NW Illinois News

City of Mount Carroll City Council met Feb. 28.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Water/Sewer Operator Jonathan Armstrong 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, absent, Joe Grim, absent, Paul Kaczmarski, Present, Doug Bergren present, Nancy Bandemer, present.

Alderman Jeff Elliott led the Pledge of Allegiance. Superintendent Bob Hatheway led the invocation.

Alderman Elliott moved and Alderman Bandemer seconded to approve the minutes of the February 14, 2023, Regular Council meeting. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, present, Risko, absent, Elliott, yes, Grim, absent, Bergren, yes, Bandemer, yes. Vote: 4 yeses, 2 absent and 0 nos. Motion carried.

Alderman Kaczmarski moved and Alderman Elliott seconded to authorize the payments of accounts payable date of February 28, 2023, 20 claims for $28,783.82 as recommended by the Finance Committee. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, absent, Elliott, yes, Grim, absent, Bergren, yes, Bandemer, yes. Vote: 4 yeses, 2 absent. Motion carried.

Mayor Bates reported the bank account balances were totaling $10,444,344.74 as of today.

Water

Under Committees, the Water/Sewer Committee Superintendent Zink reported they had a water leak over by the trailer court that they fixed. Jonathan Armstrong and Alex Handel took their Water Test today in Springfield. Started working on the lead pipe survey and the Illinois State Water survey is completed, only missing 2,000 gallons of water not accounted for, much better reporting and charting helped from last years 2021 of missing 33,000 gallons. Well #2 is down and will not be fixed until March 8, 2023. We also have a lift station pump not working so they will also look at that when they are here. Timkins who is using the old Kway building for storage is ready to have the water hooked up and we will be working on that this week.

A. Approve Water & Sewer Budgets

Discussion of changes made due to the East Street Water Looping project at the cost $70,000.00. Total revenues $479,280.00 with total disbursements $508,150.00. Sewer Budget changes discussed was the paving at the Sewer Plant. We will work out something with the County for less than to pay Erickson Paving $3,000.00. Total revenues $239,610.00 with total disbursement $306,000.00.

Finance

Recommendation made to approve to pay 20 claims totaling $27,783.82.

A. Discussion of Garbage Rates

Mayor Bates asked City Clerk Dauphin to go over the increase. Our rates have not been raised since 2018, but the cost from Moring Disposal has increased to $13.61 and we will have the annual 2.5% increase making the cost $13.95 a resident. Our cushion from property taxes has dimenished so unfortunatley we need to raise the rate. Currently the rate is $10.00 and Clerk Dauphin recommended raising it $2.00 to $12.00 a resident, this will increase revenues $16,968.00, to rebuild that cushion for future increases. Mayor Bates said he agreed that unfortunatley we have held out longer than we should have by not raising rates .50 cents every year that now we have to make up for it. Recommendation was made to increase $2.00 and then .25 cents every year there after.

B. Approve Garbage, Debt Service, CIF & WWTP Budgets

No questions concerning the Garbage budget, Clerk Dauphin had already used the new garbage rate in the revenue garbage charges. Total revenues $140,898.00 with total disbursements $134,500.00. Debt Service Budget showed the decrease with the refinancing of the water tower loan payments and increase with Waterlooping Phase 1 loan payments. Total revenues $292,700.00 with total disbursements $190,000.00.

CIF Budget showed an increase with the contract payment increase due to the Maguire Iron contract going from $5,000.00 to $37,729.00. Total revenues $72,675.00 with total disbursements $65,100.00. WWTP has no changes from last year. Total revenues $284,800.00 with total disbursements $282,100.00. Recommendation made to approve all budgets for garbage, Debt Service, CIF & WWTP.

Police

Alderman Bergren reported that we have reached out to CFPS to help apply for the USDA Grant that could pay up to 75% of the Police Vehicle. Karl Auto is holding the vehicle for Chief Cass and they have a motor for the 2019 Tahoe and are working with Kunes Country Auto to get it fixed. Approved Police Budget including funds for a new vehicle, with total disbursements $404,100.00

OLD BUSINESS

NONE

NEW BUSINESS

1. Discussion and Approval for 2021-2022 Audit Review with Matt Schueler from Wipfli: Mr. Schueler handed out an Audit Recap. Most changes are due to the Davis Trust money and building the Community Center, Mayor Bates asked if we could see the charts that did not include the Davis Trust money or building costs so we can see those figures and know if we are getting enough income without it. Alderman Elliott made a motion to approve the 2021-2022 Audit and Alderman Bandemer seconded. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, present, Risko, absent, Elliott, yes, Grim, absent, Bergren, yes, Bandemer, yes. Vote: 4 yeses, 2 absent and 0 nos. Motion carried.

2. Discussion and Approval for Resolution R6-2023, Resolution Authorizing Transfer of monies from the Waster Water Treatment Plant Fund to the Water Fund: Alderman Kaczmarski made a motion to approve Resolution R6-2023 and Alderman Elliott seconded. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, present, Risko, absent, Elliott, yes, Grim, absent, Bergren, yes, Bandemer, yes. Vote: 4 yeses, 2 absent and 0 nos. Motion carried.

3. Discussion and Approval for Music Donation to the Farmers Market: Alderman Kaczmarski made a motion to approve a donation of $1,500.00 from the band fund and Alderman Bandemer seconded. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, present, Risko, absent, Elliott, yes, Grim, absent, Bergren, yes, Bandemer, yes. Vote: 4 yeses, 2 absent and 0 nos. Motion carried.

4. Discussion and Approval for Gworks Software Contract: Alderman Bandermer made a motion to approve the contract with Gworks Software and Alderman Kaczmarski seconded. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, present, Risko, absent, Elliott, yes, Grim, absent, Bergren, yes, Bandemer, yes. Vote: 4 yeses, 2 absent and 0 nos. Motion carried.

5. Discussion and Approval to update the Raffle License Ordinance: Clerk Dauphin reported that going over the ordinance with City Attorney Zollinger he said the ordinance was in need of being updated. There were 5 items that he suggested we go over. Offering a yearlong license for $100.00 for groups like sports booster that hold several 50/50 raffles a month. Remove that it is a Council Action and have the Mayor and City Clerk approval only. Increase the Agregate retail value of prizes. Price of Chances is now $5.00 recommends making that $25.00. Change the number of days for issuance of chances to 1 year instead of 180 days. Concensus to have Attorney Zollinger make the changes and update the Ordinance for the next meeting.

6. Discussion and Possible Action on Garbage Contract Extension with Moring Disposal/Republic: City Clerk told the Mayor and Council she had spoke with Matt from Republic and he would like to attend the next council meeting to present the contract and answer any questions.

7. Daycare Center Survey Update: Alderman Bandemer reported that the phone surveys are complete and that the internet surveys will go until this Friday. It is showing the survey has been favorable, shows a need for this area and having a great response. When survey is complete will have more information to share.

General Audience

Len Anderson asked if we could make a cement slab down at the burning grounds for the paving bricks on. Right now, they are falling over and in the trees.

Correspondence

1. Moring Disposal report of recycling 21,100 pounds picked up for January

Adjournment: Alderman Bandemer made the motion to adjourn at 7:57 p.m. and Alderman Bergren seconded. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, absent, Elliott, yes, Grim, absent, Bergren, yes, Bandemer, yes. Vote: 4 yeses, 2 absent and 0 noes. Motion carried.

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