Rock Island Today

City of Moline Committee of the Whole & Council met May 5.

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 May 05, 2025. MAYOR HAGLOCH called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. The roll was called, whereupon the following answered present:

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

Also present was MICHAEL CHAUSSE, City Administrator, TREVOR FISK, Interim Chief of Police, SANDY BULL, City Treasurer, and JAROD DALE, City Clerk.

The media was represented by Terry James, WRMJ.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

Public Comment: Herb Bowker was present and noted he drives a bus for Mercer County and asked that tree’s around the community be trimmed.

Communication & Correspondence: No Report.

Requests & Petitions: Special Event – Rhubarb Festival to be held June 6 & 7, 2025.

Public Works Activity Report: DPW Blaser reported the following:

• Streets: Clean central park, install shade fabric, replace bulbs in café lights and decorative lights, install public access and fishing regulation signs at Sponsler’s, grade and seed Fenton Drive south of the football field.

• Gas: JULIES; Leak Detection Survey is currently in progress, install gas main at Smith’s Meat Market, install new gas valve in prep for Sponsler Manor 3rd Addition. Repair or replace meters and radio read heads as needed.

• Water: JULIES; Water Treatment Plant maintenance & cleaning, lagoon sonar & equipment servicing, investigate a couple water service line leaks & sanitary lateral back-ups, calibrate CGI’s with the gas department, spray well sites, repair farm hydrant at cemetery.

• Cemetery: Continue digital mapping input for the Cemify implementation. Fixing/re-setting stones; mowing; weed eating.

• DPW: Assisted in Central Park cleanup; planting of the “Michael Tree” in Central Park for Arbor Day; 9th Ave Pathway bid openings, Aquatics Center bid opening; De-Con drill at MercyOne Genesis Medical Center; building inspections; and, working on building permit application redesign, tree planting permit design, and native planting areas at the WTP.

Aledo Police Department Activity Report: CHIEF Fisk reported The Aledo Police Department assisted with increased patrol of the YMCA during the After-Prom activities on April 27, 2025.

Lt. Baker and Interim Chief Fisk attended a meeting for the Mercer County Remembers…9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit on April 28, 2025. We are working through committees to organize the event which will include a 5K Run/Walk and Golf Tournament. It was recommended to move the mobile exhibit to the Central Park from the VFW to allow for a more secure location and availability of the additional structures at that location. The exhibit will be in Aledo from October 23-25, 2025.

Lt. Baker attended an in-person decontamination drill that was held at Mercy One – Genesis Aledo on May 01, 2025. This is an annual drill that requires the hospital to maintain a high level of preparedness for possible contamination of individuals involving various products used in agriculture, etc.

The Aledo Police Department assisted with increased patrol and leading the walkers at the Champions4Children Walk on May 03, 2025. This event was held by the Mercer County Family Crisis Center.

Parks & Recreation Report: PRD Blaser reported the following:

Baseball / Softball –

● Baseball season started April 29th. Games are six (6) days a week.

● All fields are booked for practice every night of the week.

● T-ball practice starts this week with games to be on Mondays and Fridays starting in May.

Parks & Maintenance – fields are in great shape; busy keeping infields in tip-top shape, and Gary Finch continues to beautify the parks.

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

• Honored our Administrative Professionals on Administrative Professionals Day– Kate Frieden, Kayde Gerber, Laurie Wood, Joy Coulter, Dawn Morrison and Patti Mitchell with lunch and a token of our appreciation.

• Attended the Central Park Market Plaza dedication, special thanks to Alder. Ruh, Sarabasa and Cooper for assisting in the ribbon cutting on April 24th.

• Spoke at the Mercer County Retired Teacher’s Breakfast on April 25th.

• City Clerk and City Administrator had a conference call with Vortex Company – the Splash Pad manufacturer.

• City Clerk and Administrator met with the Visit Merco staff.

• Delivered the liners for the lamp post flower baskets to the Ag. Department at the high school and coordinated with the Horticulture teacher on the flowers and their delivery to the city.

• Spoke with Chuck Dulcie from Mangieri Electric in Galesburg to start the process of having EV chargers installed downtown.

• City Clerk and I met with Lindsey Dunn – AMS Director for our monthly meeting.

• Attended the Aquatic Center Bid Opening.

• Attended the Mayor’s Meeting.

• Finance Director, City Clerk and I had a conference call with John Venzetti of Bernadi Securities concerning the construction bond for the Aquatic Center project.

On Tuesday – April 29th, the bid opening for the Aquatic Center took place. Mayor and City Staff were extremely pleased with all the bids received. The apparent low bidder was Centennial Contractors of Moline. They were the contractor for the Central Park Market Plaza. They were excellent to work with and we were pleased they were the low bid.

The original estimates for the project came in around $7.6 million. The low bid was as follows:

Base Bid: $4.7 million

Alternate 1: North Parking Lot - $36,500

Unit fill price: $60 per cubic yard

We are buying the Splashpad equipment separately which is an additional $289,000.

Total for Bid and Splashpad is $5,025,500 plus fill. The next step after awarding the contract is to obtain a construction bond. City Staff have been discussing the item with Bernadi Securities. Details to be brought before the City Council in mid-May.

