and private dollars could be invested into a potential project. It was inquired if the Aledo City Council would be interested in exploring the idea. The MAYOR and CITY COUNCIL noted they would be interested in receiving additional information. It was also suggested to possibly reach out to Aledo’s representatives with the State Legislature and Federal Representatives to receive support and inquire on potential grant possibilities.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, motion was made by ALDERMAN KOPP and seconded by ALDERMAN SARABASA that the meeting be adjourned. A Unanimous voice vote followed in agreement. Meeting was adjourned AT 7:22 P.M.
http://aledoil.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_06012020-230
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