Rock Island Today

City of Aledo City Council met Sept. 15.

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 September 15, 2025.

MAYOR PRO-TEM DIXON called the meeting to order at 6:34 P.M. The roll was called, whereupon the following answered present:

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

Also present was MICHAEL CHAUSSE, City Administrator, ADAM BAKER, Chief of Police, and JAROD DALE, City Clerk.

MAYOR PRO-TEM Dixon observed a moment of silence in remembrance of Charlie Kirk.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

Public Comment: No Report.

Communication & Correspondence: Aledo Main Street September Memorandum highlights included the following:

• A Community Connection meeting to be held September 16 at Noon at the Aledo Fire Department.

• Aledo Antiques Day and Car Show had a 30% increase from the prior year for those in attendance for the event. Adjustments to be made for next year.

• Harvest Hop was held on September 13. Live music, pop-up vendors, alley art chalk art, and kid farm activities were provided during the event.

• Early Bird Shopping to be held on November 8.

• Holly Days to be held December 5 – 6, with the them for the electric parade to be: Luau.

• AMS awarded an awning/signage grant to Cooper Floor Covering & Masonic Lodge.

• Scarecrow decorating to follow the MC Homecoming Theme of: Board Games. Requests & Petitions:

Special Event / Street Closure – Halloween Trunk or Treat to be held October 31st, closure beginning at 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. along North College Avenue between Main Street and NE / NW 3rd Avenue.

Public Works Activity Report: DPW Blaser reported the following:

• Streets: Ride 17 Prep, Install storm sewer on SE 6th Street between 4th & 5th Avenues, clean gutters at the Central Park Pavilion, budget meeting.

• Gas: JULIE’s; mainly Viola Telephone service drops, averaging 20-30 locates a week. Meter maintenance at various locations, assist street with storm sewer work, replace no-read meters, install anodes, budget meeting.

• Water: JULIE’s; Continue to replace no-read meters, perform shut off’s, multiple sewer investigations, budget meetings, schedule asphalt street repairs for multiple sanitary repairs made through the year. Scheduled to be repairs within the next two weeks.

• Cemetery: Two (2) funerals occurred. Mowing, weed-eat, and move stones.

• DPW: Budget prep has been the main focus of work the last two weeks. Other work consisted of utility work and parking spaces for the Northside Lofts project, attended the Aquatics Center job meeting, Ameren/American Tower electrical service coordination, Ride 17 preparation, Bank Orion site utility coordination, building inspections.

• Ion Report: Looking into a possible check valve issue at the well site, ION will know more this week.

• CSO Fisk reported to be doing very well in the role of Community Service Officer and noted 20 incidents have been logged to date with over half of those incidents resolved already. Implementation of a door hanger courtesy notification system was implemented. Courtesy notices include a 7-day grace period to correct the violation.

ALD. Sarabasa voiced concern regarding the SW/NW 9th Avenue ITEP project regarding recent events related to JULIE locates and the severing of water-lines, as well as, the severing of the phone / internet lines at MercyOne Genesis Medical Center. City Staff to contact Hutchison Engineering, Inc. regarding these examples and to stress the City’s concern in making sure these types of events do not happen during the construction.

Aledo Police Department Activity Report: CHIEF Baker reported Harvest Hop and the Ride 17 Music Festival, including the Suzy Bogguss concert were a success. There was a good crowd and the events went smoothly. The diverted truck and local traffic created a safe place for concertgoers to enjoy the event and the music.

Tuesday, September 9th, Investigator Lindsey Kenney attended a training for investigating and prosecuting no body homicides. Inv. Kenney is a certified Lead Homicide Investigator and this class is continued education for the certification. She learned techniques for the investigation, interview and using digital evidence to solve crimes. The class was at the Mobile Training Unit location in Moline, IL.

The Aledo Police Department posted a want ad with Indeed.com for the position of police officer. With the pending move of Officer Jade Ford to the position of School Resource Officer, as well as Trevor Fisk moving from his full-time position to part-time, there is a need to fill those spots.

CHIEF met with Illinois State Police Lt. Nate Macklin regarding the current intergovernmental agreement regarding the Aledo Police Department’s involvement in the Henry and Mercer County Investigative Task Force. The task force is used to investigate major crimes in Henry and Mercer Counties and consists of investigators from several agencies. Chief Baker and Investigator Lindsey Kenney are members of the task force. An updated agreement with the task force will be signed soon as we get closer to fall.

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 facilitated and attended various meetings: a conference call from the National Fitness Council concerning outdoor fitness equipment and classrooms; conference call with a representative from Apptegy concerning the city’s website and the possibility of a mobile app; met with four (4) officials from the IL SOS and the building owner to complete a site plan of a potential DMV; attended Countryview Villas groundbreaking; YMCA Legacy Dinner; met with Frontier concerning switching from the copper analog phone line to a digital service; met with Visit Merco to finalize plans for the Ride 17 x CPG event; Aquatic Center construction meeting update; met with Tim Farquer, MCSD Superintendent; GrowthCorp regarding Northside Lofts project; and met with representatives of CivicPlus to discuss their current contract and services.

