Rock Island Today

City of Aledo City Council met May 6.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Minutes of the Regular City Council Session – May 06, 2024

The City Council of the City of Aledo met in Regular Session in the Council Chambers at the Aledo City Hall building on May 06, 2024. MAYOR HAGLOCH called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. The roll was called, whereupon the following answered present:

Aldermen BARRY COOPER, MARK FRIESE, CARMEN RUH, LINDA SARABASA, and ANDREW WEEKS. Mayor CHRISTOPHER HAGLOCH. Alderman NOEL BUSH, DENNIS DIXON, and JAY DOHERTY were excused.

Also present was MICHAEL CHAUSSE, City Administrator, TREVOR FISK, Interim 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

Public Comment: Dean Olson, a resident at Brookstone of Aledo, inquired on the status of the Northside Lofts project located at 205 N College Avenue. MAYOR Hagloch reported Growth Corp re-applied for tax credits in March, 2024 with notification expected in July. Once funding is received, 31 apartments to be constructed on the site.

Olson inquired what the City is currently doing at the pond west of Brookstone of Aledo, particularly regarding the flags around the pond area. DPW Blaser reported tree’s were planted on the hillside.

Communication & Correspondence: No Report.

Requests & Petitions: No Report.

Public Works Activity Report:

• Streets: Daily checks, tasks, JULIE’s, and work orders continue. Work consisted mainly of mowing and storm drain/ditch/culvert work.

• Gas: Daily checks, tasks, JULIE’s, inspections and finals continue. The annual leak survey was completed last week, meters were read on 4/30, the gas install on SE 2nd Ave was completed. They will move to the alley portion late this week. Locating continues for the Viola Telephone fiber project. They performed roughly 40 locates within the past two weeks.

• Water: Daily checks, tasks, JULIE’s and work orders continue. Locating continues for the Viola Telephone fiber project. They performed roughly 40 locates within the past two weeks. W/WW Superintendent and DPW met with ION to discuss summer work & CIP projects. One service leak repair, lift station cleaning, curb box repairs, and one sewer repair.

• Cemetery: Seven (7) funerals occurred. Work consisted mainly of mowing.

• DPW: The Community Improvements Project has begun. Demolition of the alley and SE 2nd Ave is complete. The storm sewer is currently being installed. Working days have started on the SE 8th Ave bike path project. Construction crews are scheduled to be on site this week. We received four Water Worker applications. We are scheduling interviews this week. Our Arbor Day tree planting was delayed a week due to weather. PW’s hopes to plant the trees this week. PW’s are also replacing the deceased Camperdown elm in central park with an eastern redbud.

Aledo Police Department Activity Report: CHIEF Fisk reported Lt. Baker and Investigator Kenney attended the Lead Homicide Investigator training held at Mobile Team Unit IV in East Moline from April 22-April 26, 2024. This training provides skills and competency to conduct complete and thorough homicide investigations with prosecutorial merit. Additionally, it provides skills to recognize and handle other types of death investigation, bringing them to a successful conclusion. This course is required by the State of Illinois to investigate homicide cases. Both Lt. Baker and Investigator Kenney are members of the Henry and Mercer County Integrity Task Force which is utilized in major case investigations in both counties. This certification is required to be a member of that task force.

Officer Dallas Wakeland was injured on duty during the arrest of a suspect on April 13, 2024. He is expected to be off duty for an extended period of time due to this injury. The suspect in this case was charged with Aggravated Battery to a Police Officer, Aggravated Battery - Great Bodily Harm and Resisting Arrest.

Officer Christian Williams is on orders with the Illinois National Guard and will be attending annual training in Poland from May 05, 2024 through May 19, 2024. He recently worked approximately 60 hours of overtime on 3rd Shift during the last two pay periods to assist in coverage of open shifts due to officer related injuries.

We have received two applications for the open police officer positions. One applicant is a veteran and the other applicant is currently serving in the US Army and not scheduled for discharge until September 2024. CHIEF has spoken to another possible applicant who is also a veteran. He was provided an application. These applicants are not currently certified as police officers in Illinois and would need to attend the police academy. CHIEF has also received an application for a part-time police officer position. This individual previously worked for the Metropolitan Airport Authority as a Public Safety Officer (last worked in 2020) and also worked as a paramedic for Genesis Health Systems. CHIEF is currently working on his employment background investigation.

