Rock Island Today

City of Aledo Committee of the Whole met March 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

The City Council of the City of Aledo met in Regular Session in the Council Chambers at the Aledo City Hall building on March 17, 2025. MAYOR HAGLOCH called the meeting to order at 6:40 P.M. The roll was called, whereupon the following answered present:

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

Also present was TREVOR FISK, Interim 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 appeared before the Committee of the Whole to provide a March update for AMS. The following was highlighted:

• Community Connection meeting to be held on March 18th at Haven Hills Campground & Resort.

• Ladies on the Loose to be held May 3rd. Tickets are now available for purchase for the event.

• Cinema@Central to be held June 13th. The movie to be played is Despicable Me 4.

• Farmers Market vendor applications are now being solicited by AMS. 

• AMS Scholarship – the 2025 AMS scholarship is open until April 30th. AMS to award at minimum two (2) $500 scholarships to graduating seniors from MCHS District #404.

Requests & Petitions: Kim Harrison, Executive Director, Mercer County Family Crisis Center appeared before the Committee of the Whole to request city sponsorship for FY25. Amount requested was noted in the amount of $5,000.00.

A street closure / race/walk event request was submitted by the Mercer County Family Crisis Center for Champions 4 Children walk to be held on May 3rd beginning at 9:00 o’clock a.m.

A street closure / street dance event request was submitted by Adam & Kristie Soseman, Saucy’s Bar. The band “Levi Kraft & the Night Wrangler’s” to play in front of the business located at 114 N College Avenue on the street on Friday, June 6th between the hours of 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. CITY COUNCIL requested additional information from the applicant regarding additional security for the event and if additional bathrooms will be provided. CHIEF Fisk to contact the business owner and report back at the April 7th City Council meeting.

Public Works Activity Report: DPW Blaser reported the following:

• Streets: Equipment clean up, install spring banners, burn off the “Auto Zone” ditch and planted the native grass seed, catch basin cleaning, assist other divisions with various tasks.

• Gas: JULIES completed with 80 called in during the past two weeks.

• Water: JULIES completed with 80 called in during the past two weeks

• Cemetery: Continue digital mapping input for the Cemify implementation. The Cemetery Sexton and Utility Billing Clerk are working on inputs. Scan the QR code and look around. DPW noted he feels comfortable that staff will have this completed by Memorial Day.

• DPW: A notice was served to the bank for the demolition of 600 N College Avenue. The bank is in the process of applying for a demolition permit.

• Other highlights include:

o Grading and seeding will be completed after April 1st for the SE 6th Street Safe Routes to School project. It was noted only a few minor repairs will need to be made.

o Pre-final plans are complete for the SW 6th Street Safe Routes to School project. It is anticipated a June 13th letting will be done but IDOT has now requested a historical review be completed. This review could last up to six (6) months and may delay the prime construction season to get this project done this year. An amended letting was noted for August 1st is being discussed by Hutchison Engineering with a construction start of September.

o SW/NW 9th Avenue Shared Use Path project has an April 25th bid letting.

o Sponsler Manor Third Addition – Infrastructure plans are 75% complete. Survey will take place within the next two (2) weeks. DPW has received costs associated with the lot-line adjustment for the adjacent neighbors, and the TIF map adjustment. This item to be discussed at the TIF Committee meeting on the 24th. A coordination meeting with Ameren Illinois will take place within the next two (2) weeks to add that infrastructure.

o 2025 MFT Street Resurfacing – DPW received Phase I, II & III Engineering agreement. DPW to bring that item to the 4/7 City Council meeting for approval.

Aledo Police Department Activity Report: CHIEF Fisk reported Lt. Adam Baker graduated from Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command on March 14, 2025. A graduation ceremony Class #596 was held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in East Peoria, Illinois. Interim Chief Fisk attended the graduation.

Ofc. Jaydon Brown successfully completed all phases of his Field Training Program. He was placed on solo patrol effective March 12, 2025.

Ofc. Clifford Adam was involved in a two-vehicle accident in the 600 block of South College Avenue on March 03, 2025. The accident occurred at 12:42AM. Ofc. Adam was treated and released from Mercy One – Genesis ER. He was driving Squad #12 (2021 Chevrolet Tahoe) and it was towed from the scene. The second vehicle was a (2014 Ford Sedan). It was legally parked and unoccupied. It was also towed from the scene. Mercer County Sheriff’s Department handled the crash investigation. An internal review of the accident is being conducted.

Ofc. Jade Ford’s Trust the Process group received many compliments in social media after the WRMJ article was put out. Former Aledo Police Department Lt. Nick Seefeld donated $500.00 in memory of his son Nathan Seefeld to assist Officer Ford in her endeavors with the TTP Group.

Sergeant Phil Pieper, Investigator Lindsey Kenney, Officer Jaydon Brown and Officer Jasmine Jaime attended a 16 Hour Active Threat – High Risk Operations training course in Monmouth, IL on March 03 and 04, 2025. This course is designed to train officers in the fundamentals and tactical skill sets required during high risk patrol operations. The focus of training surrounded building searches, felony traffic stops and arrest team tactics.

Parks & Recreation Report: PRD Blaser reported the following:

Youth Athletics –

● YMCA Basketball had a great first season and there were zero complaints.

● Cash and Weston attended the YMCA 2-Ball competition on March 15th in Champaign, IL.

Baseball / Softball –

● Registration is open for Spring Baseball. Closes March 21st.

● All Registration going through YMCA online system.

● High School started practice and scrimmages last week. Training students on PA scoreboard and music.

● Local travel teams starting to use fields for practice every Monday & Wednesday until park ball starts.

Parks & Maintenance – Spring clean up has begun and fields are in great shape. Finch is also beautifying the parks.

Track & Field – Registration is now open. Practice will be held on Monday nights March 24th – April 14th at 5:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. at the YMCA. A meet to be held at the Mercer County High School track on April 26th at 10:00 a.m.

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

• Toured the Aledo Opera House (with Mayor and City Clerk).

• Appeared on WHBF – TV Channel 4 (4, 5 and 6 PM broadcasts) concerning the$50,000 Ameren Grant.

• Spoke with representatives from GrowthCorp (one’s trying to develop Northside Lofts) to discuss their Public Housing Grant.

• DPW and Administrator had a conference call with Big River Resources to discuss them continuing mudding up city street in the Industrial Park.

• Dealt with some minor LRS issues as well as deliver carts for two addresses. 

• City Clerk and Administrator met with Brian Hollenback – President /CEO of Economic Growth Corporation and Andy Fisher to discuss the Northside Lofts Application and other programs that they have to offer.

• Met with Parks & Rec. Director, Finance Director and City Clerk to review concession stand pricing for the Park District. This will help us make sure we are maximizing profit.

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 noted the new Cemify site for the Aledo Cemetery will be a nice asset for residents and the community.

Committee Report: A Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee meeting to be held on Monday, March 24th at 6:00 o’clock p.m. in the City Council Chambers. The Committee to discuss a TIF application submitted by Smith’s Meats and to discuss the advertising / pricing and incentives for the lots in Sponsler’s Manor Third Addition – Phase 1.

https://www.aledoil.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_03172025-448