ADMINISTRATOR noted plans are to hold an Ordinance Committee meeting on September 22nd to discuss variance for a potential annexed property that is to be developed, and a Water/Sewer Committee to discuss findings of the rate study conducted this summer.

City Treasurer’s Report: The Treasurer’s Reports has been marked exhibit “B”, attached hereto and made a part of these minutes.

Mayor’s Report: MAYOR PRO-TEM Dixon read a proclamation, declaring the evening of October 31, 2025, between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. as trick or treat hours within the City limits.

Committee Report: No Report.

REGULAR COUNCIL SESSION

Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag,

CONSENT AGENDA

ALD. Pauley requested Item B – Approval of Finance: Invoice Listing – AP17 be removed from the Consent Agenda for discussion.

MAYOR PRO-TEM noted the request.

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

• Approval of Minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 02, 2025.

• Approval of a Special Event / Street Closure: Halloween Trunk or Treat to be held October 31 between the hours of closure at 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. along North College Avenue between Main Street and NE/NW 3rd Street.

A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:

YES: Cooper, Dixon, Friese, Pauley, Sarabasa, Snyder, and Weeks. NO: None. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 0 nays.

(Clerks Note: Agenda noted NE/NW 3rd Street as an Avenue and has been corrected within the minutes.)

Motion was made by ALDERMAN SARABASA and seconded by ALDERMAN COOPER to approve the following consent agenda item:

• Approval of Finance: Invoice Listing – AP17.

A Roll Call vote was recorded as follows:

YES: Dixon, Friese, Pauley, Sarabasa, Snyder, Weeks, and Cooper.

NO: None. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 0 nays.

PUBLIC COMMENT: No Report.

ACTION ITEM: No Report.

OLD BUSINESS: ALD. Weeks inquired on the status of code enforcement for property located at 511 NE 3rd Avenue, Aledo.

ADMINISTRATOR Chausse reported the property has recently been purchased. Plans are that the liens filed on the property for code enforcement or utilities will be released on a dollar for dollar basis regarding clean-up and updates to the residence.

NEW BUSINESS:

Discussion regarding a Customized Lights Drone Show and Music Integration: CITY CLERK Dale reported City Staff have been working on the preparation of the F/Y 2026 Budget. Part of that research has included a customized drone light show to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. This event will be a bigger than normal celebration due to the next year’s anniversary in our country’s history.

Contacts have been made to vendors in California, Colorado, Florida, Texas, and Wisconsin. Vendors are being booked up already for next year’s event, unfortunately. There has been some contact with a few that are available but they have also noted if the City was looking to book a show, to do it quickly.

Typical shows last anywhere from 10-13 minutes. A 100-drone show is the minimum a vendor would provide, but this particular show provides more of a two-dimensional look to it. A 200-drone or more show is where vendors are able to provide better detail to the images in the sky and three-dimensional.

With the proposed show, music integration would be part of the event. Customized themes, images, and concepts to assist Aledo in telling the story of America’s history will be the key theme.

MAYOR Hagloch has reviewed the proposals provided, and encouraged the CITY COUNCIL to consider the proposal from Northern Lights Drone Shows. MAYOR suggested the City enter into a 1-year contract, and if the City Council likes the vendor and the show next year, to possibly consider a 3-year term agreement for future events. For example, this vendor could also be considered (at a lower rate) for events outside of the 4th, such as the Lighting of the City’s Christmas Tree the first weekend in December each year.

The proposal is a 12-15 minutes show with a customized music track to match. The cost is $40,000. The City will be soliciting donations to help off-set this cost. In budget preparation for next year, staff have been in contact with our current fireworks display vendor but 2026 costs are not yet available, This is due to the President of the United States postponing what his plan will be regarding tariffs on fireworks and what that may do to rising costs to purchase a fireworks display.

After review, the CITY COUNCIL provided a consensus to approve the proposal submitted by BCI Entertainment, LLC (dba Northern Lights Drone Shows) for the July 4, 2026 celebration. Formal approval by resolution to be approved at the October 6, 2025 City Council meeting. City Staff were noted to move forward with the execution of a contract to lock-in a vendor for July 4, 2026.

ALD. Pauley inquired if a wood chipper has been considered for the yard-waste site at the South Lagoon. ADMINISTRATOR Chausse reported there has been discussion previously regarding an equipment purchase but no further plans for purchase to date. ALD. Pauley suggested the City consider a purchase due to the in-ability to maneuver around the yard-waste pile. City Staff noted the request and to review for further discussion at a later date.

ALD. Weeks inquired on the status of establishing new parking for property located at 201 SW 9th Avenue, Aledo. The commercial property parking in-front of 201 and 205 SW 9th Avenue are being repurposed due to the current construction of the SW/NW 9th Avenue pathway project, involving the award of the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) grant program. ADMINISTRATOR Chausse reported that item would need to be budgeted. Various CITY COUNCIL members requested this item be implemented into the F/Y 2026 budget.

ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, motion was made by ALDERMAN PAULEY and seconded by ALDERMAN SNYDER that the meeting be adjourned. A Unanimous voice vote followed in agreement. Meeting was adjourned at 6:59 P.M.

https://www.aledoil.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_09152025-468