Rock Island Today

City of Aledo City Council met Sept. 19.

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 6:48 P.M. The roll was called, whereupon the following answered present:

Aldermen ILA BERTRAND, MICHAEL CHAUSSE, BARRY COOPER, JAY DOHERTY, JIM HOLMES, CHRIS KOPP, and LINDA SARABASA. Mayor CHRISTOPHER HAGLOCH. Alderman DENNIS DIXON was excused.

Also present was NICHOLAS SEEFELD, Lieutenant, JAROD DALE, City Clerk, and LINDSEY DUNN, Aledo Main Street.

The media was represented by Jim Taylor, WRMJ.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE 

Public Comment: No Report.

Communication & Correspondence: Lindsey Dunn, Aledo Main Street Executive Director, reported Erick Olin Insurance Agency grand opening, Daisy Bliss 1-year anniversary, and Walmart grand re-opening ribbon cuttings were recently held. There is a need to share more info/photos of happenings in Aledo to build awareness and excitement around what’s going on Downtown in Aledo.

The Lease Assistance Expense Program (LEAP) grant opportunity was released on 9/01/22. Applications are available on the AMS website at https://aledomainstreet.com/.

The Community Connection meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 20th at Cheers on Main outdoor patio.

AMS Started a pilot meeting in July and last month AMS had a guest speaker Jaime, owner of Maude Specklebellys in Monmouth, to speak to their group as a women owned small business in a rural community. Hoping that as AMS continues to have these monthly meetings and conversations AMS can start to put back together our committees of: Organization, Promotion, Design & Economic Vitality all while building positive engagement and volunteers.

In recent years, AMS has decorated 9 street corners. This year there will be 8 more heavily decorated corners with pumpkins, mums, straw bales & a Fall sign. In addition to that, AMS will be decorating more poles on Main & College with corn stalks with pumpkin or gnome corrugated plastic signs peeking out. There will be about twenty total poles decorated this year.

AMS is working with Daisy Bliss to expand on the 2nd annual Fall Fest this year. Reaching out to local businesses for awareness of this event and reaching out to potential vendors for set-up. Fall Fest will take place the 2nd weekend in October, Saturday- October 8th from 10:00 AM-3:00 PM. Vendors will be set-up in 3 potential spaces: Main level of the old appleton law office, left side of halls, & the old main street antiques building. If full we would be looking at 15 pop-up vendors.

AMS & Mercer Foundation for Health are collaborating to put together this year’s farm-to table benefit dinner called “The Gathering Table”. This will take place on Sunday, October 16th at the VFW in Aledo. Cocktail hour will start at 5:00 PM and Dinner will start at 5:30 PM. There will be a total of 120 tickets available. The concept is to utilize the local farmers market vendors/local produce available at this particular time of the year (onions, tomatoes, squash, pumpkin, broccoli). Then utilize local restaurants/caterers to prepare a menu curated by an executive chef (Stephanie Goedke) to prepare said dishes. This style of event highlights our agricultural roots of Aledo/Mercer County while highlighting our area restaurants and abilities. The beneficiary for this dinner will be the Mercer County & Sherrard School District Backpack Programs.

Requests & Petitions: Special Event/Street Closure: Mercer County High School Homecoming Parade to be held Thursday, September 29, 2022 at 6:00 PM.

Special Event/Street Closure: Trunk or Treat to be held Monday, October 31, 2022 between the hours of 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM.

Special Event/Street Closure: Veteran’s Day Parade to be held Friday, November 11, 2022 at 10:45 AM.

Public Works Activity Report:

• Streets: Daily checks, tasks, JULIES, and work orders continue. The Division completed the chip sealing of the Cemetery road with our patch machine, and continued patching various locations around town, mowing, one culvert repair, and sprayed weeds at the WTP.

• Gas: Daily checks, tasks, JULIE’s, inspections and finals continue. JULIES have been one of the main focus of work. Both the Gas and W/S Division have been averaging 3-5 a day for the past two weeks. Hutchison Engineering also called for the preliminary design of the 9th Ave Bike Path. Other work consisted of boiler maintenance at the border station; meter set rebuilds; assist the W/S Division with sewer located and jetting; deliver shut off letters; dirt work at the SW 3rd Ave project plumbing CEU’s for Don Korns.