Mayor’s Report: No Report.

Committee Report: No Report.

REGULAR COUNCIL SESSION

Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag,

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion was made by ALDERMAN DIXON and seconded by ALDERMAN WEEKS to approve the following consent agenda items:

• Approval of Minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 21, 2025.

• Approval of Finance: Invoice Listing – AP08.

• Approval of Resolution No. 12R, Series of 2025; Approving the Purchase of Surveillance Cameras for Water Treatment Plant & Public Works Building.

A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:

YES: Cooper, Dixon, Friese, Ruh, Sarabasa, and Weeks. NO: None. Motion carried. 6 yeas, 0 nays.

ACTION ITEMS:

ORDINANCE NO. 10, SERIES OF 2025; AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ALEDO, MERCER COUNTY, ILLINOIS ADDING NEW CHAPTER 18 TO TITLE 3 OF THE CITY CODE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING A MUNICIPAL GROCERY RETAILERS’ OCCUPATION TAX AND A MUNICIPAL GROCERY SERVICE OCCUPATION TAX: (FIRST READING)

Pursuant to Public Act 103-0781, signed into law by Governor Pritzker on August 5, 2024, the State of Illinois repealed the 1.0% state grocery sales tax, effective as of January 1, 2026. The City of Aledo has relied upon tax monies received from the state grocery sales tax as a significant source of revenue for funding City operations and services and the repeal of same will cause a budget shortfall for the City.

As established under Public Act 103-0781, new Section 8-11-24 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/8-11-24) provides that, beginning on January 1, 2026, all Illinois municipalities may impose a tax “upon all persons engaged in the business of selling groceries at retail in the municipality” (the “Municipal Grocery Retailers’ Occupation Tax”) in lieu of the repealed State grocery sales tax. The Municipal Grocery Retailers’ Occupation Tax may be imposed “at the rate of 1.0% of the gross receipts from these sales” (65 ILCS 5/8-11-24).

Section 8-11-24 of the Illinois Municipal Code requires any municipality imposing a Municipal Grocery Retailers’ Occupation Tax under Section 8-11-24 of the Illinois Municipal Code to also impose a Service Occupation Tax at the same rate, “upon all persons engaged, in the municipality, in the business of making sales of service, who, as an incident to making those sales of service, transfer groceries” as “an incident to a sale of service” (the “Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax”) (together the Municipal Grocery Retailers’ Occupation Tax and the Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax shall be referenced as the “Municipal Grocery Tax”).

The Municipal Grocery Tax shall be administered, collected and enforced by the Illinois Department of Revenue.

In order to compensate for lost revenues as a result of the repeal of the state grocery tax, the City finds that it is appropriate, necessary, and in the best interests of the City and its residents to levy a Municipal Grocery Tax as permitted by Section 8-11-24 of the Illinois Municipal Code, effective as of January 1, 2026.

The second reading to be held on Monday, May 19th, 2025 beginning at 6:30 o’clock p.m. in the City Council Chambers.

APPROVAL OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF ALEDO AND AGD PARTNERS, LLC:

The City previously issued a Request for Proposals for the purchase of certain property described as follows:

NOTE: The official legal description will be completed when the property is surveyed and platted in conjunction with adjacent properties obtained by AGD Partners, LLC.

A 35‘ STRIP PARCEL IN PART OF THE SOUTHEAST 1 /4 OF THE SOUTHEAST ¼ OF THE SOUTHEAST ¼ OF SECTION 17, TOWNSHIP 14 NORTH, RANGE 3 WEST OF THE 4TH PM, AS SHOWN ON THE PLAT OF THE ORIGINAL TOWN, NOW CITY, OF ALEDO, MERCER COUNTY, ILLINOIS. THE CENTERLINE BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: COMMENCING AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF BLOCK 2 OF THE THOMPSON’S RAILROAD ADDITION; THENCE S01’34’25” W ALONG THE EAST RIGHT OF WAYOF SE 3RD AVE, A DISTANCE OF 293.22”; THENCE S88’25’35”E. A DISTANCE OF 201.50’; THENCE N01’34’25”E, A DISTANCE OF 40.00 TO THE POINT OF THE BEGINNING OF SAID CENTERLINE; THENCE N09’57’14”W, A DISTANCE OF 51.28’ TO THE POINT OF TERMINATION. SAID PARCEL CONTAINS 2700 SQUARE FEET MORE OF LESS.

Property ID#: 10-10-17-455-020

The City desires to convey the Property to the Purchaser as the sole respondent to the City’s RFP. The Purchaser is currently under contract for the purchase of three tracts of adjacent property (the “Adjacent Parcels”) and intends to combine the Property with such Adjacent Parcels for future development, which such combination will require a plat of survey (“Plat”) in order to make one buildable lot. The City desires to facilitate AGD Partners LLC.

Motion was made by ALD. WEEKS and seconded by ALD. RUH to approve the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Aledo and AGD Partners, LLC. as presented. A Roll call vote was recorded as follows:

YES: Dixon, Friese, Ruh, Sarabasa, Weeks, and Cooper. NO: None. Motion carried. 6 yeas, 0 nays.

