Rock Island Today

City of Colona City Council met July 28.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

1. CALL TO ORDER

a. 6:00pm

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

3. ROLL CALL

a. Aldermen present: Stablein, Hillman, Lack, Swemline, Jones, Hergert, Waterman, and Strobbe. b. Staff present: Mayor Johnson, Attorney Wright, Police Chief Swemline, Public Works Director Erichsen, and City Clerk Park. Absent: Finance Director Jen Legare.

4. PUBLIC COMMENTS

a. Janna Miller-DeDecker addressed Council about waiving fees for Colona’s upcoming City Wide Yard Sale Days on September 5th and 6th

5. MAYOR’S REPORT

a. Plan Commission Public Hearing in September at Colona Grade School

b. Hennepin 100 is coming up on October 4th

c. The Zoning Board plans to meet within a months’ time

d. Grant opportunities include Safe Schools (sidewalks), OSLAD (CSFP building)

e. Water Tower Capital Improvement Plan proposal will be presented at the August Finance Committee Meeting

f. Bulk Pickup event will be placed on the Finance Committee agenda and is looking to be in September after city-wide yard sale days

6. CLERK’S REPORT

7. COMMITTEE REPORTS

a. Alderman Waterman gave a summary of the Public Works Committee meeting b. Laura Lamantia gave an update on the Henry County Tourism Board, including but not limited to, creating a brochure promoting the City of Colona, National Night Out, the tourism kiosk, a golf cart event in September, and a city-wide Beautification Project (looking for volunteers and corporate sponsors!)

8. CONSENT AGENDA

a. Approve payment of bills/claims by vendor report for the period July 15 – July 28, 2025

b. Approve payroll for the period July 11 – July 25, 2025

c. Approve 07.14.25 City Council Meeting Minutes

1. Alderman Lack made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda letters a-c. Alderman Hillman seconded the motion. Upon roll call; Ayes: Stablein, Hillman, Lack, Swemline, Jones, Hergert, and Strobbe. Abstain: Waterman.

Motion passed with 7 ayes, 0 nays, 1 abstain, and 0 absent.

9. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

a. None

10. NEW BUSINESS

a. Approve Ordinance [O-25-06]; Authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to solicit requests for proposals for the sale of 713 1st Street, Colona, Illinois, a vacant commercial lot owned by the City and directing the sale of said property.

1. Alderman Lack made a motion to approve. Alderman Hergert seconded the motion. Upon roll call; Ayes: Stablein, Hillman, Lack, Swemline, Hergert, Waterman, and Strobbe. Nays: Jones.

Motion passed with 7 ayes, 1 nay, 0 abstain, and 0 absent.

2. Discussion: It was asked if the Council/City had to accept the highest bid to which Attorney Wright answered no.

b. Approve Ordinance [O-25-07]; Authorizing the termination of the Highway 84 Redevelopment project area (TIF III) and declare as surplus $320,234.22 to the Henry County Treasurer for redistribution to the taxing districts

1. Alderman Hillman made a motion to approve. Alderman Jones seconded the motion. Upon roll call; Ayes: Stablein, Hillman, Lack, Swemline, Jones, Hergert, Waterman, and Strobbe.

Motion passed with 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 abstain, and 0 absent.

2. Discussion: The question if there are intentions to create another TIF was asked. Answer: Yes, the process is being looked into; TIF V.

c. Approve Ordinance [O-25-08]; Annexing 5778 Poppy Garden into the City of Colona, Henry County, Illinois and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute all necessary agreements 1. Alderman Stablein made a motion to approve. Alderman Hergert seconded the motion.

Upon roll call; Ayes: Stablein, Hillman, Lack, Swemline, Hergert, Waterman, and Strobbe. Nays: Jones.

Motion passed with 7 ayes, 1 nay, 0 abstain, and 0 absent.

2. Discussion: Questions were asked and answered

d. Approve Resolution [R-25-28]; Accepting a grant award from the ILETSB Officer Recruitment and Retention Grant Program in the amount of $68,000.00 and appropriating funds for officer retention bonuses and recruitment marketing, and authorizing the Mayor and Chief of Police to execute individual officer agreements

1. Alderman Lack made a motion to approve. Alderman Swemline seconded the motion. Upon roll call; Ayes: Stablein, Hillman, Lack, Swemline, Jones, Hergert, Waterman, and Strobbe.

Motion passed with 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 abstain, and 0 absent.

2. Discussion: None

e. Approve business license for QC Commercial Hood Cleaning LLC; 705 Mineral Creek Dr., Colona, IL 61241

1. Alderman Waterman made a motion to approve. Alderman Lack seconded the motion. Upon roll call; Ayes: Stablein, Hillman, Lack, Swemline, Jones, Hergert, Waterman, and Strobbe. Motion passed with 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 abstain, and 0 absent.

2. Discussion: None

f. Approve donating (2) two-night weekend cabin rentals at Colona Scott Family Park to the Police Department’s National Night Out event to be held on August 5th, 2025

1. Alderman Swemline made a motion to approve. Alderman Stablein seconded the motion.

Upon roll call; Ayes: Stablein, Hillman, Lack, Swemline, Jones, Hergert, Waterman, and Strobbe.

Motion passed with 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 abstain, and 0 absent.

2. Discussion: It was asked what the donation was for; the answer was a raffle. It was asked if the rentals excluded holiday weekends; the answer was yes.

g. Mayor Johnson announced the Council would be moving into closed session and no further actions/motions would be taking place after closed session

1. Alderman Stablein made a motion to approve ending regular session and moving into closed session. Alderman Swemline seconded the motion. Upon roll call; Ayes: Stablein, Hillman, Lack, Swemline, Jones, Hergert, Waterman, and Strobbe.

Motion passed with 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 abstain, and 0 absent.

11. CLOSED SESSION

a. ROLL CALL

1. Aldermen present: Stablein, Hillman, Lack, Swemline, Jones, Hergert, Waterman, and Strobbe.

2. Staff present: Mayor Johnson, Attorney Wright, and City Clerk Park.

i. Discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees under [5 ILCS 120/2(C)(1)].

ii. Discuss collective negotiating matters or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees under [5 ILCS 120/2(C)(2)].

iii. Discuss pending or probable litigation against, affecting or on behalf of the public body under [5 ILCS 120/2(C)(11)].

a. Discussions, including items i-iii, were had and concluded. No motions were discussed or made.

3. Alderman Swemline made a motion to adjourn closed session and move back into regular session. Alderman Waterman seconded the motion. Upon roll call; Ayes: Stablein, Hillman, Lack, Swemline, Jones, Hergert, Waterman, and Strobbe.

Motion passed with 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 abstain, and 0 absent.

12. ADJOURN

a. ROLL CALL

1. Aldermen present: Stablein, Hillman, Lack, Swemline, Jones, Hergert, Waterman, and Strobbe.

2. Staff present: Mayor Johnson, Attorney Wright, and City Clerk Park.

b. Alderman Stablein made a motion to adjourn at 7:30pm. Alderman Swemline seconded the motion. Upon roll call; Ayes: Stablein, Hillman, Lack, Swemline, Jones, Hergert, Waterman, and Strobbe.

Motion passed with 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 abstain, and 0 absent.

https://www.colonail.com/vertical/sites/%7BFC142F78-E9D2-49AE-8B50-7910B5B74E0C%7D/uploads/07.28.25_CC_Minutes.pdf