City of Aledo City Council met Dec. 6.
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 6:30 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 JUSTIN BLASER, Director of Public Works & Utilities, CINDY PARCHERT, Finance Director, and JAROD DALE, City Clerk.
The media was represented by John Hoscheidt, WRMJ.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Public Comment: John Hoscheidt thanked the Public Works Department for the clean up of the fall leaves in Central Park and before the preparation in the park for Holly Days.
Communication & Correspondence: No Report.
Requests & Petitions: No Report.
Public Works Activity Report:
• Streets: Daily checks, tasks, JULIES, and work orders continue. Vac streets; clean up Central Park for Holly Days; sorted snowplows and put on trucks for a dry run; install banners and wreaths downtown; assist the W/S Division with various projects; clean up tree stumps.
• Gas: JULIE’s; Deliver shut-off notices and work orders. Assist the W/S, Cemetery, and Street Division with various projects; read meters; adjust gas pressures at the border station.
• Water: JULIE’s; repaired one water-main break on the 700 block of SW 8th St, they performed a live repair and no boil order was needed; fence at the south lagoon is being installed; the storage building was delivered; complete the two valve projects on SE 2nd Ave and NW 7th St; coordinate the repair of three (3) sanitary sewer laterals; and assist in Central Park clean-up.
• Cemetery: Two (2) Funerals occurred. Assist all other Divisions with various work. A special thanks to Ed Dellitt for decorating the City entry for the Holly Day parade and hauling Santa Clause!
• DPW: Job posting for Gas, Street, and Utility positions were closed December 3. Interviews are scheduled for Tuesday December 7th for all positions. SE 8th Ave sanitary sewer project is going well, they are roughly halfway through the project. Meeting included: Property/TIF, Bush Construction, Ameren, Matt Dowis, HDR (grant application), Mayors meeting.
Aledo Police Department Activity Report: ADMINISTRATOR/CHIEF Sullivan provided a written report noting the Holly Days weekend of events, including the Electric Parade, occurred on Friday, December 3rd and Saturday, December 4th. The Department worked with the Emergency Management Agency at the Mercer County Health Department, and all local area law enforcement agencies, to make certain there is a response plan for the event. While there was no reason to believe there would be any issues, in light of recent events it seemed prudent to be prepared for the worst and hope for the best. Genesis Medical Center and our local medical responders and the Aledo Fire Department all had input into the emergency plan for the event. Incident Action Plans are made for every City event and some of the larger private events. The Department simply took extra precautions this year.
Administrative Report: ADMINISTRATOR/CHIEF Sullivan provided a written report highlighting the City Staff have been working to make certain we have a fireworks display on July 4th this coming summer. We had the date reserved with Central States Fireworks. Due to unexpected circumstances, Central States Fireworks was sold to and has merged with J&M Displays, Inc., out of Yarmouth, Iowa.
The City has been guaranteed a July 4th reservation by the new ownership. We should be getting a quote for the fireworks display in the near future. It should be noted, the cost of fireworks is going to be going up drastically. According to the former owner of Central States Fireworks, the cost to get a shipping container of fireworks last year was between $11,000 and $16,000. This year it will be $40,000 and possibly more. He said there were two reasons for the cost increases. First, almost all fireworks come from China and the Chinese government has limited the amount of fireworks companies who can produce and export fireworks. Second, the cost of shipping has risen astronomically.
CITY CLERK Dale reported the monthly utility billing and payroll information for the month of November, 2021. CITY CLERK highlighted social media for December will be: Aledo Holly Days; Electric Parade & Hot Chocolate Hustle; Monthly Newsletter Email signup; Aledo PD Hiring Post; NV -Golf Permit New Ordinance Jan, 22; Trees In Central Park for Christmas; New Trash pick-up by Jacksons for 2022 schedule; City office closed for Christmas & New Year’s & Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas from the City.
The Mayor, City Administrator, Ald. Chausse and City Clerk conducted three (3) interviews for the UB Clerk position on Thursday, December 2nd. Of those three candidates, the interview committee made a recommendation to offer the position to one (1) of the three (3) candidates. A Personnel Committee meeting was held on 12/6 before the City Council meeting to receive a final recommendation by the Committee.
Mayor’s Report: MAYOR Hagloch reported the Annual Holly Days & Electric Parade event was held on 12/3 with a nice crowd present in the downtown business district area. MAYOR reported the process for a grant submittal continues to be worked on by HDR Engineering, Inc. for the Rebuild Downtown & Main Streets Capital Grant due in January, 2022. A rough draft has been received and continue to work on the application.
