Rock Island Today

City of Aledo City Council met Oct. 4.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The City Council of the City of Aledo met in Regular Session in the Council Chambers at  the Aledo City Hall building. MAYOR HAGLOCH called the meeting  to order at 6:37 P.M. The roll was called, whereupon the following answered present: 

Aldermen MICHAEL CHAUSSE, BARRY COOPER, DENNIS DIXON, JAY DOHERTY,  ZACH FRICK, JIM HOLMES, CHRIS KOPP, and LINDA SARABASA. Mayor  CHRISTOPHER HAGLOCH.  

Also present was CHRISTOPHER SULLIVAN, City Administrator & Chief of Police, JUSTIN BLASER, Director of Public Works & Utilities, and JAROD DALE, City Clerk.  

The media was represented by Jim Taylor, WRMJ. 

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE 

The meeting was opened in prayer by Pastor Luke Dunn, First Baptist Church.  

Public Comment: Ald. Dennis Dixon asked to be recognized during the Committee of  the Whole. Dixon expressed his concerns noting Governor Pritzker does not have  residents of Illinois best interest at mind during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Concerns were  voiced related to the Illinois mask mandate, origins of the Covid-19 Pandemic,  mainstream media & CDC requirements.  

Communication & Correspondence: No Report.  

Requests & Petitions: No Report.  

Public Works Activity Report:  

• Streets: Daily checks, tasks, JULIES, and work orders continue. Mowed all city  property; remove storm damaged tree; cut trees along fairgrounds road; install  storm pipe at bottom of SW 3rd Ave; budget work; working on obtaining estimates  for asphalt street patch at NE 6th Ave intersection; dig culvert ditches at Meminger  Metal Finishing; haul picnic tables from central park pavilion to the High School for  outside lunches.  

• Gas: JULIE’s; Water-line install at new ball diamond; work on grain dryer chart  recorders.  

• Water: JULIE’s; Water-line and hydrant install at the new ball diamond; inspect one  service line disconnect; one sewer inspection; repair water meters; dirt and seed  work at sewer and water repair locations; assist in two (2) water service repairs. 

• Cemetery: Two (2) Funerals occurred. Fix stones & foundations; mowing; budget  work.

• DPW: Coordinated the install of the backstop poles, seeding, and water line at the  new baseball diamond at Northside Park; budget work; City Hall and PW Garage  final plan sheet review; bid openings are set for the end of this month; the former  RMA property has been surveyed, we are working towards re-platting the memorial  wall and tree as a separate property which would allow the City or issue RFP’s for  purchase of the remaining property. Ameren Illinois has been setting poles at the  farmer’s grain & coal property to prepare for demolition. Casey’s General Store  for property located at 303 SW 3rd Street continues to wait for the phase I  environmental to return to decide whether to sell the property or demolish.  

Aledo Police Department Activity Report: ADMINISTRATOR/CHIEF Sullivan reported  the status of our squad car orders, for the vehicles which were ordered over a year ago,  is still unknown. We took the existing Tahoe to Brad’s Collision and had the rust spot and  minor damaged areas repaired. The interior parts which were worn out were replaced,  and the old decals were removed and the entire car was buffed out. It would be pointless  to attempt to deal with the issues relate to age, rust, and wear and tear through areas on  the Crown Victoria.  

  

The Department will be assisting Mercer County High School with its annual Homecoming  Parade again this year. The parade is currently planned to be held on Thursday, October  7, 2021. The Council has approved the street closure for the parade. The Department  has met with Rusty Ruggles, who is the MCHS staff member coordinating the parade and  associated activities in Central Park.  

The Police Department and Public Works Departments are working with the High School  to make it possible to allow the Homecoming Dance to be held in Central Park on  Saturday, October 9, 2021. The Park will be closed for a few days prior to the event. It  would be difficult for the dance to be held indoors due to the Governor’s restrictions.  

Administrative Report: ADMINISTRATOR Sullivan reported the Mayor and City Staff  are working to develop the 2022 budget for the City of Aledo. This is an ongoing process  and we have met several times as we try to work out the details. The Council scheduled  the budget sessions for October 20 and 21, 2021.  

