Rock Island Today

City of Aledo City Council met June 3.

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 June 03, 2024. MAYOR HAGLOCH called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. The roll was called, whereupon the following answered present:

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

Also present was TREVOR FISK, Interim Chief of Police, and JAROD DALE, City Clerk.

The media was represented by Jim Taylor, WRMJ.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

Public Comment: No Report.

Communication & Correspondence: No Report.

Requests & Petitions: No Report.

Public Works Activity Report:

• Streets: Daily checks, tasks, JULIE’s, and work orders continue. Memorial Day and Rhubarb Fest prep, stump clean up, install pool shade at the pool.

• Gas: Daily checks, tasks, JULIE’s, inspections and finals continue. Assist the water division with a water main break, cathodic protection, one gas service removal, sniff checks, CGI calibration.

• Water: Daily checks, tasks, JULIE’s and work orders continue. Spray weeds at all properties, one water service break repair on SE 9th Ave, one water main break repair at the VFW parking lot.

• Cemetery: Two (2) funerals occurred. Preparation for Memorial Day.

• DPW: The Community Improvements Project & the SE 8th Ave Multi Use Path continue. They are moving along nicely. We are also happy to announce we were awarded another Safe Routes to School Grant in the amount of $250,000 for the replacement of sidewalk from South College Avenue to SW 9th Avenue. Met with Hutchison to review SE 2nd Ave and Sponsler Manor 3rd Addition projects. Hutchison continues working on completing the costs for SE 2nd, and the grading package for Sponslers. Met with Chief Fisk to review Rhubarb Fest rep packet and Incident Action Plan.

Aledo Police Department Activity Report: CHIEF Fisk reported Inv. Kenney attended the Safe Travel for All Children: Transporting Children with Special Healthcare Needs - training in Champaign, IL on May 30th and 31st at the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District. This is a continuing education requirement for her Child Passenger Safety Technician certification. CPS technicians conduct community presentations and/or child safety seat checks where parents and caregivers receive education and hands-on assistance with the proper use of child restraint systems and seat belts.

Ofc. Dallas Wakeland’s on duty injury will require surgery. He received confirmation that his surgery will be completed on July 27, 2024. Ofc. Cliff Adam’s on duty injury is pending a second opinion concerning surgery.

Ofc. Jade Ford is on track and continuing to progress in her Field Training Program. Her primary Field Training Officer is Sgt. Pieper. She has worked various shifts and is becoming familiar with the community, calls for service, Aledo PD policies, records management and equipment.

An Incident Action Plan for the Rhubarb Fest is being created by the Office of Emergency Management (Henry County, IL). A representative will be meeting with Chief Fisk on 06- 04-24 to provide the updated/completed plan and go over the Office of Emergency Management’s equipment inventory and capabilities.

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

• Spoke with three cell carriers that service the city to obtain quotes for internet service at the cemetery. Currently, cemetery office has Frontier but has repeated issues. Viola Telephone is not installing fiber in that area of the city as of now. After conferring with all carriers, T-Mobile can supply 5G High Speed service for the cemetery at a substantial savings from Frontier’s inferior product.

• On May 22nd, Alderman Friese and Kyle McEwen had a meeting to discuss the topic of homelessness in Aledo and the county. Alderman Friese and I attended the Mercer County Housing Initiative meeting on April 11th. This meeting was a follow-up to the discussion that took place at that time.

• Attended the required collaborative meeting for the Looser – Flake Creative Arts grant on May 22nd. The City Clerk attended the meeting as well. The city is proposing a storytelling grant featuring signage, QR Codes, etc. that link to stories concerning historical buildings in the downtown area. Jen Hammerlink –Mercer Co. Prosperity Group has assisted in that application.

• On May 23rd, met with Pam Myers and Pam Ricke to discuss the Rhubarb Festival and the special presentation to recognize Darlene Johnson. This presentation will be at 10AM on the Saturday of the festival.

• The revision of the Employee Handbook from Josh Herman of MH&T has been received.

• On May 28th, met with Rachel Pool – Secretary for the Mercer County Veterans Assistance Commission concerning a request to set up an informational tent during the Rhubarb Festival. She wanted it on the grassy area next to the memorial by the pumphouse. C.A. denied that request, but after conferring with the festival organizers and DPW, the cement area on the south side of the pumphouse by the VFW will be utilized for the site of their tent.

• Met with DPW and Bob and Carmen Figenbaum to discuss their plans for their new home- May 29th.

• Review the grading plans and walked the Sponsler Manor site with DPW and Hutchinson Engineering. - May 30

Mayor’s Report: MAYOR Hagloch read a proclamation honoring Darlene Johnson declaring the month of June, 2024 as “Darlene Johnson Month” in Aledo. A formal proclamation reading will be held on Saturday, June 8th during the 32nd Annual Rhubarb Festival.

Committee Report: A Personnel Committee meeting to be held on June 24th at 6:00 o’clock p.m. in the City Council Chambers.

A joint Public Property, Streets & Sidewalks and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee meeting to be held on June 24th at 6:15 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 DOHERTY and seconded by ALDERMAN BUSH to approve the following consent agenda items:

• Approval of Minutes of the Regular Meeting of May 20, 2024.

• Approval of Finance: Invoice Listing – AP10.

• Approval of a Motion of the Mercer County Family YMCA Born Learning Path (United Way).

• Approval of the Hiring of Thomas Smith as a Part-time Aledo Police Officer effective June 4, 2024.

A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:

YES: Bush, Cooper, Dixon, Doherty, Friese, Ruh, Sarabasa, and Weeks. NO: None. Motion carried. 8 yeas, 0 nays.

SWEARING-IN CEREMONY: CITY CLERK

Dale administered the oath to Thomas Smith as a Part-time Aledo Police Officer.

PUBLIC COMMENT: No Report.

ACTION ITEMS:

OLD BUSINESS: No Report.

NEW BUSINESS: No Report.

ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, motion was made by ALDERMAN DIXON and seconded by ALDERMAN WEEKS that the meeting be adjourned. A Unanimous voice vote followed in agreement. Meeting was adjourned at 6:36 P.M.

https://www.aledoil.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_06032024-409