• Water: Daily checks, tasks, Julie’s and work orders continue. The Division has been experiencing an increase of slow, or backed up sewers and sewer mains. Not sure on the reason, but it seems to happen more frequently during this time of the year. The division has been able to use our jetter to solve a majority of the issues thus far. Lead and cooper surveys have been completed and samples have been submitted to the IEPA.

• Cemetery: One (1) funeral occurred. Backfill graves along with mowing and weed eating the cemetery grounds.

• DPW: Budget work has been the majority of focus for the past two weeks. The Mayor, Clerk Dale, Director Parchert, and I have met each of the last three weeks to begin project and personnel budgets. We have also met with the park district for the same. I have made a request to Ameren on the Park District’s behalf to install a street light at Jaycee Park, attended the Park District meeting on the 18th of August, and assisted in installing the pickleball nets and posts with President Dunn. I looked into the ADA accessibility question that was asked at the last meeting. According to ADA, an accessible playground is one that offers a range of play experiences to children of varying abilities and have the following requirements. 1. There must be an accessible path from the building or parking lot to the edge of the play area; 2. An accessible path from the edge of the play area to the play equipment; 3. A surfacing that complies with ASTM 1951 (Determination of Accessibility of Surface Systems) Also, once a child is in the play area, they must be able to access the play equipment by either moving out of their mobility device onto the playground structure (such as a transfer station) or by direct play structure access in their mobility device (such as a ramp). After review of our current playgrounds, we would meet these requirements minus a little work needed at the transition to the play equipment. Clerk Dale and I met with Rusty Ruggles to discuss having the homecoming dance at Central Park; met with Alderman Chausse to verify the quantity of the new strand lights that were delivered; attended the pre-construction meeting for the NW Quad Street Re surfacing project, tentative start date is ; coordination meeting for the next ITEP grant submittal along 9th Ave; coordination meeting with Viola Telephone on the next pipe project in the NW Quad; ten building inspection on the last two weeks; assisted in the TIF application for Bright Day Properties. The building department has yet to receive a building permit application or contractor registration, and are aware the furnace replacement work has already begun.

Aledo Police Department Activity Report: The Department received notification from Officer Harris and Officer Adam regarding their individual resignation notifications. Ofc. Harris submitted his resignation effective 9/02/22 and Ofc. Adam’s last day was on 9/07/22.

Mercer Co. MOPPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) and the ROE of the School District held a Touch a Truck Event in the parking lot of the Fire Department on Saturday 09/10/22.

During a Department Head Meeting, Staff discussed the safety issues of the Homecoming Parade we experienced last year and it was our recommendation to close down the 100 blocks of both East and West Main Street beginning at 4 pm and opening back up at the conclusion of the parade.

The Department has received some complaints and difficulty regarding noise and individuals being in the Park’s after hours. Aledo PD Officers have been removing these subjects and making sure the people using the Park are not damaging equipment or littering.

Administrative Report: CITY CLERK Dale reported City staff has been researching a potential hotel/motel tax for the corporate limits of Aledo. Requirements would include that the City need only pass an ordinance imposing a hotel-motel tax. There is no need for referendum or anything of the like. State statute limits the amount of the tax to 5% of the rental amount, which is payable to the City from the hotel and could also be collected from operators of short-term rentals – like Air BnB’s. This would go into the city’s general fund. City staff continues to work on the possibility of a presentation to the Ordinance & Police Committee for future discussion.

The Finance Director, Director of PW Works, and City Clerk continue to work and draft the budget for FY 2023. Staff is meeting weekly to work on details of a future presentation to the City Council. Plans are to hold budget session in October, 2022. Dates to consider are Tuesday, October 18th; Wednesday, October 19th; or Monday, October 24th. City Staff would like to establish the date with the Council.

The City Attorney has been in communication with attorney Karl Bredberg and attorney Eric Long regarding a potential lease assignment agreement for the property located at 309 NW 2nd St, commonly known as the Maheen Rajput building. The City is waiting on the Mercer County Family Crisis Center to make an application to the ZBA and then the City can then determine the likely date of approval for the lease assignment.

