NW Illinois News

City of Mount Carroll City Council met Nov. 8.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Alderman Mike Risko Jr. rang the bell to announce the start of the meeting.

Mayor Carl Bates called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

Roll Call: Mayor Carl Bates, present, Alderman Jeff Elliott, present, Mike Risko, present, Joe Grim, present, Paul Kaczmarski, present, Doug Bergren present, Nancy Bandemer, present.

Alderman Joe Grim led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mary Boelkens led the invocation.

Minutes: Alderman Elliott moved and Alderman Bandermer seconded to approve to minutes of the October 25, 2022 Regular Council Meeting. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, yes, Elliott, yes, Grim, yes, Bergren, yes, Bandemer, yes. Vote: 6 yeses, and 0 noes. Motion carried.

Bank Balance: Mayor Bates reported the bank account balances were totaling $13,012,557.48 as of today.

COMMITTEES

Streets

Street Committee Superintendent Dauphin reported they have started bricking Market Street depending on the weather hope to get it done in the next couple of weeks. Sidewalk at Carroll Street along Charlie's is completed. Will be working at the shop to get equipment ready for plowing snow. Spoke with Alderman Joe Grim and about setting up the Ice Rink again, the only cost will be a new tarp. Alderman Bergren reported he had a phone call from the Bess's about an issue with the sidewalk project done this summer and their Building. Mayor Bates said that MSA and Law Excavating are aware of the issue. Alderman Elliott asked Superintendent Dauphin about the Storm Sewer at State and Washington. Dauphin said yes it needs replaced and Mayor Bates said that he wants the one at Rapp and Carroll Street done also when the Library Extension is complete. Dauphin said yes along with the street will need replaced also.

Police

Chief Marth reviewed his monthly report. The Tahoe is reaching 60,000 miles and we will be adding replacement to next year's budget.

Finance

Payables: Recommendation to authorize the payments of accounts payable dated as of November 08, 2022 of 31 claims, totaling $683,154.92. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, yes, Elliott, yes, Grim, yes, Bergren, yes, Bandemer, yes. Vote: 6 yeses, and 0 nos. Motion carried.

Cola Raise of 8.7%: Alderman Kaczmarski said we have been following the COLA Rate since 2014 and only deviated once when it was set at 0.00% and we gave them something that year. This is the highest it has been since 1981. Mayor Bates asked where does the money come from? This would be 15% in 2 years plus Insurance, plus we had 3 employess Bill, Mark and Eric that had around a $4.00 raise. Alderman Risko responded that Insurnace is separate. There was poor management by us with the pay scale and yes we leveled that out but we had to make up for what was wrong. Mayor Bates asked who gets 8.7% ? I won't, who are we going to lay off to pay for this increase? Alderman Risko reported that we budgeted 5% and that we only need to make up 3.7%, which is about $20,000.00. Alderman Bandermer said she agrees with Mayor Bates, we need to go in with our eyes wide open. We value our employees, but I am thinking about the burden it would be on the community financially. Mayor Bates said again Mike it states in the Handbook it is to be used as a guideline, 8.7% is just too much. It affects IMRF also, that is part of the raise and I am concerned about revenue sources. Things are slowing down, car sales and house sales. Alderman Risko said we will be having a Mid Term Finance Review before the next meeting. Alderman Risko made the recommendation to approve 8.7% COLA raise for employees and Alderman Kaczmarski seconded. Alderman Elliott said that if we keep this up we won't have any money left when people retire.

Roll Call Vote to approve Recommendation: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, yes, Elliott, yes, Grim, yes, Bergren, yes, Bandemer, No. Vote: 5 yeses, and 1 nos. Motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS

1. Discussion and Possible Action for Façade Funding for 121 W. Market Street: No action taken. City TIF Attorney sent over the Ordinance just this afternoon, to late to put it on the agenda. Will discuss next meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Discussion and Possible Action to Approve Phase #1 Water Looping Project Change Order #1 for $14,228.00: Alderman Grim made the motion to table the action until we have the updated change order from MSA and CFPS and Alderman Elliott seconded. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, yes, Elliott, yes, Grim, yes, Bergren, yes, Bandemer, yes. Vote: 6 yeses, and 0 nos. Motion carried.

2. Discussion and Possible Action to Approve to Sign NICOR Service Agreement for the Davis Community Center: Alderman Risko made a motion to approve the Mayor to Signe the Agreement with NICOR and Alderman Grim seconded. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, yes, Elliott, yes, Grim, yes, Bergren, yes, Bandemer, yes. Vote: 6 yeses, and 0 nos. Motion carried.

3. Discussion and Possible Action for September Pay Applications to Russell Construction: Pay App #7 $11,836.25 and Pay App #3 GMP Amendment $333,887.37, total amount $345,723.62: Alderman Risko made a motion to approve the Pay Applications for September and Alderman Grim seconded. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, yes, Elliott, yes, Grim, yes, Bergren, yes, Bandemer, yes. Vote: 6 yeses, and 0 nos. Motion carried.

4. Discussion and Possible Action for Ocotber Pay Applications to Russell Construction: Pay App #8 $15,907.00 and Pay App #4 $299,070.21, total amount $314,977.21: Alderman Risko made a motion to approve the Pay Applications for October and Alderman Grim seconded. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, yes, Elliott, yes, Grim, yes, Bergren, yes, Bandemer, yes. Vote: 6 yeses, and 0 nos. Motion carried.

5. Discussion and Possible Action on Davis Community Center Building Foundation Pad Settlement and Executive Summary: After long discussion with Russell Construction on how the dirt was tested for settlement and all questions and concerns were answered and that we have a 1-year Construction Warranty, Alderman Grim made a motion to approve and Alderman Bandemer seconded. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, yes, Elliott, yes, Grim, yes, Bergren, yes, Bandemer, yes. Vote: 6 yeses, and 0 nos. Motion carried.

General Audience

Len Anderson reported that the Stonehouse has been winterized.

Alderman Risko reported that the Tree mulching project with the Boy Scouts is completed. Adlerman Bandermer asked if we needed to meet with Reid Law prior to the Planning Commission Meeting? Mayor Bates said he would meet with Alderman Kaczmarski and Alderman Bandemer to discuss how the clean up agreement is going. Alderman Risko said that this will be important infromation to help the Planning Commission decide.

Correspondence:

1. Girl Scout Cookie Sales will be December 14, 2022 through January 28, 2023

2. Email notification of the Park Project Donation

Adjourn to Executive Session: Alderman Grim made the motion and Alderman Elliott to adjorn to Excutive Sesssion at 8:25 p.m. Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, yes, Elliott, yes, Grim, yes, Bergren, yes, Bandemer, yes. Vote: 6 yeses, and 0 noes. Motion carried.

Returned from Executive Session at 8:47 p.m.: No further Action taken.

Adjournment: Alderman Grim made the motion and Alderman Bandemer to adjorn at 8:50 p.m. Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, yes, Elliott, yes, Grim, yes, Bergren, yes, Bandemer, yes. Vote: 6 yeses, and 0 noes. Motion carried.

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