Rock Island Today

City of Aledo City Council met Aug. 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 on August 19, 2024. MAYOR HAGLOCH called the meeting to order at 6:37 P.M. The roll was called, whereupon the following answered present:

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

Also present was MICHAEL CHAUSSE, City Administrator, TREVOR FISK, Chief of Police, JUSTIN BLASER, Director of Public Works & Utilities, LINDSEY DUNN, Aledo Main Street, and JAROD DALE, City Clerk.

The media was represented by Jim Taylor, WRMJ.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

Public Comment: No Report.

Communication & Correspondence: Lindsey Dunn, Executive Director, Aledo Main Street provided a report to the City Council highlighting the following: • Community Connection meeting to be held on August 27th at 5:30 p.m. at Ferg’s Public House patio.

• This year’s Cinema@Central movie series season served around 75 people per movie screenings in central park.

• Main Street Farmers Market in downtown Aledo continues thru September 26th each Thursday from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

• Aledo Antiques Day & Car Show to be held on August 24th with additional attractions regarding the Antique Tractor Show, Antique Vendors, VFW Cook-off, craft and farmer’s market vendors, and Garden Tractor Pull.

• Alexa Peterson with Pete’s Wellness Retreat grand opening and ribbon cutting was held on August 12th. Scott & Susan Smith with Smith’s Custom Meats and General Store to host their grand opening and ribbon cutting on August 17th.

• Aledo Fall Fest to be held on October 12th (Ride 17 by Visit MerCo also happening the same date).

• Early Bird Shopping in downtown Aledo to be held November 9th. 

• Holly Days to be held in downtown Aledo on December 6th and 7th.

Requests & Petitions:

Cemetery Quit-Claim Deed: Ella M. Luallen, Petitioner, to transfer Grave Space(s) Five (5) and Six (6), in Lot One Hundred Sixty (160), in the Sixth (6th) Addition of the Aledo Cemetery to Mary Vipond, 303 NW 5th Street, Aledo, Il, 61231.

City Sponsorship Request – Kyle McEwen, Mercer County Better Together appeared before the Committee of the Whole to request 2024 sponsorship funding in the amount of $4,541.25. The request follows a contribution of $1.25 per resident with the 2020 census population for Aledo listed at 3,633 residents.

Public Works Activity Report:

• Streets: Daily checks, tasks, JULIE’s, and work orders continue. Weed eat curb & gutter sections; vac streets; and run patch machine.

• Gas: Daily checks, tasks, JULIE’s, inspections and finals continue. Read abnormal readings; adjust gas valves in the central parking lot; Gas Superintendent to assist the park district with the watering system for the new ball diamond; fix one meter set at Apollo Elementary; and perform multiple JULIES for Hartco Cable.

• Water: Daily checks, tasks, JULIE’s and work orders continue. Generator inspections were performed; assist Ion with cartridge filter replacements at the WTP; install new ultrasonic water meter at the water salesman; spray well, lagoons, and fence lines, multiple locates for Hartco Cable. W/WW Superintendent and DPW are coordinating the television inspection of the sanitary sewer mains that are under State Hwy 17 & State Highway 94. With the re surfacing projects back on IDOT’s five-year plan, we want to be proactive with verifying the condition of the mains and laterals to see if any repairs need to be made prior to the re-surfacing.

• Cemetery: Two (2) funerals occurred. Work consisted of mowing and weed-eating. Two large evergreens were struck by lightning and were removed. 

• DPW: Two zoning cases were heard on 8/15. They will be presented to council on 9/2. A preconstruction meeting was held for the SE 6th Avenue Safe Routes to School Project on 8/8. We are waiting on a confirmed start date. A preconstruction meeting for Sponsler Manor grading will be held this week. Other meetings consisted of: parks & rec director meeting, ION weekly, Community Improvements progress meeting, SE 8th Ave path punch list, Mayor’s meeting, department head meeting, PW superintendents meeting, UGM meeting.

Aledo Police Department Activity Report: CHIEF Fisk reported Lt. Baker completed a grant application through the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board for the in-car cameras and body worn cameras that were purchased in 2023. The Aledo Police Department was awarded the grant. It provides partial reimbursement for the actual costs of the cameras that are being used/worn on duty. The State of Illinois recently sent a check to the City of Aledo in the amount of $17,529.00. $9,888.00 was received for the four in-squad camera systems and $7,641.00 was received for nine body worn cameras. Lt. Baker and Interim Chief Fisk attended a meeting at Genesis – Aledo in reference to the Community Emergency Services and Supports Act (CESSA). This is the second meeting held to discuss the Mercer County response to mental health crisis calls. Chief Darren Gault (Moline Police Department / Region 2 CESSA Advisory Committee) provided an overview of the CESSA Law, case law and liability issues surrounding the public safety response to mental health emergencies. Bobby Leebold (Unity Point – Robert Young Center / Mobile Mental Health Units – Coordinator) provided an overview of the requirements/time considerations for mental health professionals to respond to a mental health emergency to assist. The September meeting will include EMS and Fire as we continue to train on the topic and focus on our uniform response to these types of calls for service.

Lt. Baker and Interim Chief Fisk traveled to Kewanee, IL to tour the Henry County Office of Emergency Management (OEM). Mercer County has contracted with the Henry County OEM to implement a comprehensive all-hazards emergency management program using sound risk management principles that will improve responder safety, interoperability and quality of life while minimizing adverse effects through mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery activities. The OEM provides assistance in creating operation plans for large scale events and has a variety of resources and equipment that can be used to provide overall public safety and communications during those events.

