Rock Island Today

City of Aledo City Council met Nov. 4.

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 November 04, 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, and LINDA SARABASA. Mayor CHRISTOPHER HAGLOCH. Alderman ANDREW WEEKS was 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: No Report.

Communication & Correspondence: No Report.

Requests & Petitions: Special Event: Aledo Holly Days Electric Parade – to be held Friday, December 6th, 2024 at 5:30 p.m.

Special Event: Hot Chocolate Hustle 5k – to be held Saturday, December 7th, 2024.

Public Works Activity Report:

• Streets: Daily checks, tasks, JULIE’s, and work orders continue. Worked on Memorial Markers for Monument Park; Lagoon burn-pile site; Patching at Cemetery.

• Gas: Daily checks, tasks, JULIE’s, inspections and finals continue. Repair furnace at cemetery office; set meter for Figanbaum property; assist Hartco dig and expose gas main; and help street division patchwork.

• Water: Daily checks, tasks, JULIE’s and work orders continue. Jet at 500 block of Se 2nd Ave; cleaning at S. Lagoon Influent; Sewer application at 808 E Main St; Jet at 800 block of E Main; Schedule Hydrovac service.

• Cemetery: Three (3) funerals occurred. Sale of lots; repair of furnace at office; cemetery mapping.

• DPW: The Sponsler Manor Third addition grading is nearing completion. Everything is complete except seeding. That will be completed as soon as the soil is dry enough to harrow. The Central Park Project was graded and seeded. The power poles were removed in the alley, and concrete is now complete. Signage will be installed this week, along with the remaining light fixtures. The SE 6th sidewalk is progressing. DPW would expect it to be completed in the next two weeks. Other work consisted of budget, OHSA training, and building code work.

Aledo Police Department Activity Report: CHIEF Fisk reported Lt. Adam Baker, along with Director Justin Blaser and several Public Works Department employees, attended a training session on OSHA requirements regarding hazardous work environment conditions, sponsored by the Illinois Municipal League Risk Management Association (RMA).

Positive progress reports continue to be received from Sauk Valley Community College Police Academy in Dixon, Illinois where Officers Breanna Wakeland and Jaydon Brown have now completed Week 8 of the 16-week program.

Officer Dallas Wakeland met with his surgeon on October 29 2024 for a status update regarding his recovery from shoulder surgery. Officer Wakeland will continue to attend physical therapy twice a week until his recheck appointment, scheduled for December 12, 2024.

Officer Jade Ford and Community Service Officer Quesean “Q.” Ford represented the Aledo Police Department and the City of Aledo at the annual Halloween Trunk or Treat event, which was held at the Aledo United Methodist Church on October 31, 2024. Our officers handed out candy and interacted with the trick-or-treaters to ensure that everyone had a safe and happy evening

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

• Held Interviews with potential Parks and Recreation Director Candidates.

• Attended the Mayor’s Department Head meeting.

• Attended a debriefing concerning threat to the HS Homecoming Parade.

• Met with our website design company – CivicPlus 3X.

• Met with Ameren to discuss grants concerning EV and EV infrastructure.

• Attended the city budget session.

• Had the monthly meeting with AMS Director.

• Met with our Insurance Consultants- Sagacity related to the renewal effective January 1, 2025.

• Met with Jeff Sedam from Mercer Market on the reapplication of the Illinois Grocery Initiative Grant.

• Hosted the Girl Scout Troup 2671 to give presentation of how the city operates for them to earn their Democracy Badge.

The new City of Aledo Comprehensive Plan from Bi-State is still moving forward. The draft plan is done and must presented to the City Zoning and Planning Commission. That commission with meet on November 14th at 5PM. Bi-State will be presenting the plan to the commission. All Council members are invited to give input at that meeting, but attendance is optional. After the presentation to the Zoning and Planning Commission, the plan will come before the full council at a Public Hearing tentatively scheduled for the first December meeting with possible adoption at the second December Council meeting. A copy of the draft to be emailed to the CITY COUNCIL for review.