Administrative Report: ADMINISTRATOR Chausse reported on an overview of highlights of what the Administrator (and others) have worked on since the last council meeting:

• Had lots of contact with LRS concerning mostly Spring Clean Up questions.

• Attended the Main Street Community Connections meeting on April 16th at Blackhawk Bank.

• Attended two meetings with city staff and Paul Baele with HDR, Centennial Contractors and various subcontractors to go over the bi-weekly progress on the Central Park Project. (April 16th & April 30th)

• Along with the City Clerk, had a yearly review with Civic Plus on the service they provide concerning the city website. (April 19th)

• Attended the Antiques Day committee meeting at the Main Street office on April 22nd.

• On April 23rd, held an Aquatic Center committee meeting at city hall. Meeting was very productive with WTI, the aquatic center designer. There are plans for a kick off event at the pool site for the public portion of the fundraising drive on June 22nd with more information to come.

• City Clerk, DPW, and City Administrator honored the Administrative Professionals (Patti Mitchell, Joy Coulter, Kate Martin, Kayde Gerber, and Laurie Wood) with some gifts on Administrative Professional’s Day on April 24th and treated them to lunch on April 25th.

• Gave project updates at the Mercer County Retired Teachers meeting at Ariana’s on April 26th.

• Met with two representatives from Sagacity Benefits (our health insurance agency) on May 1st. Jamie Hopkins has left Sagacity and will be working for another company, Lee Agency. Jamie met with us prior to his departure. He told us he is moving to and we can retain him as our agent and that new agency if staff so desires.

• Attended the Regional Office of Education (ROE) 33 Mercer County Stakeholder Meeting on May 1st at the YMCA.

• Held a Staff Appreciation Luncheon for personnel on Friday – May 3rd.

Mayor’s Report: MAYOR Hagloch reported a status update of the development project at Sponsler’s Manor 3rd Addition to be reviewed by the Property Committee at a future meeting. Also, the Mayor reported the new ice machine to be operational on Friday. The project utilized TIF dollars with the project completed by RTN Properties, LLC.

Committee Report: A Public Property, Streets & Sidewalks Committee meeting to be held on Wednesday, May 15 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 FRIESE and seconded by ALDERMAN RUH to approve the following consent agenda items:

• Approval of Minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 15, 2024.

• Approval of Finance: Invoice Listing – AP08.

• Approval of the Hiring of Jade Ford as an Aledo Police Officer effective Tuesday, May 7, 2024.

• Approval of an Agreement for Services between Bi-State Regional Commission and Aledo, Illinois Developing a Comprehensive Plan in the amount of $5,000.

• Approval of Approval of a Mural License Agreement between 110 S. College, LLC and the City of Aledo.

A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:

YES: Cooper, Friese, Ruh, Sarabasa, and Weeks. NO: None. Motion carried. 5 yeas, 0 nays.

SWEARING-IN CEREMONY: CITY CLERK

Dale administered the oath to Jade Ford, Aledo Police Officer.

PUBLIC COMMENT: Dean Olson inquired what the City’s procedure is regarding dilapidated properties or properties with code violations. Quesean Ford, Community Service Officer reported the City would verify ownership of the property and safety measures would then take place. Mr. Ford requested addresses for those specific properties with Olson to provide a listing.

ACTION ITEMS:

RESOLUTION NO. 13R, SERIES OF 2024; REVOKING LICENSE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE CITY OF ALEDO AND THE ALEDO POLICE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION:

The City of Aledo owns the property located on the west side of the intersection of 2nd Street and 2nd Avenue in the City of Aledo, consisting of Lots 7 and 8 of Block 76 in the original town now City of Aledo, and the abandoned railroad right-of-way north of Lots 3 and 4 in Block 85 in the original town now City of Aledo.

