City of Aledo City Council met Nov. 21.
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 6:47 P.M. The roll was called, whereupon the following answered present:
Aldermen MICHAEL CHAUSSE, BARRY COOPER, DENNIS DIXON, JAY DOHERTY, JIM HOLMES, CHRIS KOPP and LINDA SARABASA. Mayor CHRISTOPHER HAGLOCH. Alderman ILA BERTRAND was excused.
Also present was CINDY PARCHERT, Finance Director, NICHOLAS SEEFELD, Lieutenant, JUSTIN BLASER, Director of Public Works & Utilities, and JAROD DALE, City Clerk.
The media was represented by Jim Taylor, WRMJ.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Public Comment: No Report.
Public Hearing: Estimated F/Y 2023 Budget & Tax Levy: MAYOR Hagloch opened the meeting for public hearing of the estimated F/Y 2023 Budget & Tax Levy at 6:16 p.m.
FINANCE DIRECTOR Parchert reported the projected budget is listed in the amount of $9,822,996.00.
FINANCE DIRECTOR Parchert reported the total amount required by the City to be raised by taxation for F/Y 2023 for corporate purposes is listed in the amount of $514,690.00. This is an increase of 14.5% from last year requiring a Truth in Taxation hearing. This represents an increase of $65,147.00 from the prior year final extended levy of $449,543.00.
FINANCE DIRECTOR reported the budget to include a 3.5% general wage increase in 2023. Original benefit costs are included in the budget with costs going down for the new plan year. The budget also includes two positions for city administrator and the chief of police positions. Capital Improvements are in the amount of $3.6 million and a majority of those funds are grant funding. The City bank debt to be paid-off in 2022 so there will be no debt. Aledo Park District debt to be hopefully completed in 2023. There is an increase in costs regarding automobile gas and heating of homes due to increased prices this year. A Truth in Taxation hearing to be held with the portion of the Tax Increment Financing to be picked up and the reasoning for the hearing. This will be able to reduce the city taxes.
MAYOR Hagloch reported there was no public present for public comment.
There being no public comment or further questions, MAYOR Hagloch closed the public hearing at 6:26 p.m.
Communication & Correspondence: Early Bird Shopping took place on Saturday, November 12th to encourage shopping local and shopping early. Saturday, November 26th to celebrate Shop Small Saturday in Aledo. AMS is a Neighborhood Champion which means they have Shop Small swag to give out to local businesses to hang up and give out shoppers.
Holly Days to take place on Friday, December 2nd with the Electric Parade along with shopping brick and mortar shops & pop-up vendors downtown. Pop-up vendors will be set-up on Friday only this year as a trial run instead of both Friday & Saturday. Multiple buildings will be utilized this year as the Button Building is under construction and won’t be able to be utilized on all three levels like years past. Saturday, December 3rd will be the Hot Chocolate Hustle.
Requests & Petitions: No Report.
Public Works Activity Report:
• Streets: Daily checks, tasks, JULIES, and work orders continue. Snow prep, swept streets, clean up tree at Sponsler’s pond, cleaned up stumps, cleaned Central Park, cleaned shop, organizing tool room. Evan Kellett obtained his CDL license last week.
• Gas: Daily checks, tasks, JULIE’s, inspections and finals continue. Re-reads, shop cleaning, install plow on truck.
• Water: Daily checks, tasks, Julie’s and work orders continue. Plows on trucks, re reads, mapping, shop organizing sewer jets, water leak investigations, one curb stop repair.
• Cemetery: Monument and grave repairs, mow, clean garage, plows on tractors & truck.
• DPW: Clean and organize office and garage, replace smoke detectors on 2nd floor of City Hall, ZBA packet prep, assign new addresses for a few Albertson properties, work on Hazard Mitigation informational packet, coordinate Christmas decorations for downtown, complete the building application for the Industrial Park Sign. Production will be approximately six to eight weeks.
Aledo Police Department Activity Report: LT. Seefeld reported all three of the new Tahoe’s have radar units installed in them now with the Department waiting for the company to certify the units.
The Department continues to accept applications for the position of Police Officer. One possible candidate came in to retrieve an application. The applicant is currently certified with the State of Illinois.
Administrative Report: CITY CLERK Dale reported City Staff and Haven Creative continue to work through the education campaign for the Truth in Taxation to be held on December 6th. A copy of the finalized narrative was provided as informational to the City Council. An FAQ to also be formalized and to provide to the City Council at a later date. A graphic to also be created and will assist in the Truth in Taxation hearing on 12/6 and to be posted on the city website.