CITY CLERK reported the City will need to know exactly what, if any TIF I funds remain in the TIF I Fund as of 1/1/2023 as well as the purpose for such. Jacob & Klein, LTD will assist City Attorney Mark Walton with preparing an Ordinance to approve in October and subsequently provide the appropriate statutory notice to the county on or before Nov. 1 as to the estimated date that the City will be closing the TIF I Fund. The October ordinance for TIF I will also indicate that the parcels in the original TIF District I will no longer generate TIF District I increment as of tax year 2022 payable 2023.

Letters were sent to each of the property owners with open TIF agreements this week. Those property owners were notified of the available balance that was left on their respective agreements for reimbursement. A deadline was given to them of November 30, 2022 to finish the project and have invoices paid with proof of payment turned into the City.

City staff has ordered the downtown Christmas lights and garland. The new lighting has been received this past week. We are still waiting on the garland to arrive. The new holiday banners were also ordered this week.

City Treasurer’s Report: The Treasurer’s Reports has been marked exhibit “B”, attached hereto and made a part of these minutes.

Mayor’s Report: MAYOR Hagloch read a proclamation establishing Halloween Trick or Treat hours in Aledo to be held on October 31, 2022 between the hours of 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM in Aledo.

Committee Report: MAYOR Hagloch reported the Personnel Committee met on September 12, 2022 to review temporary compensation increases for the positions of Lieutenant, Sergeant, PD Administrative Assistant to the Chief, Director of Public Works & Utilities, and City Clerk. The item is listed for approval during the regularly scheduled city council meeting for 9/19.

ALD. Sarabasa reported the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee met on September 12, 2022 to review a TIF Application Bright Day Properties, LTD. The TIF Committee made a recommendation to move the Downtown Revitalization TIF application forward to the City Council for final review and approval.

CITY COUNCIL requested a draft ordinance be listed on the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting on 10/3 for an amendment to Section 1-9-2(A) of the City Code regarding pay provisions for elected officials. CITY CLERK noted the request and to list the item on the agenda.

REGULAR COUNCIL SESSION 

Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag,

CONSENT AGENDA 

Motion was made by ALDERMAN CHAUSSE and seconded by ALDERMAN KOPP to approve the following consent agenda items:

• Approval of Minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 06, 2022. 

• Approval of Finance Invoice Listing – AP17.

• Approval of Temporary Compensation Increases for Police Department: Lieutenant, Sergeant, and Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Police, and for Administrative: Director of Public Works & Utilities and Office Manager in the amount of $192.31 per pay-period.

• Approval to Accept the Resignation of Aledo Police Officer Marcus Harris effective September 2, 2022.

• Approval to Accept the Resignation of Aledo Police Officer Clifford Adam effective September 6, 2022.

• Approval of Special Event / Parade: Mercer County Homecoming Parade on Thursday, September 29, 2022 at 6:00 PM.

• Approval of Special Event / Street Closure: Trunk or Treat on Monday, October 31, 2022 between the hours of 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM.

• Approval of Special Event / Parade: Veteran’s Day Parade to be held Friday, November 11, 2022 at 10:45 AM.

A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:

YES: Bertrand, Chausse, Cooper, Doherty, Holmes, Kopp, and Sarabasa. NO: None. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 0 nays.

PUBLIC COMMENT: No Report.

ACTION ITEMS: 

ORDINANCE NO. 18, SERIES OF 2022; APPROVING THE SALE OF PROPERTY TO  SKINNER LANDSCAPING, INC.: (FIRST READING) 

Subject to and conditioned upon the approval and adoption by Seller’s corporate authorities of an ordinance that approves this Agreement (“Agreement”), the undersigned Seller agrees to sell and the undersigned Buyer agrees to buy the following described real property (the “Property”) in the County of Mercer and State of Illinois: Lot 11 in Progress Park Second Addition to the City of Aledo, County of Mercer and State of Illinois, Property ID#: 10-10-21-204-021 (approximately 6.32 acres), for the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), subject to the terms herein, payable at closing.