At the request of the Police Benevolent Association (“Association”), the City Council approved a License Agreement on August 2, 2010, which provided, in relevant part, that the Association could construct a memorial on a portion of the Property consisting of inscribed brick pavers and a decommissioned howitzer. Following the parties’ execution of the License Agreement on August 5, 2010, the Association requested that the City approve an Amended and Restated License Agreement due to the U.S. Army’s requirement that the City agree to maintain the howitzer. On February 8, 2011, the City Council approved the Amended and Restated License Agreement.

Following the parties’ execution of the Amended and Restated License Agreement, the Association constructed portions of the memorial on property not addressed in the License Agreement or the Amended and Restated License Agreement, including the abandoned railroad right-of-way on the south side of Southwest 2nd Street. Following the parties’ execution of the Amended and Restated License Agreement, the Association did not obtain a decommissioned howitzer from the U.S. Army as planned, but instead obtained a decommissioned howitzer on loan from the Mercer County Historical Society. The City approved the Second Amended and Restated License Agreement on March 16, 2015, and the Association executed the Second Amended and Restated License Agreement on March 23, 2015.

The City approved an additional License Agreement with the Association for the purpose of allowing the Association to install a bench and statue honoring women from the Aledo area who have served in the United States military.

The City has attempted to have the Association perform the required maintenance on the areas improved pursuant to the foregoing license agreements, but the Association has failed to engage in regular, required maintenance. The City now desires to revoke all of the licenses granted to the Association due to the Association’s failure to maintain the property.

Motion was made by ALDERMAN WEEKS and seconded by ALDERMAN SARABASA to approve Resolution No. 13R, Series of 2024; Revoking License Agreements between the City of Aledo and the Aledo Police Benevolent Association as presented. A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:

YES: Friese, Ruh, Sarabasa, Weeks, and Cooper. NO: None. Motion carried. 5 yeas, 0 nays.

RESOLUTION NO. 14R, SERIES OF 2024; APPROVING RETENTION AND SIGNING BONUSES FOR POLICE OFFICERS:

That a new full-time police officer hired between May 1, 2024 and April 30, 2029 shall be eligible to receive a $7,500 new and lateral officer signing and retention bonus earned by his or her continued employment with the City of Aledo over the course of three years, which shall be paid in installments of $2,500 to such a police officer who remains actively employed with the City on each of the first three anniversaries of the officer’s first day of employment with the City (i.e., on the first day of their second, third and fourth year with the City).

That a new part-time police officer hired between May 1, 2024 and April 30, 2029, shall be eligible to receive a $500 signing bonus in their first paycheck and $500 more upon the officer’s completion of 200 hours worked in their first year of employment with the City. After their first year, part-time officers shall receive a $500 bonus after 200 hours and an additional $500 bonus if they work a total of 400 hours within a year.

That a police officer who refers a candidate for employment as a police officer who is hired and remains actively employed by the City for at least one year shall be eligible for a $500 referral bonus. The referring officer shall notify the Chief of Police of the referral before or at the time of the candidate’s application and shall be entitled to the referral bonus in the next regular payroll following the referred candidate’s one-year anniversary so long as the referring officer remains actively employed by the City at the time such payment becomes due.

After January 1, 2025, and in addition to the foregoing, any current officer and all officers hired before April 30, 2029, shall be eligible for a 5-year bonus City as of the end of their fifth year of employment with the City. If an officer leaves the City’s employ for any reason before payment of any of the foregoing bonuses becomes due, such officer shall not be entitled to such payment.

Motion was made by ALDERMAN SARABASA and seconded by ALDERMAN RUH to approve Resolution No. 14R, Series of 2024; Approving Retention and Signing Bonuses for Police Officers as presented. A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:

YES: Ruh, Sarabasa, Weeks, Cooper, and Friese. NO: None. Motion carried. 5 yeas, 0 nays.

OLD BUSINESS: ALD. Sarabasa inquired if a supplement was to be considered for the Aledo Main Street Executive Director position. MAYOR Hagloch reported the current economic development agreement with Aledo Main Street to expire in December, 2024. Discussions to be held in the fall during budget time with the City Council.

NEW BUSINESS: No Report.

ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, motion was made by ALDERMAN WEEKS and seconded by ALDERMAN FRIESE that the meeting be adjourned. A Unanimous voice vote followed in agreement. Meeting was adjourned at 6:44 P.M.

https://www.aledoil.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_05062024-406