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 on December 06, 2022. MAYOR HAGLOCH called the meeting to order at 6:49 P.M. The roll was called, whereupon the following answered present:
Aldermen ILA BERTRAND, MICHAEL CHAUSSE, BARRY COOPER, DENNIS DIXON, JAY DOHERTY, JIM HOLMES, CHRIS KOPP and LINDA SARABASA. Mayor CHRISTOPHER HAGLOCH.
Also present was CINDY PARCHERT, Finance Director, MARK WALTON, City Attorney, 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.
Truth In Taxation Public Hearing for Proposed Real Estate Tax Levy: MAYOR Hagloch opened the meeting for the hearing of the Truth In Taxation for proposed Real Estate Tax Levy at 6:16 p.m.
FINANCE DIRECTOR Parchert reported when a taxing body proposes an increase to the levy and it exceeds the previous year’s extended levy by 5%, the body must hold a Truth in Taxation hearing. The hearing tonight is because the City’s levy is anticipated to increase 14.5% as a result of the TIF District #1 ending.
Though the City’s revenue is increasing 14.5%, the tax payer’s payment to the City is actually going down. An example was provided by the FINANCE DIRECTOR utilizing a home valued by the County (referred to as EAV) of $100,000.
A taxpayer having a home valued by the county (EAV) as $100,000 and having a $6,000 exemption for owner occupied paid approximately $2,600 in property taxes.
Out of this $2,600, a total of $278 was paid to the City. However, if you lived in the TIF district, you paid a lesser amount of $210 (this is based upon the homes “value” in 1986) to the City. The balance of $67.93 was paid to the TIF and it represents the increased value of the home since 1986. For 2023, Taxpayers will notice that Total City taxes will go from $278 to $254, or a reduction of $24.
If your home is in the TIF district, you will see the TIF #1 to go zero, but you will see the City’s increase. In our example, the taxpayer will see the TIF District going down $635.74 to zero and the City tax increasing from $210 to $254. Of the $635,74 going to the TIF, the city would have received almost $68 of this, however the City is receiving $44, resulting in a net savings to the taxpayer of $24.
How will Aledo use the Increased Revenue from this change? FINANCE DIRECTOR reported these funds will better position Aledo to invest in infrastructure improvements, which is a growing need for the City. Many infrastructure projects which receive grant funding from the State of Illinois or other sources require Aledo to make an initial investment or match a certain percentage of the grant funding. These revenues give Aledo the flexibility to apply for such grants, like the Rebuild Illinois Main Street Grant which awarded $3,000,000 to Aledo.
With the changes proposed for this year, the City of Aledo can better access available tax dollars to fund infrastructure and downtown improvements while also passing annual tax savings to the residents of Aledo. Residents can expect a net amount of $24.08 in city taxes per $100,000 in property value.
CITY ATTORNEY Walton reported the total property taxes extended or abated for the year 2021 were $449,542.67. The estimated total property taxes to be levied for 2022 are $514,690.00. This represents a 14.5% increase over the previous year. This amounts to a total of $65,147.33.
MAYOR Hagloch solicited public comment for those attending the hearing from the public.
Dwight Shoemaker, a resident of Aledo, requested Aledo take the 14.5% increase out of reserves instead of taxing the additional dollars. Shoemaker noted his concern was those invested in real estate.
C.W. “Red” Stancliff, a resident of Aledo, reported he was elected Mayor in May, 1993 during the early years of the TIF District and the district should have been shut-down. He noted the TIF generated a windfall of a large amount. CITY ATTORNEY Walton reported the tax bill will go down proportionally.
Robert Maynard, a resident of Aledo, reported his tax rate is pushing 10% in Mercer Township and he asked that the money be given back to the tax payers and for the City to not recoup the TIF dollars that are going away. It was noted a little bit more back to the people is his point.
There being no further public comment, MAYOR Hagloch closed the public hearing at 6:42 p.m.
Communication & Correspondence: No Report.
Requests & Petitions: No Report.
Public Works Activity Report: No Report.
Aledo Police Department Activity Report: Since the advertisement for Full-time Police Officer(s) job announcement was published there have been three applications turned into the Department to date.
The Department continues to wait on the certificate of calibration from Midwest Radar regarding the equipment that was installed in the new squad vehicles.
The Department to conduct their 6-month required qualification with their duty pistols in mid-December.
