City of Aledo City Council met July 20.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
The City Council of the City of Aledo met in Regular Session in the Community Room at the Aledo Fire Station building on July 06, 2020. MAYOR HAGLOCH called the meeting to order at 6:53 P.M. The roll was called, whereupon the following answered present:
Aldermen ILA BERTRAND, MICHAEL CHAUSSE, BARRY COOPER, JIM HOLMES, CHRIS KOPP, and LINDA SARABASA. Mayor CHRISTOPHER HAGLOCH. Alderman TERRY BEWLEY and DENNIS DIXON were excused.
Also present were CHRIS SULLIVAN, City Administrator / Chief of Police, JUSTIN BLASER, Director of Public Works & Utilities, ERIK READER, 353 Court, LLC, and JAROD DALE, City Clerk.
The media was represented by Jim Taylor, WRMJ.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Public Comment: MAYOR Hagloch introduced local businessman, Mark Bieri, who was soliciting support from the Aledo City Council regarding a draft Mercer County Non- Highway Vehicle Ordinance. Mr. Bieri reviewed a case study completed by the University of Wisconsin – Madison / Extension Department of Urban and Regional Planning. The study relates to Cheese Country Trail users & economic impacts in Southwestern Wisconsin and completed in 2012.
Quick highlights include:
During the 12-month study period, 98,000 people used the trail. Almost 75% of all visits occurred on weekends and holidays.
A majority of Cheese Country Trail usage occurred during between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Those who drive ATVs, UTVs, and snowmobiles are the main users of the trail.
On average, individual non-local trail users spent between $175 and $220 year per trip, depending on the time of year.
Total spending of trail users exceeded $15 million during the 12-month study period.
Non-local trail user spending provided an economic stimulus that infused over $13 million in employee compensation for local residents of Green, Lafayette, and Iowa Counties.
Mr. Bieri requested a letter of support be drafted and sent to the Mercer County Board Chairman, States Attorney & Mercer County Sherriff.
The item to be forwarded to the Ordinance & Police Committee for further review and discussion.
Communication & Correspondence: No Report.
Requests & Petitions: No Report.
Public Works Activity Report:
Streets: Weed-eat curb and gutter at various locations; tree trimming at N. Lagoon; and clean-up after storm damage.
Water: JULIE’s and finals. Adjusted and replaced damaged curb and valve boxes; one (1) sewer inspection; and one (1) water meter replacement.
Gas: JULIE’s; perform re-reads; gas & water shut-offs; work on regulators at the border station; install anodes; update service cards; assist water division with valve repair digs and repairing south lift station; and calibrate CGI’s.
Cemetery: Mowing and weed-eating and foundation repairs; shed repairs; painting of soffit on Cemetery office.
DPW: Courtesy notices that were sent for the dilapidated properties expired July 14th. Some have made a little progress, but none are compliant with the notice. Notice of Violations are in the process of being sent out. Met with the Senior Center Director about the replacement of two (2) exterior doors; attended a conference with Bush Construction & WJ Albertson in regards to the alley located next to the Will Hall building.
Aledo Police Department Activity Report: The Police Department is preparing to assist the Mercer County School District as it transitions back to a limited version of classroom instruction. Officer Brock will be stationed at the High School and operating under the School Resource Officer contract the City has with the District.
The Department is short one (1) full-time officer position and needs to hire an officer as soon as possible. The last advertisement for applications did not generate any applicants eligible for employment in law enforcement. Our manpower shortage is compounded by two (2) part-time officers; one having resigned to take a full-time position with the Scott County Sheriff’s Department, and the other having filled the last full-time opening for this Department. The Department has one (1) full-time officer and three (3) part-time officer openings.
Administration Report: CITY ADMINISTRATOR/CHIEF Sullivan reported the City will be receiving funds for a CARES Act grant for reimbursement for money spent on the COVID-19 pandemic. We are approved and Finance Director Parchert will be working with City Staff to make sure we properly account for all expenses related to the pandemic. City Staff has been tracking all expenses since the emergency declaration by the Governor was issued. The grant reimburses for eligible expenses at 100%, with no local match required.
Funds eligible under the grant will include anything that was not budgeted and was required as a direct result of the restrictions imposed by the State, such as protective measures taken to protect employees, sanitizing supplies related to the pandemic, and employee salaries for time dedicated to activity that would not have occurred without the pandemic. Some expenses for professional services from the Finance Director and the City Attorney are also eligible for reimbursement if we can show they are directly and specifically related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We cannot claim expenses related to lost revenue, revenue shortfalls, items which would have been purchased if COVID had not occurred, and items which were already budgeted for purchase.
City Treasurer’s Report: The Treasurer’s Report has been marked exhibit “B”, attached hereto and made a part of these minutes.
City Staff to review the TIF Increment that is to be received in F/Y 2020. Discrepancies were reported between the treasurer’s report and what was budgeted. City Council requested a confirmation of what the actual TIF dollars to be received would be from property tax distribution in 2020.
Mayor’s Report: No Report.
Committee Report: A Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee meeting was held on July 15, 2020 at 6:30 o’clock p.m. in the City Council Chambers. MAYOR Hagloch reported the Committee met to review an application submitted by Bhlar Farm, LLC / WJ Albertson for property located at 110 E. Main Street, Aledo, commonly known as the Will Hall building.
The Committee recommended approval of the project related to doors and windows, service, roofing, fire sprinklers, masonry repairs, plumbing, electrical, HVAC upgrades and building plans. The recommendation noted as a “not to exceed” $200,000. The item has been forwarded to the Aledo City Council for approval.
