City of East Moline Mayor Reggie Freeman | City of East Moline
City of East Moline Mayor Reggie Freeman | City of East Moline
City of East Moline Committee of the Whole met Sept. 2.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
ROLL CALL
Mayor Reggie Freeman called the meeting to order and directed City Clerk Wanda Roberts-Bontz to call the roll. The following Alderpersons were present: Olivia Dorothy, Jeff Deppe, Larry Jones, Adam Guthrie, Rhea Oakes, Lynn Segura, and Jose Rico. 7:04 p.m.
ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS TO AGENDA
None
2025 Sewer Lining Program (Tim Kammler, Director of Engineering)
Per the 2025 CIP the East Moline Engineering Department has prepared recommendations for this year's cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) sewer lining program. Based on the CIP budget of $350,000 of sewer capital improvement funds, approximately 7,275 LF (1.4 miles) of sewers are recommended for cleaning and/or lining; pipe diameters for this year's program range from 8" to 15" in size. Recommendations continue
to be based upon prior citywide robotic inspection and recommendations from maintenance services staff.
Hoerr Construction has served as the city's contractor for this program for more than 10 years and has provided valuable service and favorable pricing for the city. East Moline has historically offered an annual contract extension with a large footage of sewer lining, for which Hoerr has provided better-than market pricing. Staff continues to recommend this "negotiated contract" approach as the most cost effective for the city with a consistently good work product. A letter from Hoerr Construction with breakdown of unit pricing for 2025 and the past seven (7) years is attached for review and reference, as is a map of the proposed 2025 lining areas.
Pending approval of the City Council, staff will coordinate execution of a contract with Hoerr, along with the customary bonds and insurance certificates. As with all unit-price construction contracts, the final amount paid will be dependent upon field measurements of the actual work performed during construction.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
| Line Item # | Line-Item Title | Department | Amount Budgeted Available Funds Amount Requested | ||
| 250-036-52925.91 | Sewer Collection Imp’s | Engineering | $362,250.00 | $362,250.00 | $350,000.00 |
| TOTALS | $362,250.00 | $362,250.00 | $350,000.00 | ||
A motion was made by Alderperson Oakes, seconded by Alderperson Guthrie, to concur with the recommendation as presented. Upon the roll call, the following voted in favor: Oakes, Segura, Rico, Dorothy, Deppe, Jones, Guthrie. Motion carried.
Railroad License for Pedestrian Way – IAIS at the 7th Street (Tim Kammler, Director of Engineering)
As part of the proposed RAISE Grant-funded improvements for the 12th Avenue / Rust Belt component, formal permission is needed from the two railroads for construction and maintenance of new paved walkways and crossing improvements within their respective right-of-way.
The Iowa Interstate Railroad's preferred means of conveying this permission is via a license agreement with the city. As such, a license agreement has been drafted by the railroad and the city's GDRP design team for the improvements at the 7th Street crossing. A $1,500 review fee is required with the submittal. An exhibit showing the area of proposed improvements within IAIS right-of-way is included with the license agreement.
Additional license agreements for proposed work on railroad property remain a work in process and will be brought forward for consideration once drafted.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
| Line Item # | Line-Item Title | Department | Amount Budgeted Available Funds Amount Requested | ||
| 025-000-52430.02 | NHR – Prof Services | Engineering | $15,000.00 | $14,150.00 | $1,500.00 |
| TOTALS | $15,000.00 | $14,150.00 | $1,500.00 | ||
RECOMMENDATION/REQUESTED ACTION: Approve IAIS Railroad License Agreement
A motion was made by Alderperson Guthrie, seconded by Alderperson Deppe, to concur with the recommendation as presented. Upon the roll call, the following voted in favor: Oakes, Segura, Rico, Dorothy, Deppe, Jones, Guthrie. Motion carried.
Update on the Quad Cities Land Bank Authority (Mark Rothert, City Attorney)
The Quad Cities Land Bank Authority (QCLBA) was founded with the goal of tackling vacant and problem properties in our region. Member cities initially provided seed funding annually based on population, with the expectation that over time, the Land Bank would become self-sustaining through property sales. That vision, however, has not materialized as planned, and the Land Bank now faces both financial and structural challenges that require adjustment.
Revenues and Expenditures
Current revenues are drawn almost entirely from contributions by Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline — together representing roughly 100,000 residents. Silvis is no longer a member, which reduces the pool of contributions.
Expenditures, however, have consistently outpaced these revenues. Annual costs for personnel, audit services, D&O insurance, property insurance, and property maintenance all total an amount that exceeds what contributions cover. Yet these are costs of the Land Bank to operate effectively.
Successes
Despite these obstacles, the Land Bank has had success with external grant funding and a few property sales. In particular, a grant from the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) has provided critical resources for both demolition and the purchase of homes in the area. Importantly, this grant also allows for partial reimbursement of administrative expenses, which has helped sustain the Land Bank during the past year. The Land Bank also just recently sold two parcels generating funds for the organization and putting property back on the tax rolls.
Looking Forward
After reviewing multiple options, the Land Bank Board has chosen to move forward using an independent contractor to run day-to-day operations. That consultant would be compensated primarily through commissions on the sale of Land Bank–owned properties. This approach eliminates the fixed cost of a salaried staff person while tying compensation directly to performance.
Member cities will remain part of the Land Bank, but instead of contributions based on population, it is proposed that each city will contribute a flat $10,000 annual investment, a 50%+ reduction for East Moline. In addition, cities will be expected to provide the Land Bank with properties it can sell. These donations will be critical to perpetuating the commission-based compensation model and to ensuring that the Land Bank has inventory to work with.
Conclusion
The QCLBA is at a turning point. Revenues tied to city contributions and property sales have not kept pace with necessary organizational expenditures, but grant support has provided a measure of relief. The Land Bank has also had initial success in selling off properties for redevelopment or reuse, it is ultimate goal. Moving forward, the revised funding model — flat-rate city contributions paired with a commission-based consultant — is intended to stabilize operations and ensure that the Land Bank can continue addressing vacant and problem properties across the region.
This update is intended to ensure the Council is aware of the current situation with the Land Bank, and the direction the Board has chosen to move forward in.
Alderperson Dorothy expressed concern that the new financial model may not be compatible with the much-needed development of affordable housing. The Quad Cities has a deficit of affordable housing and a growing homeless population, which the Land Bank is uniquely suited to help address. While the immediate concerns of the organization's solvency need to be a priority, she wants to ensure that we do not make a decision that will close this door to efforts in the future.
ADJOURMENT:
A motion was made by Alderperson Oakes, seconded by Alderperson Dorothy to adjourn the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting. A voice vote was taken. Motion carried. 7:22 p.m.
https://www.eastmoline.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09152025-1146
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