CITY CLERK reported the City sought statements of qualifications for engineering services or the design, permitting, bidding, and construction of Phase 1 of the City’s Community Improvement Project, to complete roadway and alley rehabilitation, accessibility improvements, streetscaping, and to develop public plazas along SE Second Street, Market Plaza, and a pedestrian spine between Market Plaza and Main Street. These proposals were solicited from the end of September to November 10th. One RFQ was received and submitted by HDR, Inc.
HDR (“the engineering firm”) has been notified of the City’s selection and have requested a draft agreement to detail out the scope of services and fees to be finalized. This item will be brought forward to the City Council for review and approval at the 12/19 City Council meeting.
HDR assisted Aledo in the writing of the Rural Downtown Main Street (RDMS) Grant that was announced by the Illinois Governor earlier this year. Aledo was 1 of only 16 other communities in the State to receive the full funding in the amount of $3,000,000. Tentative plans are to have the engineering completed in 2023 with construction to begin in 2024.
A notice has been published for the sale of property behind Vashti Village. The property was originally acquired to complete the demolition of the old Roosevelt Military Academy (RMA) in 2017. The portion being advertised is the sliver of land that is wanted by the adjacent property owner. Proposals will be received until December 29th and a public opening to be held on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023 during the regular City Council meeting.
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 inquired if the City Council would like to consider a request submitted by Mercer County Family YMCA for TIF assistance. Sarah Brown, Executive Director submitted the request noting after completion of the construction project at the YMCA the TIF approved projects exceeded $26,092.70. MAYOR reported the current TIF balance is projected at a deficit and the remainder of those obligations would be paid out with general fund dollars.
After quick discussion by the City Council, it was requested the MAYOR to notify the YMCA the City would be unable to approve the request for additional Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funding.
Committee Report: No Report.
REGULAR COUNCIL SESSION
Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag,
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion was made by ALDERMAN DIXON and seconded by ALDERMAN DOHERTY to approve the following consent agenda items:
• Approval of Minutes of the Regular Meeting of November 07, 2022.
• Approval of Finance Invoice Listing – AP21.
• Approval of Resolution No. 53R, Series of 2022; Approving an Agreement for Fourth of July Fireworks Show in the amount of $25,000 to be held on July 4, 2023 with a rain date of July 5, 2023.
A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Chausse, Cooper, Dixon, Doherty, Holmes, Kopp, and Sarabasa. NO: None. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 0 nays.
PUBLIC COMMENT: No Report.
ACTION ITEMS:
ORDINANCE NO. 22, SERIES OF 2022; AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 13 OF THE CITY CODE OF ALEDO, ILLINOIS (CEMETERY FEES): (FIRST READING)
Within Exhibit “A” of Resolution No. 03-17-08-2R, A resolution amending the cemetery fees provided language stating “all fees shall increase on January 1 of each calendar year in proportion to an increase in the Consumer Price Index, to a maximum of 3%.
For 2023, a 3% increase has been drafted and reflective from data obtained from the September, 2021 to September, 2022 Consumer Price Index. The October data was not available due to an issue on the site and will be reported by the end of November. All fees have been rounded to the nearest dollar. Due to current inflation, CPI is over 7.5%.
13-1-1: SCHEDULE OF FEES:
The following fees are hereby established, which shall be charged and collected by the city:
| Cemetery lot transfer | $21.00 |
| Grave opening/closing | $570.00 $587.00 |
| Infant grave or ashes opening/closing | $243.00 $250.00 |
| Saturday and holiday opening/closing | $732.00 $754.00 |
| Winter grave preparation surcharge | $165.00 $170.00 |
| Foundation work | At Cost |
| Columbarium engraving or initialing | $273.00 $281.00 |
| Columbarium re-engraving | $192.00 $198.00 |
| Columbarium opening/closing | $192.00 $198.00 |
| Temporary Crypt Holding | $5.00 |
| Disinterment/reinterment | $642.00 $661.00 |
| Saturday and holiday disinterment/reinterment | $749.00 $771.00 |
| Infant grave or ashes disinterment/reinterment | $320.00 $330.00 |
| Infant grave or ashes Saturday and holiday disinterment/reinterment | $375.00 $386.00 |
| Mausoleum vault or crypt opening/closing | $273.00 $281.00 |
| Cemetery lot | $516.00 $531.00 |
| Mausoleum vault or crypt | $950.00 $978.00 |
| Columbarium niche | $1,084.00 $1,120.00 |
A second reading to be held on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at 6:30 o’clock p.m. in the City Council Chambers.