REGULAR COUNCIL SESSION
Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag,
ACTION ITEMS
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Motion was made by ALDERMAN COOPER and seconded by ALDERMAN SARABASA to approve the meeting minutes of July 06, 2020 as presented. A Roll call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Bertrand, Chausse, Cooper, Holmes, and Sarabasa. NO: None. ABSTAIN: Kopp. Motion carried. 5 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 “C”, attached hereto and made a part of these minutes, be authorized and checks issued. A Roll call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Chausse, Cooper, Holmes, Sarabasa, and Bertrand. NO: None. ABSTAIN: Kopp. Motion carried. 5 yeas, 0 nays, 1 abstention.
ORDINANCE NO. 10, SERIES OF 2020; AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE SALE OF PROPERTY TO SKINNER LANDSCAPING, INC.: (SECOND READING)
Motion was made by ALDERMAN CHAUSSE and seconded by ALDERMAN KOPP to approve Ordinance No. 10, Series of 2020; Approving the Sale of Property to Skinner Landscaping Inc., Lot 15-A of Progress Park 2nd Addition, City of Aledo, Mercer County, Illinois, Property ID No. Part of 10-10-21-204-020 (approximately 3.68 acres), for the sum of $1,600.00. A Roll call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Cooper, Holmes, Kopp, Sarabasa, Bertrand, and Chausse. NO: None. Motion carried. 6 yeas, 0 nays.
RESOLUTION NO. 27R, SERIES OF 2020; A RESOLUTION APPROVING DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PROGRAM LOAN AGREEMENT FOR PERRYTON, LLC / BHALR FARM, LLC / WILLIAM J. ALBERTSON:
Project to include: doors and windows, service, roofing, fire sprinklers, masonry repairs, plumbing, electrical and HVAC upgrades and building plans. The recommendation noted as a “not to exceed” $200,000. The City is approving this Agreement in excess of the $50,000 limit in Revitalization Program loans due to the fact that the property includes multiple commercial and residential units.
Motion was made by ALDERMAN COOPER and seconded by ALDERMAN SARABASA to approve Resolution No. 27R, Series of 2020; A Resolution Approving the Downtown Revitalization Program Loan Agreement for Perryton, LLC / Bhalr Farm, LLC / WJ Albertson, for property located at 110 E. Main Street, Aledo, Il., in an amount not to exceed $200,000. A Roll call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Holmes, Kopp, Sarabasa, Bertrand, Chausse, and Cooper. NO: None. Motion carried. 6 yeas, 0 nays.
RESOLUTION NO. 28R, SERIES OF 2020; A RESOLUTION APPROVING A CERTIFIED WATER SYSTEM OPERATOR AGREEMENT WITH MARK BLYTHE:
The City and Mark Blythe are currently parties to an agreement that requires the City to pay Mark Blythe $2,000.00 per month based on certain expectations with regard to hours of work. The Director of Public Works & City Administrator have recommended approval of an amended agreement with Mark Blythe whereby Mr. Blythe will provide fewer hours of service to the City than he is currently providing on a part-time, independent contractor basis in exchange for payment of $500.00 per month.
Motion was made by ALDERMAN CHAUSSE and seconded by ALDERMAN HOLMES to approve Resolution No. 28R, Series of 2020; A Resolution Approving a Certified Water System Operator Agreement with Mark Blythe, in an amount of $500.00 per month, effective July 21, 2020 to July 20, 2021, with an average of 20 hours per month. A Roll call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Kopp, Sarabasa, Bertrand, Chausse, Cooper, and Holmes. NO: None. Motion carried. 6 yeas, 0 nays.
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS: Ordinance & Police Committee meeting to be held on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at 6:00 o’clock p.m. in the City Council Chambers.
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee meeting to be held on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at 6:15 o’clock p.m. in the City Council Chambers.
OLD BUSINESS: ALD. Chausse inquired on the range of sound related to Aledo’s storm (emergency) sirens. City Staff reported the City has appropriate coverage to notify the public in the event of a storm. It was also noted during discussion; the NW Quadrant continues to have power outages during storms. MAYOR Hagloch to communicate with Ameren Illinois regarding Aledo’s switch capabilities and if that should help alleviate outages. Mediacom was noted as another issue related to outages during recent storms.
ALD. Cooper inquired on review status of the sewer issue for Joseph Olson at 204 SE 8th Avenue. DPW Blaser reported Hutchison Engineering was to review this item this spring but COVID then hit in March, 2020. DPW to reach out to Mr. Olson.
CHIEF Sullivan reported Aledo Antique Days & Car Show to be cancelled for 2020. Also, the CHIEF to negotiate with the fireworks company as well on another possible ran date or what other steps can be taken related to the agreement between the City and the fireworks display company.
NEW BUSINESS: MAYOR Hagloch provided an update related to the construction project at the old Mercer Carnegie Library building, being completed by WJ Albertson. MAYOR reported the building has been repurposed as a fiber-optic technology coworking social enterprise space. It will be leased as a Non-Profit Tech Incubator “High- Tech Small Town” Program for Technology Recruiting, Education and Employment.
The program is to be run by a 2-Year Fellow from www.Lead4America.org for approximately $40,000 a year in salary. Recruiting is to begin in 2020 for a January 2021 Intern Class. Space to be sub-leased by Non-Profit to Tech Company hosting up to ultimately 25 employees (5 Development Teams).
CHIEF Sullivan reported the City Staff is currently in review of the Branding proposals submitted in June, 2020. Staff to finalize a few selections to be considered and brought before Council at a later date.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, motion was made by ALDERMAN SARABASA and seconded by ALDERMAN KOPP that the meeting be adjourned. A Unanimous voice vote followed in agreement. Meeting was adjourned at 7:30 P.M.
http://aledoil.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_07202020-234
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