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

OATHS OF OFFICE – NEWLY ELECTED OFFICALS:

MAYOR Hagloch called for the oaths of office to be administered to the newly elected officials and adjournment of the previous Council.

CITY CLERK Jarod Dale administered the oath of office to MAYOR Christopher Hagloch. MAYOR Hagloch administered the oath of office to CITY CLERK Jarod Dale.

CITY CLERK Dale administered the oath of office to CITY TREASURER Sandy Bull, as well as, Ward I ALDERMAN, Carmen Ruh; Ward II ALDERMAN, Linda Sarabasa; Ward III ALDERMAN, Mario Pauley; and Ward IV ALDERMAN, Jason Snyder.

MAYOR HAGLOCH called the meeting to order of the City Council at 6:45 P.M. in the City Council Chambers. The roll was called, whereupon the following answered present:

Aldermen BARRY COOPER, DENNIS DIXON, MARK FRIESE, MARIO PAULEY, CARMEN RUH, LINDA SARABASA, JASON SNYDER, and ANDREW WEEKS. Mayor CHRISTOPHER HAGLOCH.

Also present was MICHAEL CHAUSSE, City Administrator, TREVOR FISK, Chief of Police, SANDY BULL, City Treasurer, and JAROD DALE, City Clerk.

ORDINANCE NO. 11, SERIES OF 2025; DESIGNATING DEPOSITORIES INTO WHICH THE CITY FUNDS SHALL BE PLACED BY AUTHORIZING OFFICERS TO SIGN ON BEHALF OF THE CITY: (FIRST READING)

Motion was made by ALDERMAN DIXON and seconded by ALDERMAN WEEKS to waive the 2nd reading for Ordinance No. 11, Series of 2025; Designating Depositories into which City Funds shall be placed by Authorizing Officers to sign on Behalf of the City. A Roll call vote was recorded as follows:

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

Motion was made by ALDERMAN SARABASA and seconded by ALDERMAN FRIESE to adopt Ordinance No. 11, Series of 2025; Designating Depositories into which City Funds shall be placed by Authorizing Officers to sign on Behalf of the City: Christopher Hagloch, Mayor; Sandy Bull, City Treasurer; Jarod Dale, City Clerk; Michael Chausse, City Administrator; and Marisa Barrett, Finance Director. A Roll call vote was recorded as follows:

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

MOTION APPROVING THE 2025 – 2027 CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES, CITY BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND AD-HOC COMMITTEES:

Motion was made by ALDERMAN DIXON and seconded by ALDERMAN COOPER to approve the 2025 – 2027 City Council Committees, City Boards, Commissions, and Ad Hoc Committees as presented. A Roll call vote was recorded as follows:

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

MOTION APPROVING EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT(S) BETWEEN MICHAEL G. CHAUSSE, MARISA M. BARRETT, AND JUSTIN E. BLASER AND THE CITY OF ALEDO:

Motion was made by ALDERMAN WEEKS and seconded by ALDERMAN RUH to approve the employment contracts between Michael G. Chausse, City Administrator; Marisa M. Barrett, Finance Director; and, Justin E. Blaser, Director of Public Works and Utilities, shall become effective May 5, 2025, and shall remain in effect until the end of the current Mayoral term, which in this case is the first City Council meeting in May, 2029.

A Roll call vote was recorded as follows:

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

OLD BUSINESS: ALD. Sarabasa inquired on the next meeting for Sponsler’s 4th Addition Subdivision. 

ADMINISTRATOR Chausse reported the staff is looking to determine the pricing for each lot. Staff to hold a meeting this week and once that is completed, a committee meeting to be scheduled. Staff have also spoken with Ameren Illinois and the City will be charged the full price for electric installation but a rebate will be issued as a residence is connected to their line.

MAYOR Hagloch reportedly has reached out to different communities and discuss ways to establish the pricing of a home development.

ALD. Weeks inquired if the City would be considering a community sponsorship donation to the 9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit. ADMINISTRATOR Chausse reported there would be funds available in the City Sponsorship line-items of the general fund. ALD. Ruh stated to the CITY COUNCIL that the City is also funding the security of the exhibit with police officers. ADMINISTRATOR suggested the item be brought up at the next City Council meeting on May 19th.

ALD. Ruh inquired on the status of the property at 407 NE 7th Avenue. City Staff noted legal is in the process to issue a demolition notice to the property owner(s).

NEW BUSINESS: A Finance Committee meeting to be held on May 12th at 6:00 o’clock p.m. in the City Council Chambers.

A Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee meeting to be held on May 27th at 5:30 o’clock p.m. in the City Council Chambers.

ALD. Sarabasa inquired on the number of handicap parking spaces in the downtown business district area. The Alderman inquired if additional spaces could be established. This item was noted to be brought to her attention by a local constituent. ADMINISTRATOR noted DPW Blaser to review and report back on how many handicap spaces are currently available and what would be needed in the downtown area.

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 7:00 P.M.

https://www.aledoil.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_05052025-454