CITY CLERK Dale provided the monthly reports related to payroll and utility billing for the  month of September. Social media highlights for October to include: Civic Volunteerism;  NV Permits & MerCo Stickers; Mask Mandate; Photo Contest winner; fall clean-up (2x);  Columbus day closed; newsletter signup; hiring for (Aledo PD, Gas, UB Clerk) (2x); Brand  Pillar: Advancement.  

CITY CLERK reported the City has several jobs notice ad’s posted for employment. We  are now accepting applications for the Utility Billing Clerk position at Aledo City Hall. 

Resume & Application submission required no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, October  29th. The Gas Division worker will also be advertised until October 29th and the Police  Officer job notice is open until filled.  

CITY CLERK reported the Illinois Safe Routes to School Application was submitted by Bi State Regional Commission on September 30th for the application of Aledo 6th Street  sidewalks. Hutchison Engineering also assisted Bi-State Regional Commission as well.  Project costs listed in the application are in the amount of $362,842 for a total request  amount of $250,000. The City’s contribution is listed in the amount of $112,843. Project  location begins at SE 6th Street and SE 8th Avenue, running west on 6th Street for seven  blocks to SW 3rd Avenue. Anticipated start date for the proposed project to begin next  year with announcement of selected projects is planned for Spring 2022.  

Mayor’s Report: MAYOR Hagloch read a proclamation for Halloween Trick or Treat  hours in Aledo. Those hours established for Sunday, October 31st between the hours of  5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. within the corporate limits.  

Committee Report: An Ordinance & Police Committee meeting to be scheduled for  Tuesday, October 12th at 6:00 o’clock p.m. in the City Council Chambers.  

REGULAR COUNCIL SESSION 

Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, 

CONSENT AGENDA 

Motion was made by ALDERMAN SARABASA and seconded by ALDERMAN FRICK to  approve the following consent agenda items: 

• Approval of Minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 20, 2021. 

• Approval of Finance Invoice Listing – AP18.  

• Approval of Extension of Long-term Service Agreement STS K#131548 pursuant  to Section 6.22.3 of ANR Pipeline Company’s General Terms & Conditions of its  FERC Gas Tariff for a term of three (3) years.  

A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows: 

YES: Chausse, Cooper, Dixon, Doherty, Frick, Holmes, Kopp and Sarabasa. NO: None. Motion carried. 8 yeas, 0 nays.  

PUBLIC COMMENT: No Report. 

ACTION ITEMS:  

RESOLUTION NO. 27R, SERIES OF 2021; APPROVING FUNDING FOR CITY OF  ALEDO SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL GRANT APPLICATION: 

City Staff have been working with the Bi-State Regional Commission and Hutchinson  Engineering on a Safe Routes to Schools grant application. The intent is to use the grant,  if awarded, to complete a large section of sidewalk between the existing multi-use path  and the elementary and intermediate schools. The City received letters of support from  the administrators of both involved schools.  

  

The current multi-use path will be complete along SE 3rd Street (State Highway #17)  between SE 15th Avenue and SE 8th Avenue, turning south and extending along SE 8th  Avenue between SE 3rd Street and SE 6th Street and then extending west along SE 6th  Street. There are also existing sidewalks extending east from SW 8th Avenue at the NE  corner of the school district property containing both Apollo Elementary School and the  Mercer County Intermediate School. The existing sidewalk is five feet (5’0”) wide and is  complete between that intersection and College Avenue.  

There are some areas along the existing sidewalk between the schools and College  Avenue which will require minor repairs. Most of the intersections will require the  handicap access entryways between the actual sidewalk and the street pavement.  

If awarded, the grant would complete the sidewalk between the east side of College  Avenue and along SE 6th Street to the end of the current multi-use path. The new  sidewalks would be five feet (5’) wide and would comply with all ADA requirements. This  would complete a safe walking path extending all the way through Aledo from east to  west. In addition, it would connect several other sidewalk areas, providing a safe walking  path for the children of our community to use as they travel to and from school every day. 

Motion was made by ALDERMAN CHAUSSE and seconded by ALDERMAN DOHERTY to approve Resolution No. 27R, Series of 2021; Approving funding for City of Aledo Safe  Routes to School Grant Application; including construction and construction engineering  costs in the amount of $313,810.00 with the total local match pledged by the City being  $112,843.00. A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows: 

YES: Cooper, Dixon, Doherty, Frick, Holmes, Kopp, Sarabasa, and Chausse. 