Closing shall take place on or before October 31, 2022 (“Closing Date”), at which time Buyer shall pay the balance due and Seller shall deliver a quitclaim deed conveying merchantable title to the Property to Buyer, subject only to the following: (a) the lien of general taxes not yet due; (b) building, use and occupancy restrictions, conditions and covenants of record, if any; and (c) easements of record, if any.

Motion was made by ALDERMAN CHAUSSE and seconded by ALDERMAN BERTRAND to waive the 2nd reading for Ordinance No. 18, Series of 2022; Approving the Sale of Property to Skinner Landscaping, Inc. A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:

YES: Chausse, Cooper, Doherty, Holmes, Kopp, Sarabasa, and Bertrand. NO: None. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 0 nays.

Motion was made by ALDERMAN CHAUSSE and seconded by ALDERMAN BERTRAND to adopt Ordinance No. 18, Series of 2022; Approving the Sale of Property to Skinner Landscaping, Inc. in the amount of $5,000.00 as presented. A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:

YES: Cooper, Doherty, Holmes, Kopp, Sarabasa, Bertrand, and Chausse. NO: None. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 0 nays.

RESOLUTION NO. 44R, SERIES OF 2022; A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE  STANDARDS & GOALS OF COMMUNITY PARK AND RECREATIONAL PLANNING  FOR THE STATE OF ILLINOIS: 

RESOLUTION NO. 45R, SERIES OF 2022; A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT AND  APPROVING PARTICIPATION BY THE CITY OF ALEDO IN THE OPEN SPACE LAND  ACQUISITION & DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM:  

The Aledo City Council received a presentation from Joshua Layer, Burbach Aquatics & Sarah Brown, YMCA Director at the 9/06/22 City Council meeting for the Aledo Community Pool project. Plans would be to apply for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Open Space Land Acquisition & Development Grant Program (OSLAD) that is due September 30th, 2022.

Long-term plans would be to construct a new municipal swimming pool located at the former Farmer’s Grain & Coal site, at a present base cost of approximately $5,329,000 with additional bid alternatives at a cost of approximately $744,000, for a total project cost of approximately $6,073,000.

As part of the requirements of the grant, the City would need to follow the guidance of the State of Illinois Community Park and Recreational Planning Guide to develop planning committees, public surveys, prioritize needs and issues, develop a vision, goals & objectives, and an action plan.

For this OSLAD application, the City would be applying for the construction of the bathhouse and spray pad. The application would be to apply for $600,000 with a match of $600,000.

Motion was made by ALDERMAN CHAUSSE and seconded by ALDERMAN SARABASA to approve Resolution No. 44R, Series of 2022; A Resolution to Adopt the Standards & Goals of Community Park and Recreational Planning for the State of Illinois & to approve Resolution No. 45R, Series of 2022; A Resolution in Support and Approving Participation by the City of Aledo in the Open Space Land Acquisition & Development Grant Program.

A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:

YES: Doherty, Holmes, Kopp, Sarabasa, Bertrand, Chausse, and Cooper. NO: None. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 0 nays.

RESOLUTION NO. 46R, SERIES OF 2022; APPROVING DOWNTOWN  REVITALIZATION PROGRAM LOAN AGREEMENT BRIGHT DAY PROPERTIES,  LLC, JASON COUSINEAU, JUSTIN TAYLOR, AND MARK FAUST IN THE AMOUNT  OF $39,239.50: 

The TIF Committee met on Monday, September 12th to review the TIF Application submitted by Bright Day Properties, LLC. The Committee made a recommendation to approve the request upon verification by the applicant if the work could be completed before November 30, 2022. City Staff contacted Jason Cousineau and he reported HVAC work had begun and windows have been ordered.

The City attorney has adjusted the agreement amount to reflect the portion of HVAC that has not been started by the property owner’s contractor’s, along the window proposal. Electrical was excluded from this agreement. It should be noted, as of this writing city building permits have not been applied for or issued. DPW Blaser verified before the City Council meeting that no building permit application was made to date. The applicant was aware that no permits were applied for by the Mayor and the applicant(s) did note to staff that they would have their contractors contact the City to apply for the permit and register their contactors.

