Rock Island Today

City of Aledo City Council met Aug. 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 August 04, 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, MARIO PAULEY, CARMEN RUH, LINDA SARABASA, JASON SNYDER, and ANDREW WEEKS. Mayor CHRISTOPHER HAGLOCH.

Also present was MICHAEL CHAUSSE, City Administrator, ADAM BAKER, Chief of Police, JUSTIN BLASER, Director of Public Works & Utilities, and JAROD DALE, City Clerk.

The media was represented by Ty Taylor, WRMJ.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

Public Comment: Dean Olson, Brookstone of Aledo, inquired with Aledo Police Chief Baker if the City had any issues regarding the gambling machines authorized by the State of Illinois. CHIEF Baker reported the City has not seen any issues related to gambling machines within the corporate limits.

Communication & Correspondence: No Report.

Requests & Petitions: No Report.

Public Works Activity Report: DPW Blaser reported the following:

• DPW: highlighted 9th Avenue project gas relocates were completed recently; two (2) funerals occurred at the Cemetery; and, PW’s seasonal employees are nearing their end of summer employment as they return to school in August.

Aledo Police Department Activity Report: CHIEF Baker reported the Aledo Police Department is proud to announce Officer Jade Ford has been awarded a waiver from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) as a certified School Resource Officer. Officer Ford completed a week-long training in East Moline, IL from June 9th – June 13th. The department has been attempting to have a conversation with Mercer County Schools Superintendent Tim Farquer regarding contract information. The new school year starts in the middle of August.

Chief Baker and Officer Trevor Fisk met with the staff at Morrow Brothers Ford in Greenfield, IL on July 29th. A Chevrolet Tahoe was taken to the business to have some equipment transferred over to the new Ford Interceptor Utility squad. It is estimated the transfer of the equipment and installation of the new equipment should take approximately two weeks before the department can take possession of the new squad vehicle.

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

ADMINISTRATOR reported Chief Baker and he have had ongoing discussions concerning peddlers and solicitors not having a permit. One big issue is the time it takes for our staff to conduct background checks for all participants. To solve the issue, Chief is looking into a company that will do those for applicants at the applicant’s expense. The background check will then be sent to us. This will be more streamlined and the time and expense may deter the number of peddlers and solicitors from coming. However, it could cause many of those businesses to just send their people to town without obtaining a permit. Therefore, the ADMINISTRATOR noted he would like to see about signage regarding peddling and to possibly increase the fine. ADMINISTRATOR suggested there should be no tolerance or grace for those that do not follow the City’s ordinance. Zero tolerance and no more warnings.

ADMINISTRATOR reported there are ongoing discussions with the Secretary of State’s office regarding a new facility location in Aledo. No further update followed.

Mayor’s Report: No Report.

Committee Report: A Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee meeting to be held on Monday, August 11th at 6:00 o’clock p.m. in the City Council Chambers.

REGULAR COUNCIL SESSION

Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag,

CONSENT AGENDA

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

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

• Approval of Finance: Invoice Listing – AP14.

• Approval of Resolution No. 29R, Series of 2025; Approving the Purchase of Axon 10 Conducted Electrical Weapons for the Police Department; together with batteries, docking stations, holsters, live cartridges, training cartridges, virtual reality training setup, all necessary licenses and a 5-year warranty, for an annual cost of $11,152.72 for a five-year term (for a total of $55,763.60).

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.

PUBLIC COMMENT: No Report.

ACTION ITEM: No Report.

OLD BUSINESS:

Resolution No. 28R, Series of 2025; Approving the Purchase of a 2026 Ford F250 for the Department of Public Works in the amount of $70,678.00. (Tabled 7/21/25)

DPW Blaser to draft bid specifications and will have those sent out the week of August 3rd. DPW anticipates having the item ready for discussion at the next City Council meeting. No further discussion followed.

ALD. Sarabasa inquired about the bids for Sponsler Manor Fourth Addition – Phase 1. ADMINISTRATOR Chausse reported the item was not prepped and ready for this City Council meeting but hope to have that ready for the 8/18 City Council meeting.

ALD. Sarabasa inquired on the ATV pathway and the resolution to deter motor vehicles from driving on the path. DPW suggested striping the pathway down the middle as a possible option.

ALD. Weeks reported Cheer’s on Main, property located at 201 E. Main Street, Aledo, recently requested painting of curb at the establishment could be completed. City staff reported plans were to paint the curb this week.

NEW BUSINESS:

ALD. Friese inquired on Safe Routes to School project from SE to the SW section of Aledo connecting to the Mercer County Jr. High school. City Staff reported we do have a SRTS project but waiting on the State of Illinois to complete environmental before the State will let the bids for the project.

ALD. Snyder reported a portion of roadway along NW 3rd Avenue (commonly known as Slaughter House Hill) needs significant repairs. The Alderman inquired if the City had plans to resurface the roadway with City Staff reporting this portion of roadway is part of the MFT bidding for this fall. This stretch of roadway is listed as an alternate in the bid pending available funds.

CLOSED SESSION:

Motion was made by ALDERMAN DIXON and seconded by ALDERMAN WEEKS to adjourn to closed session to discuss:

A. Review of Executive Session Minutes Section 2(c)(21) Open Meetings Act A Roll call vote was recorded as follows:

YEAS: Dixon, Friese, Pauley, Ruh, Sarabasa, Snyder, Weeks, and Cooper. NO: None. Motion carried. 8 yeas, 0 nays. The meeting was recessed to closed session at 6:39 P.M.

RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION:

Council reconvened in open session at 6:43 P.M. Roll call was taken with the following answering present: ALDERMEN COOPER, DIXON, FRIESE, PAULEY, RUH, SARABASA, SNYDER, and WEEKS, as well as, MAYOR HAGLOCH, ADMINISTRATOR CHAUSSE and CITY CLERK DALE.

ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, motion was made by ALDERMAN PAULEY and seconded by ALDERMAN RUH that the meeting be adjourned. A Unanimous voice vote followed in agreement. Meeting was adjourned at 6:44 P.M.

https://www.aledoil.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_08042025-463