NO: None.  Motion carried. 8 yeas, 0 nays. 

RESOLUTION NO. 28R, SERIES OF 2021; ACCEPTING BID AND AWARDING A  CONTRACT FOR SANITARY SEWER REPLACEMENT ON SE 8TH AVENUE FROM  SE 3RD STREET TO SE 2ND STREET: 

DPW Blaser reported the new main will be approximately 237’ of 8” PVC starting at SE  2nd St, ending at the existing sanitary sewer manhole under SE 3rd St. The four homes  that are shared or have a septic will be connected to the 8” main by 4” service laterals.  They can be connected outside the home with no plumbing changes needed inside the  home. The remaining two homes that are served by the main under SE 3rd St have newer  laterals that do not need to be replaced, but in the event that they should fail at some  point, this new main will be set at an elevation that would be available to them. All  pavement and turf areas will be restored as part of this project also.  

A bid opening was held on September 16, 2021, with five (5) bids received. The apparent  low bid was received from Brandt Construction Co. in the amount of $123,706.00. The  cost of over our budgeted amount, however there are available funds to cover the  overage.  

Motion was made by ALDERMAN CHAUSSE and seconded by ALDERMAN DOHERTY to approve Resolution No. 28R, Series of 2021; Accepting Bid and Awarding a Contract  for Sanitary Sewer Replacement on SE 8th Avenue from SE 3rd Street to SE 2nd Street to  Brandt Construction Co., 700 4th Street W., Milan, IL., 61264 in the amount of  $123,706.00. A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows: 

YES: Dixon, Doherty, Frick, Holmes, Kopp, Sarabasa, Chausse, and Dixon. NO: None.  Motion carried. 8 yeas, 0 nays.  

MOTION APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF TWO (2) STALKER RADAR TRAFFIC  DISPLAY SIGNS WITH TRAFFIC ANALYST IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,746.00: 

Motion was made by ALDERMAN SARABASA and seconded by ALDERMAN HOLMES to approve the purchase of two (2) Stalker Radar Traffic Display Signs with Traffic Analyst  in the amount of $6,476.00. A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows: 

YES: Doherty, Frick, Holmes, Kopp, Sarabasa, Chausse, Cooper and Cooper. 

NO:  None. Motion carried. 8 yeas, 0 nays. 

MOTION APPROVING THE INSTALLATION OF FIRE HYDRANT AT THE  INTERSECTION OF NW 9TH STREET AND NW 5TH AVENUE IN THE AMOUNT OF  $5,900.00 

Motion was made by ALDERMAN HOLMES and seconded by ALDERMAN DIXON to  approve the Installation of Fire Hydrant at the Intersection of NW 9th Street and NW 5th Avenue in the amount of $5,900.00. A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows: 

YES: Frick, Holmes, Kopp, Sarabasa, Chausse, Cooper, Dixon, and Doherty. 

NO: None.  Motion carried. 8 yeas, 0 nays.  

OLD BUSINESS: 

ALD. Frick requested an update regarding a pathway to Walmart for neighborhood  vehicles & golf carts. MAYOR Hagloch reported he has spoken with Rex Johnson regarding negotiations of a purchase price but would need to discuss the sale with the  board. No report has been received back to date.  

CHIEF Sullivan reported the police officer contract has been discussed with the city  attorney and awaiting a response back regarding a “no compete” clause within that  contract or if that clause should be stricken form the document.  

NEW BUSINESS:  

ALD. Chausse reported in the 7th Addition of the Aledo Cemetery there are current  regulations requiring flat markers only. It was expressed by the Alderman that this may  be a deterrent for individuals who want to purchase grave spaces in this particular addition  of the cemetery. The Cemetery & Cable TV Committee to convene on Tuesday, October  12th at 6:15 o’clock p.m. to discuss the item further.  

ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, motion was made by ALDERMAN  CHAUSSE and seconded by ALDERMAN KOPP that the meeting be adjourned. A  Unanimous voice vote followed in agreement. Meeting was adjourned at 7:02 P.M. 

http://aledoil.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_10042021-289