Mayor’s Report: MAYOR Hagloch reported Park District President, Tanner Dunn and the Mayor to be on WRMJ’s FOCUS program this week. Highlights to include concentration of the new Aledo Aquatics Center pool project with discussion regarding remaining funds needed for the project.

MAYOR encouraged the CITY COUNCIL to visit the Sponsler Manor Third Addition site preparation work that will be completed soon. Next steps will be to seed the area before winter.

MAYOR highlighted he will not be at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting on November 18th and requested MAYOR PRO-TEM Dixon run the next City Council meeting.

Committee Report: No Report.

REGULAR COUNCIL SESSION

Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag,

ALD. Cooper requested Item C – Approval of the Appointment of Troy Blaser as the Parks & Recreation Director effective January 02, 2025 be removed from the Consent Agenda for further discussion. MAYOR Hagloch noted item removed for discussion following approval of the Consent Agenda.

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion was made by ALDERMAN SARABASA and seconded by ALDERMAN RUH to approve the following consent agenda items:

• Approval of Minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 21, 2024.

• Approval of Finance: Invoice Listing – AP20.

• Approval of the Rescheduling of the December 2nd, 2024 City Council meeting to December 3rd, 2024.

• Approval of a Social Media Policy related to Social Media Platforms.

• Approval of a Special Event / Electric Parade – Aledo Holly Days event to be held on Friday, December 6th, 2024 beginning at 5:30 p.m.

• Approval of a Special Event / Race/Walk – Hot Chocolate Hustle 5k to be held Saturday, December 7th, 2024 beginning at 9:00 a.m.

• Approval of Ordinance No. 17, Series of 2024; An Ordinance Amending the Regulation of Peddlers and Itinerant Merchants for the City of Aledo. (Second Reading).

A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:

YES: Bush, Cooper, Dixon, Doherty, Friese, Ruh, and Sarabasa.

NO: None. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 0 nays.

APPROVAL OF THE APPOINTMENT OF TROY BLASER AS THE PARKS & RECREATION DIRECTOR EFFECTIVE JANUARY 02, 2025:

ALD. Cooper voiced concern related to the parks budget regarding the revenues and expenditures for fiscal year 2025. MAYOR Hagloch reported a portion of the salary to be split between the Park District, City and the Mercer County Family Y.M.C.A.

Motion was made by ALDERMAN FRIESE and seconded by ALDERMAN RUH to approve the Appointment of Troy Blaser as the Parks & Recreation Director effective January 02, 2025. A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:

YES: Cooper, Dixon, Doherty, Friese, Ruh, Sarabasa, and Bush.

NO: None. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 0 nays.

PUBLIC COMMENT: No Report.

ACTION ITEMS:

RESOLUTION NO. 28R, SERIES OF 2024; AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF RESIDENTIAL WATER METERS AND ACCESSORIES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $19,940.40:

Part of the FY 2024 Capital Improvement Plan Budget, the City Council approved the purchase of residential water meters and accessories. Core & Main, 400 N Cummings Lane, Washington, Il., 61571, has submitted a quote (the “Proposal”) for sixty-seven residential water meters and accessories (sixty-seven radio heads and hardware) in the amount of $19,940.40.

Motion was made by ALDERMAN DIXON and seconded by ALDERMAN FRIESE to approve Resolution No. 28R, Series of 2024; Authorizing the Purchase of Residential Water Meters and Accessories in an amount not to exceed $19,940.40 as presented. A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:

YES: Dixon, Doherty, Friese, Ruh, Sarabasa, Bush, and Cooper.

NO: None. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 0 nays.

OLD BUSINESS: No Report.

NEW BUSINESS: No Report.

ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, motion was made by ALDERMAN DIXON and seconded by ALDERMAN SARABASA that the meeting be adjourned. A Unanimous voice vote followed in agreement. Meeting was adjourned at 6:42 P.M.

https://www.aledoil.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_11042024-428