Committee Report: ALD. Cooper reported a Joint Tax Increment Financing (TIF) & Public Property, Streets & Sidewalks Committee meeting was held on Monday, November 29th. The Committee discussed the rejecting of the bids for the City Hall Phase II & Phase III project and the Public Works Garage project. The Committee also reviewed a TIF application by Ty Cutkomp for property located at 112 S. College Avenue, Aledo. The Committee made a recommendation to approve the Downtown Revitalization application in the amount of $40,000.00. The item was to be listed on the agenda for City Council approval but has been postponed for further review at the request of the applicant. Cutkomp has requested additional review of the water & sewer laterals. DPW Blaser has provided the location of the laterals to the applicant and can assist in the inspection of the sewer lateral for the old garage. Cutkomp is to then retrieve quotes and submit those back to the City for further review.
ALD. Dixon reported the Personnel Committee met on Monday, December 6th, to discuss the candidates for the position of Utility Billing Clerk. The item is being listed as an action item for approval on 12/6 Council meeting.
REGULAR COUNCIL SESSION
Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag,
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion was made by ALDERMAN CHAUSSE and seconded by ALDERMAN FRICK to approve the following consent agenda items:
• Approval of Minutes of the Regular Meeting of November 15, 2021.
• Approval of Finance Invoice Listing – AP22.
• Approval of Ordinance No. 22, Series of 2021; Approving and Adopting the Completion of the Aledo Central Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District Redevelopment Project Plan, Projects and Obligations. (Second Reading)
• Approval of Ordinance No. 23, Series of 2021; Adopting a Municipal Budget for the City of Aledo Fiscal Year 2022 in the amount of $11,864,879.00. (Second Reading)
• Approval of Ordinance No. 24, Series of 2021; Levying Taxes in and for the City of Aledo, in the County of Mercer and State of Illinois, for the Corporate Limits and Municipal Purposes of said City, for the Fiscal Year Commencing January 1, 2022 and ending December 31, 2022 in the amount of $469,269.00. (Second Reading)
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:
ORDINANCE NO. 25, SERIES OF 2021; AMENDING TITLE 13 OF THE CITY CODE OF ALEDO, ILLINOIS (CEMETERY FEES): (FIRST READING)
The following fees are hereby established, which shall be charged and collected by the city effective January 1, 2022:
| Cemetery lot transfer | $21.00 |
| Grave opening/closing | $553.00 $570.00 |
| Infant grave or ashes opening/closing | $236.00 $243.00 |
| Saturday and holiday opening/closing | $711.00 $732.00 |
| Winter grave preparation surcharge | $160.00 $165.00 |
| Foundation work | At Cost |
| Columbarium engraving or initialing | $265.00 $273.00 |
| Columbarium re-engraving | $186.00 $192.00 |
| Columbarium opening/closing | $186.00 $192.00 |
| Temporary Crypt Holding | $5.00 |
| Disinterment/reinterment | $623.00 $642.00 |
| Saturday and holiday disinterment/reinterment | $727.00 $749.00 |
| Infant grave or ashes disinterment/reinterment | $311.00 $320.00 |
| Infant grave or ashes Saturday and holiday disinterment/reinterment | $364.00 $375.00 |
| Mausoleum vault or crypt opening/closing | $265.00 $273.00 |
| Cemetery lot | $501.00 $516.00 |
| Mausoleum vault or crypt | $922.00 $950.00 |
| Columbarium niche | $1,053.00 $1,084.00 |
RESOLUTION NO. 38R, SERIES OF 2021; APPROVING IRREVOCABLE OFFER OF DEDICATION FOR BUTTONWOOD TRAILS:
The Public Properties, Streets & Sidewalks Committee met on May 24, 2021, to discuss and consider accepting dedication of the streets in Buttonwood Trails. The Committee recommended sending the matter to the full City Council for approval of the dedication of the Buttonwood Trails subdivision streets. The Committee gave a positive recommendation for approval of the dedication.
CITY ATTORNEY Mark Walton has been working with Rodger Brown, President, Buttonwood Trails, L.P., an Illinois limited partnership, to get the dedication paperwork agreed to, signed, and returned to the City. This process has been completed. The street dedication can now be moved to the full City Council.