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

• City Clerk and City Administrator met with Denise Bulat with Bi-State to go over items for the Comprehensive Plan. – August 12

• Attended the meeting to discuss the position of Parks and Recreation Director. - August 13

• Held at Department Head Meeting – August 14

• Helped conduct 4 interviews for the Finance Director position. August 14 & 15.

• Met with Ron Ragan – with Utiltity Gas Management to discuss the Long-Term Gas Discount Program (Mayor and Clerk present). - August 16

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 designating Sunday, August 25th, 2024 as Dr. Dennis and Vicki Palmer Day in the City of Aledo and expressed the appreciation and love for their contributions to the Community.

Committee Report: No Report.

REGULAR COUNCIL SESSION

Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag,

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion was made by ALDERMAN DOHERTY and seconded by ALDERMAN FRIESE to approve the following consent agenda items:

• Approval of Minutes of the Regular Meeting of August 05, 2024.

• Approval of Finance: Invoice Listing – AP15.

• Approval of the Hiring of Jaydon A. Brown as an Aledo Police Officer effective August 26, 2024.

• Approval of the Hiring of Breanna S. Wakeland as an Aledo Police Officer effective August 26, 2024.

• Approval of Cemetery Quit-Claim Deed: Ella M. Luallen, Petitioner, to transfer Grave Space(s) Five (5) and Six (6), in Lot One Hundred Sixty (160), in the Sixth (6th) Addition of the Aledo Cemetery to Mary Vipond, 303 NW 5th Street, Aledo, Il., 61231.

• Approval of City Sponsorship to Mercer County Better Together in the amount of $4,541.25 for fiscal year 2024.

A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:

YES: Cooper, Dixon, Doherty, Friese, Ruh, Sarabasa, and Weeks. NO: None. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 0 nays.

SWEARING-IN CEREMONY: CITY CLERK

Dale administered the oath to newly appointed Aledo Police Officers Jaydon A. Brown and Breanna S. Wakeland.

PUBLIC COMMENT: No Report.

ACTION ITEMS:

ORDINANCE NO. 12, SERIES OF 2024; AUTHORIZING SALE OF A SURPLUS PROPERTY A 1994 O’BRIEN SEWER JETTER: (FIRST READING)

Pursuant to 65 ILCS 5/11-76-4, the City of Aledo hereby authorizes the City Administrator and Director of Public Works to sell the personal property identified as:

1994 O’Brien Sewer Jetter (serial # 100103; 743hrs.) with 350’ of 1.5” jetter hose. 50’ roll of 1.5” jetter hose.

Motion was made by ALDERMAN WEEKS and seconded by ALDERMAN SARABASA to waive the 2nd reading for Ordinance No. 12, Series of 2024; Authorizing Sale of a Surplus Property a 1994 O’Brien Sewer Jetter.

A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:

YES: Dixon, Doherty, Friese, Ruh, Sarabasa, Weeks, and Cooper. NO: None. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 0 nays.

Motion was made by ALDERMAN DIXON and seconded by ALDERMAN RUH to adopt Ordinance No. 12, Series of 2024; Authorizing Sale of a Surplus Property a 1994 O’Brien Sewer Jetter as presented.

A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:

YES: Doherty, Friese, Ruh, Sarabasa, Weeks, Cooper, and Dixon. NO: None. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 0 nays.

RESOLUTION NO. 23R, SERIES OF 2024; APPROVING REPLACEMENT OF FAULTY FLOW METER IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $11,590.00:

The Department of Public Works has experienced intermittent failure of the flowmeter at the North Lagoon over time and most recently, a complete failure of the unit; and, after consultation with Britton Electronics and ION Environmental, City staff and the Director of Public Works are recommending replacement of the flow meter; and, the City Council has determined that it is in the best interests of the City to approve the quote submitted by Britton Electronics for a cost of $11,590.00.

Motion was made by ALDERMAN RUH and seconded by ALDERMAN WEEKS to approve Resolution No. 23R, Series of 2024; Approving Replacement of Faulty Flow Meter by Britton Electronics & Automation, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $11,590.00 as presented. 

A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:

YES: Friese, Ruh, Sarabasa, Weeks, Cooper, Dixon, and Doherty. NO: None. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 0 nays.

OLD BUSINESS: ALD. Doherty stated the American Legion in preparation of Veterans Day hope to finish the grave markers program at the cemetery. The alderman inquired if record system was still by a card system, with city staff noting yes. City Staff reported plans are to modernize the record system at the Aledo Cemetery with staff investigating new options to handle that project. Staff to also look into record keeping that involves GIS as well.

ALD. Dixon inquired on the current status of the Aledo Aquatics Center project. MAYOR Hagloch reported plans are to hold off on opening the current pool in 2025 due to maintenance issues. Hopes are to begin the new Aquatics Center project in 2025 with the new site opening in summer, 2026.

NEW BUSINESS: No Report.

ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, motion was made by ALDERMAN SARABASA and seconded by ALDERMAN DIXON that the meeting be adjourned. A Unanimous voice vote followed in agreement. Meeting was adjourned at 6:56 P.M.

https://www.aledoil.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_08192024-419