ORDINANCE NO. 23, SERIES OF 2022; ADOPTING A MUNICIPAL BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF ALEDO FISCAL YEAR 2023. (FIRST READING)
A Budget Session was held on Monday, October 24th. A draft budget was presented by Finance Director Parchert. The City Council reviewed the proposal for a tentative budget as well as the City of Aledo Five Year Capital Improvement Program draft.
The total amount of the budget for Fiscal Year 2023 is listed in the amount of $9,822,996.00.
The proposed “tentative budget” for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2023 and ending December 31, 2023 was made available for public inspection by publishing a legal notice in the Aledo Times Record on November 9, 2022. A copy of the tentative budget & tax levy was made available for public view in the City Clerk’s office.
A second reading to be held on Tuesday, December 6th, 2022 at 6:30 o’clock p.m. in the City Council Chambers. A Truth in Taxation hearing to be held at 6:15 o’clock p.m. in the City Council Chambers on 12/6.
ORDINANCE NO. 24, SERIES OF 2022; AN ORDINANCE LEVYING TAXES IN AND FOR THE CITY OF ALEDO, COUNTY OF MERCER, ILLINOIS FOR THE CORPORATE AND MUNICIPAL PURPOSES OF SAID CITY, JANUARY 1, 2023 AND ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2023. (FIRST READING)
The total amount required by the City to be raised by taxation for F/Y 2023 for the corporate purposes set forth in the ordinance is $514,690. This is an increase of 14.5% from last year requiring a truth and taxation hearing. The current year levy of $514,690 represents an increase of $65,147 from the prior year final extended levy of $449,543.
The rate setting EAV last year was $44,185,441. The certified rate was 1.0174, for a total extension of $449,543. The estimated EAV by the Mercer County Clerk for 2023 is $55,383,811. This is an increase from 2022 of $11,198,370 as a result of the TIF #1 ending and being added to the rate setting EAV. The proposed rate the City is setting is .9293. Total requested extension is $514,690. This represents a decrease in the tax levy rate. For example, a homeowner whose accessed value did not change their property tax portion from the city will decrease slightly as a result of the change in the levy rate. The increase in EAV is $11,198,370 or 25.3% which represents properties that were reassessed at higher values or new property on the tax rolls, including those within TIF #1.
The proposed tax levy for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2023 and ending December 31, 2023 was made available for public inspection by publishing a legal notice in the Aledo Times Record on November 9, 2022.
A second reading to be held on Tuesday, December 6th, 2022 at 6:30 o’clock p.m. in the City Council Chambers. A Truth IN Taxation hearing to also be held during this meeting.
ORDINANCE NO. 25, SERIES OF 2022; APPROVING A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 309 NW 2ND STREET IN THE CITY OF ALEDO, MERCER COUNTY, ILLINOIS: (FIRST READING)
The real property located at 309 NW 2nd Street in the City of Aledo, Mercer County, Illinois (the “Property”), is classified under the zoning provisions of the Aledo City Code as “R-2 Residential District”.
Mercer County Family Crisis Center, an Illinois Not-for-Profit Corporation, has sought a special use permit to enable use of the Property by a not-for-profit organization in accordance with Section 10-5-1-1 of the Aledo City Code.
After a hearing held on November 17, 2022, pursuant to a notice that was duly published on November 2, 2022, the Aledo Zoning Board of Appeals has unanimously recommended approval of the proposed variance. The Zoning Board of Appeals voted (4-0) to recommend approval of the Special Use Permit with the following conditions:
1. The Special Use Permit approved under ZBA 2022-02 for a Not for Profit Organization shall be limited to the Mercer County Crisis Center.
A second reading to be held on Tuesday, December 6th, 2022 at 6:30 o’clock p.m. in the City Council Chambers.
OLD BUSINESS: No Report.
NEW BUSINESS: CITY CLERK reported an invitation to bid for cleaning services was issued by the City Clerk’s office in late September, 2022. Sealed bids were received until November 18, 2022 at 10:30 AM. One bid was received and submitted by Kings Cleaning Service. Mindy King has been contracted by the City for several years now. The weekly fee was bid in the amount of $160.00 for City Hall and $100.00 for the Aledo Police Department per week. The proposed fee has not changed from the current contract and a new agreement will be brought forward for approval at the 12/6 City Council meeting. The term of the new contract to be January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2024.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, motion was made by ALDERMAN KOPP and seconded by ALDERMAN COOPER that the meeting be adjourned. A Unanimous voice vote followed in agreement. Meeting was adjourned at 6:55 P.M.
https://www.aledoil.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_11212022-342
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