The City Council previously approved a Plat of Buttonwood Trails Subdivision. The aforesaid Plat designated certain property interests and public improvements consisting of right of way to be dedicated to the City free and clear of all encumbrances and liens, pursuant to the provisions of Title 11, Chapter 4 Chapter of the Aledo City Code. The aforesaid right of way and related public improvements have been constructed by the Developer and have been determined by the City of Aledo Director of Public Works to comply with the subdivision regulations of the Aledo City Code.
The Developer has submitted to the City an Irrevocable Offer of Dedication, executed by the Developer on November 15, 2021 and a Deed of Dedication for the public right of way executed by the Developer on November 15, 2021.
Motion was made by ALDERMAN FRICK and seconded by ALDERMAN CHAUSSE to approve Resolution No. 38R, Series of 2021; Approving Irrevocable Offer of Dedication for Buttonwood Trails. 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. 39R, SERIES OF 2021 APPROVING THE CITY OF ALEDO FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM:
Motion was made by ALDERMAN CHAUSSE and seconded by ALDERMAN DIXON to approve Resolution No. 39R, Series of 2021; Approving the City of Aledo Five-Year Capital Improvement Program. A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Dixon, Doherty, Frick, Holmes, Kopp, Sarabasa, Chausse, and Cooper. NO: None. Motion carried. 8 yeas, 0 nays.
RESOLUTION NO. 40R, SERIES OF 2021; A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF AND APPROVING PARTICIPATION BY THE CITY OF ALEDO IN THE REBUILD DOWNTOWN & MAIN STREETS CAPITAL GRANT PROGRAM:
The Rebuild Downtown & Main Streets Grant Program (“RDMS Grant Program”) provides grant money to local municipalities to support capital investment in municipal downtown and commercial corridor areas. The Mayor of the City of Aledo or his designee is hereby authorized to prepare and submit an application seeking up to $3,000,000 in grant money through the Rebuild Downtown & Main Streets Grant Program, and the City Council hereby ratifies and approves all steps previously taken by the City in furtherance of or relating to the filing of such grant application.
Motion was made by ALDERMAN FRICK and seconded by ALDERMAN COOPER to approve Resolution No. 40R, Series of 2021; A Resolution of Support of and Approving Participation by the City of Aledo in the Rebuild Downtown & Main Streets Capital Grant Program. A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Doherty, Frick, Holmes, Kopp, Sarabasa, Chausse, Cooper, and Dixon.
NO: None. Motion carried. 8 yeas, 0 nays.
RESOLUTION NO. 41R, SERIES OF 2021; ACCEPTING BID AND AWARDING CONTRACT FOR PUBLIC WORKS EXTERIOR RENOVATION PROJECT:
DPW Blaser reported on Friday November 5, 2021, a bid opening was held for the Public Works Exterior Renovation Project with two (2) bid being received. The apparent low bidder is Bruce Builders in the amount of $945,000.00.
On Monday November 29,2021, a joint TIF and Property Committee meeting was held to discuss the project. The committee recommended to reject the bids for the project as further information was needed. There was also concern about the cost of the project and how the City could finance it.
Originally, the ability of the City to pay for the project would have been much more difficult. Since the original bid opening a couple things have changed. First, the Krstic property annexation and residential development has been put on hold by the developer. This means the enterprise funds will not be depleted by the previously anticipated infrastructure projects in the development. Next, the City Hall Interior Renovation project will not be completed in 2022.
City staff hopes the Council would reconsider the negative recommendation given by the committee members. It is clearly understood that additional information the Council needed to decide to move forward with the project was not provided before the meeting. Since the meeting DPW has made every effort possible to provide any additional information available to the Council members and a complete set of plans for the building have been available in my office.
The reasoning behind asking for a reconsideration of this project are:
1. The exterior remodel is a critical project necessary to secure the structure, without the exterior being secured, the building will continue to deteriorate.
2. Based upon the factors discussed above, the cost is well within the ability of the City to afford and would finance with money already allocated in the TIF fund, and money expended by the enterprise funds, and a smaller amount from the general fund.
3. There are no real viable alternatives available at this time.
4. The City has spent a considerable amount of money reaching this point, including the $84,000 already expended developing the plans and carrying out the bidding process.