This agreement is for property located at 308 NW 4th Street, Aledo, Illinois, consisting of the replacement windows ($27,479) and HVAC ($51,000 based on 18 units at 2,100 each plus $3,000 for drip legs/ventilation and $10,200 for exhaust fans). Total city portion listed in the amount of $39,239.50.

Motion was made by ALDERMAN SARABASA and seconded by ALDERMAN CHAUSSE to approve Resolution No. 46R, Series of 2022; Approving Downtown Revitalization Program Loan Agreement Bright Day Properties, LLC, Jason Cousineau, Justin Taylor, and Mark Faust in the amount of $39,436.98. A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:

YES: Holmes, Kopp, and Sarabasa. NO: Bertrand, Chausse, Cooper, and Doherty. Motion failed. 3 yeas, 4 nays.

RESOLUTION NO. 47R, SERIES OF 2022; APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF A UTV  FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,436.98: 

The 2022 budget included $20,000.00 for a new UTV, and the Department of Public Works has an additional $10,436.98 in its budget due to cost savings on the budgeted cost of an oil tank. The Director of Public Works has requested that the City purchase an Intimidator GC1K Truck from Hank’s Power Equipment for a total cost of $30,436.98.

Motion was made by ALDERMAN DOHERTY and seconded by ALDERMAN HOLMES to approve Resolution No. 47R, Series of 2022; Approving the Purchase of a UTV for the Department of Public Works in the amount of $30,436.98. A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:

YES: Kopp, Sarabasa, Bertrand, Chausse, Cooper, Doherty, and Holmes. NO: None. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 0 nays.

RESOLUTION NO. 48R, SERIES OF 2022; ACCEPTING BID AND AWARD  CONTRACT FOR INDUSTRIAL PARK WAYFINDING SIGNAGE: 

The City of Aledo put out an RFP for the Industrial Park Wayfinding Directional Signage. Proposals were due August 25th, 2022. The City received one sealed bid submitted by Michael’s Signs, Inc. of Racine, WI.

Approval of the agreement will allow the City to begin working with Michaels’s Signs on the design, and provide a down payment of $13,000.00. The agreement also addresses the cost associated with the final design and installation. The City will only pay the actual cost for the sign if less than $25,900.00, and or the down payment cost of $13,000.00. This is not a budgeted item, but TIF funds are available to use for the project.

Motion was made by ALDERMAN BERTRAND and seconded by ALDERMAN HOLMES to approve Resolution No. 48R, Series of 2022; Accepting Bid and Award Contract for Industrial Park Wayfinding Signage by Michaels Signs, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $25,900. A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:

YES: Sarabasa, Bertrand, Chausse, Cooper, Doherty, Holmes, and Kopp. NO: None. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 0 nays.

OLD BUSINESS: ALD. Cooper reported of a potential area behind the Community Bible Fellowship Church that may be a viable pathway for neighborhood vehicles to Walmart. It was noted this area also includes a bridge and would be scenic, per ALD. Chausse. This would allow for a crossing at the actual intersection by Casey’s General Store.

The property to the south of Buttonwood Trails would was reported to be too costly to create a pathway there.

ALD. Kopp inquired on posted requirements on the website regrading neighborhood vehicles and golf carts. The CITY CLERK to review current regulations and the website posting.

The CITY COUNCIL discussed child restraints for golf carts & UTVs. The item to be sent over the CITY ATTORNEY for review and provide clarification on the issue. City Staff to report back at a later date.

ALD. Doherty provided an update regarding the school exit at Apollo Elementary which continues to deteriorate. It was reported the holes have been patched. ALD. Chausse reported he has also spoken with a few teachers recently to express concerns that the exit ways need replaced.

NEW BUSINESS: CITY COUNCIL and CITY STAFF noted the Budget Session for F/Y 2023 Budget & Tax Levy to be held in the City Council Chambers on Monday, October 24, 2022 at 6:00 PM.

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 7:30 P.M.

https://www.aledoil.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_09192022-336