Administrative Report: CITY CLERK Dale reported the Truth In Taxation FAQ along with the info graphic were posted on the city website and available to help assist in the Truth in Taxation public hearing. https://www.aledoil.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=206
Mayor’s Report: MAYOR Hagloch reported the Aledo Holly Days event went well on 12/2 and the lighting the Community Tree was a success. Thank you to the Special Projects Committee, City Staff, and the volunteers who all helped with the planning and decorating before the event.
Committee Report: ALD. Dixon reported the Personnel Committee met on November 28th at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. The Committee discussed an employee retirement incentive program, a request by Lt. Seefeld regarding his vacation leave, and a part-time property maintenance code deputy inspector job description.
REGULAR COUNCIL SESSION
Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag,
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion was made by ALDERMAN CHAUSSE and seconded by ALDERMAN SARABASA to approve the following consent agenda items:
• Approval of Minutes of the Regular Meeting of November 21, 2022.
• Approval of Finance Invoice Listing – AP22.
• Approval of Ordinance No. 22, Series of 2022; An Ordinance Amending Title 13 of the City Code of Aledo, Illinois (Second Reading); effective January 1, 2023 reflecting an increase in cemetery fees and charges in the amount of a 3% increase.
• Approval of an Agreement for Cleaning Services between King Cleaning Services and City of Aledo in the amount of $160/weekly (Aledo City Hall) and $110/weekly (Aledo Police Department) effective January 1, 2023 and ending December 31, 2024.
A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Bertrand, Chausse, Cooper, Dixon, Doherty, Holmes, Kopp, and Sarabasa. NO: None. Motion carried. 8 yeas, 0 nays.
PUBLIC COMMENT: No Report.
ACTION ITEMS:
ORDINANCE NO. 23, SERIES OF 2022; ADOPTING A MUNICIPAL BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF ALEDO FISCAL YEAR 2023. (SECOND READING)
Motion was made by ALDERMAN DOHERTY and seconded by ALDERMAN BERTRAND to adopt Ordinance No. 23, Series of 2022; Adopting a Municipal Budget for the City of Aledo Fiscal Year 2023 in the total amount of $9,822,996.00. A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Chausse, Cooper, Dixon, Doherty, Holmes, Kopp, Sarabasa, and Bertrand. NO: None. Motion carried. 8 yeas, 0 nays.
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. (SECOND READING)
Motion was made by ALDERMAN KOPP and seconded by ALDERMAN COOPER to adopt Ordinance No. 24, Series of 2022; Levying Taxes in and for the City of Aledo, County of Mercer, State of Illinois for the Corporate & Municipal Purposes, January 1, 2023 and ending December 31, 2023 in the amount of $514,690.00. A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Cooper, Dixon, Doherty, Holmes, Kopp, Sarabasa, Bertrand, and Chausse. NO: None. Motion carried. 8 yeas, 0 nays.
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: (SECOND READING)
CITY ATTORNEY Walton reported after the first reading held on November 21st, Dr. Rajput who ultimately has to assign the lease to the Crisis Center has put a halt on that assignment. It was noted by his attorney that he has decided to continue practicing. CITY ATTORNEY reported the CITY COUNCIL is free to act either to approve the special use or vote it down. The use would be applicant specific to the Crisis Center and it can only be for the not-for-profit to utilize and Dr. Rajput could not assign to a different party.
Motion was made by ALDERMAN SARABASA and seconded by ALDERMAN DIXON to adopt Ordinance No. 25, Series of 2023; Approving a Special Use Permit for Certain Real Property (309 NW 2nd Street, Aledo, IL) in the City of Aledo, Mercer County, Illinois. The Special Use Permit approved under ZBA Case No. 2022-02 for a Not for Profit Organization shall be limited to the Mercer County Family Crisis Center. A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Dixon, Holmes, Kopp, Sarabasa, Bertrand, Chausse, and Cooper. NO: None. ABSTAIN: Doherty. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 0 nays, 1 abstention.
RESOLUTION NO. 54R, SERIES OF 2022; A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CITY OF ALEDO FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM:
Motion was made by ALDERMAN CHAUSSE and seconded by ALDERMAN DOHERTY to approve Resolution No. 54R, Series of 2023; Approving the City of Aledo Five-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) as presented. A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Doherty, Holmes, Kopp, Sarabasa, Bertrand, Chausse, Cooper, and Dixon. NO: None. Motion carried. 8 yeas, 0 nays.
OLD BUSINESS: No Report.
NEW BUSINESS: No Report.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, motion was made by ALDERMAN KOPP and seconded by ALDERMAN HOLMES that the meeting be adjourned. A Unanimous voice vote followed in agreement. Meeting was adjourned at 7:01 P.M.
https://www.aledoil.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_12062022-344
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