Rock Island Today

City of Aledo Committee of the Whole met June 16.

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 June 16, 2025. MAYOR HAGLOCH called the meeting to order at 6:38 P.M. 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, Interim Chief of Police, and LAURIE WOOD, Deputy Clerk.

The media was represented by Ty Taylor, WRMJ.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

Public Comment: No Report.

Communication & Correspondence: No Report.

Requests & Petitions: No Report.

Public Works Activity Report: DPW Blaser reported the following:

• Streets: Rhubarb Festival preparation.

• Gas: JULIES; read meters; replacing zero read heads; make final summer adjustments at the border station; work update leak map after repairs; and, assist other departments regarding Rhubarb Festival and water leaks.

• Water: WTP upgrades completed regarding key fob access; camera system at WTP also being installed; spraying at lagoons; two service line repairs; lift station cleaning and enzyme treatments.

• Cemetery: maintenance of grounds; adjustment of grave stones, and continue work regarding Cemify mapping system.

• DPW: In review of signage / bollards for the UTV pathway. The path was noted at 12’ wide, installation of permanent bollards may be difficult to do and make the entrance too tight. DPW has been looking at flexible delineator markers as an alternative option or suggestion was made to consider striping the center of the path and paint directional arrows at each end.

ALD. Sarabasa inquired if painting a strip on the neighborhood vehicle path was the only solution the City staff were exploring regarding concerns related to vehicle traffic on path. ADMINISTRATOR Chausse to speak with DPW regarding the concerns.

Aledo Police Department Activity Report: CHIEF Fisk reported Officer Jade Ford attended a 40-hour Illinois Training and Standards Board School Resource Officer program at Mobile Team IV in East Moline, IL on June 09 through June 13, 2025. This course consisted of three primary components: Juvenile Law, Officer and Youth Interactions and School Threat Response. Students participated in guided discussions/lectures, interactive activities and performance-based exercises.

Lt. Adam Baker and Interim Chief Fisk attended an 8-hour High Risk Traffic Stop training through Mobile Team IV on June 06 and June 12, 2025 respectively. This training provided classroom instruction, field demonstrations and exercises that included mock instruction performed by participants.

The Aledo Police Department used all available manpower over a 48-hour period to cover the Rhubarb Fest events held on June 06-07, 2025. The event was a success with only minor incidents occurring such a traffic crashes, missing persons, lost or mislaid property (to include a vehicle) and medical calls. The events held on Friday night by local businesses (liquor license holders) were organized, well attended with no incidents officially reported. The department utilized 18 hours of overtime to provide the coverage for the 48 hours. The department also utilized equipment (portable barricades, solar sign to mark pedestrian crosswalk, casualty trailer and STARCOM radios) obtained from the Henry County Office of Emergency Management. The Mercer County Search and Rescue Team was especially helpful during this event locating missing persons. The Aledo Police Department would like to thank City Administrator Mike Chausse for providing food (specifically donuts) and water to the officers during the event. We would also like to thank our City Council for supporting the event in the city tent and assisting with a variety of requests for assistance by persons attending Rhubarb Fest. A special thank you to Linda Sarabasa and Carmen Ruh for showing up to a few of the medical calls and helping out.

Parks & Recreation Report: PRD Blaser reported the following:

Baseball / Softball –

Baseball season has two weeks left in the season. Aledo is hosting the B-League Tournament tentatively set for June 23rd – June 30th. This will be a 9-team double elimination tournament.

All fields are booked for practice every night of the week when available. T-ball games finished on Friday.

YMCA Softball utilizes park district fields for practice and a game if needed. PRD Blaser to assist the YMCA and prep all fields, including Apollo for the remainder of the baseball / softball seasons. Softball started Monday and plays seven days a week at Apollo.

Parks & Maintenance – fields are in great shape and Gary Finch continues to beautify the parks. Pickleball nets are up at Jaycee Park.

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

• DPW and Administrator met with a local business owner to bring a new type of business to a downtown building. Inquiring about what improvements needed to be done with the building.

• City Clerk, DPW and Administrator met with representative of the ILSOS at a potential site for the DMV office in Aledo.

• Continue to meet with Jeff Sedam to assist with Mercer Market’s equipment grant.

City Staff has been continuing to work very hard behind the scenes concerning the SOS office and the DMV closure of June 11th. Staff has been in contact with our Senator and the two Representatives that represent the City and the surrounding area. City Staff have also been in contact with officials with the SOS office. City Clerk and Administrator spoke at length with two SOS representatives on Tuesday – June 10. They again stressed that they do not want the close the Aledo location. The current landlord left them with no choice. The incident that happened several weeks ago was the final straw. It is their intent to find another location. Staff has been in contact with local building owners to find a replacement location. SOS is in negotiations with a potential location that is ready to go. It will take time for the negotiations to take place, as well as, fit the building for use. Staff will diligently monitor the situation and intervene with any assistance we can provide. Unfortunately, the City will be without local services from the DMV for the foreseeable future.

Mayor’s Report: No Report.

Committee Report: No Report.

https://www.aledoil.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_06162025-460