Motion was made by ALDERMAN CHAUSSE and seconded by ALDERMAN DIXON to amend Resolution No. 41R, Series of 2021; to exclude that this project be approved by payment from the City’s TIF Fund solely and seek financing with a low interest rate if necessary. A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Frick, Holmes, Kopp, Sarabasa, Chausse, Dixon, and Doherty.
NO: Cooper. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 1 nay.
Motion was made by ALDERMAN KOPP and seconded by ALDERMAN HOLMES to approve the amended Resolution No. 41R, Series of 2021; Accepting Bid and Awarding Contract for Public Works Exterior Renovation project to Bruce Builders, 900 E Franklin, Eldridge, IA, 52748, for a total cost not to exceed $945,000.00. A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Holmes, Kopp, Sarabasa, Chausse, Dixon, Doherty, and Frick.
NO: Cooper. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 1 nay.
RESOLUTION NO. 42R, SERIES OF 2021; APPROVING PROPOSAL FOR CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION & CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL TESTING BY KLINGNER & ASSOCIATES, P.C. FOR EXTERIOR REPAIRS TO THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING:
Motion was made by ALDERMAN DOHERTY and seconded by ALDERMAN KOPP to approve Resolution No. 42R, Series of 2021; Approving Proposal for Construction Administration & Construction Material Testing by Klingner & Associates, P.C., 49 N. Prairie Street, Galesburg, IL., 61401, for Exterior Repairs to the Public Works Building for a total cost not to exceed $23,500.00, plus reimbursable expenses. A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Kopp, Sarabasa, Chausse, Dixon, Doherty, Frick, and Holmes.
NO: Cooper. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 1 nay.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE TAX INCREMENT FINANCING (TIF) & PUBLIC PROPERTY, STREETS & SIDEWALKS COMMITTEE TO REJECT ALL BIDS FOR CITY HALL PHASE II & PHASE III PROJECT:
Motion was made by ALDERMAN CHAUSSE and seconded by ALDERMAN DIXON to reject all bids for City Hall Phase II & Phase III Project. A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Sarabasa, Chausse, Cooper, Dixon, Doherty, Frick, Holmes, and Kopp.
NO: None. Motion carried. 8 yeas, 0 nays.
MOTION APPROVING AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF ALEDO AND MERCER COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL FOR THE USE OF THE COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITY EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2022 AND ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2022:
Motion was made by ALDERMAN DIXON and seconded by ALDERMAN DOHERTY to approve an Agreement between the City of Aledo and Mercer County Animal Control for the use of the County Animal Control Facility effective January 1, 2022 and ending December 31, 2022, for a charge of ($0.33) per person, at $1,189.89 per month or annually at $14,386.68. 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.
MOTION TO ACCEPT THE APPOINTMENT OF THE POSITION OF UTILITY BILLING CLERK:
Motion was made by ALDERMAN CHAUSSE and seconded by ALDERMAN HOLMES to approve the Appointment of Kayde Gerber of Aledo, Illinois to the Position of Utility Billing Clerk effective December 20, 2021 with a 6-month probation period before full-time status is approved. 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.
OLD BUSINESS:
Discussion regarding the 2022 Aledo Fireworks Display to be held July 4, 2022 – Status Update: ALD. Chausse noted the City will need to solicit community donations to help support the 4th of July celebration next year. Suggestions were made to begin soliciting very soon.
NEW BUSINESS:
CITY COUNCIL briefly discussed updating the City’s current holiday decorations located in the downtown business district. Suggestions were also made to consider placing a large Christmas Tree in the downtown area next year as well. City Staff to look into refurbishing the wreaths and also finding new & up-to-date ornaments as well.
MAYOR Hagloch reported City Staff have had several conversations recently regarding the Industrial Park Signage. Debates were held regarding size of lettering and size of the sign. Thoughts and differences of opinions were voiced but City Staff continue to finalize signage for 2022.
ALD. Sarabasa inquired if Skinner Landscaping is looking to purchase property next to their current property in the Industrial Park. MAYOR reported the landscaping company would like to lease the available property the city owns but also requested first (1st) option to purchase. The first option would be triggered at his request if another developer should want to come in and purchase the parcel from the City, with Skinner Landscaping being notified first. No further discussion followed.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, motion was made by ALDERMAN KOPP and seconded by ALDERMAN DIXON that the meeting be adjourned. A Unanimous voice vote followed in agreement. Meeting was adjourned at 7:23 P.M.
https://www.aledoil.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_12062021-302
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