City of East Dubuque City Council met June 5.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
Please Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance
1. 23-0601 Call to Order – Mayor Digman
Start Time: 6:00 p.m.
Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Robey and Attorney Hess Absent – Alderperson Meier and Mayor Digman
2. 23-0602 Staff Reports
a. City Manager Report
i. Freedom of Information Act
This is only for Loras
ii. Open Meetings Act
Please do and then give printed certificate to Pam
iii. Animal Restrictions
Had a few calls asking the number of chickens allowed in town. We do have a limit of 3 with no mention of Roosters. Would we like to update this?
iv. Executive Session on June 12, 2023
Wondering if this would work. This and action are all that will be on the agenda.
v. Troop 14/144 Father’s Day Pancake Breakfast
vi. Streaming of Meetings
Will start streaming meetings tonight. Will be doing this from here on out.
b. Mayor Report
c. Alderperson Report
i. Belken
Bids out for Fire Station? Had a meeting with Origin Design about reviewing the codes and any additional paperwork needed. Bid this fall with building in spring of ’24.
When will the water tower be filled? Hope to have it filled by July but will be a gradual fill.
What’s the deal on the storm drain at the end of Sherwood up by Gramercy Park. Get someone look at it. But will probably put a storm sewer pipe down to ditch line on the backside catch basin. Still looking at doing it this year? Yes, we are still looking at doing it this year.
ii. Burgmeier
Had a complaint about someone blowing grass into the street off Greenwood. If can get a name and address will give them a warning and if they continue, then will have to issue a ticket. Will follow up on this.
iii. Degenhardt
iv. Fluhr
v. Meier
vi. Robey
Did we get the financing for the Fire Station. Everything looks positive, we just have not received the formal letter from USDA.
d. City Attorney, Susan Hess
e. Police Chief, Luke Kovacic
f. Public Works Director, Mark Fluhr
i. Flushing of Hydrants
City will be starting on June 12th with following week Frentress Lake starting June 19th. Try to flush hydrants twice a year.
ii. Removal of Pilings
Was asked to remove the pilings. Pilings will be $10,000 to 11,000 to have Newt remove them. Has also received some phone calls about a boat dock wondering if it was going back in. Was asked by someone who uses it a lot if we could put in a service fee (annual or daily).
Discussed with Mark about a competitive DNR grant we could apply for. Talked about what would want new pilings, surfaced area and move to the north side. Can go up to $200,000 but need to have these specs. The deadline is September but if granted this is 100%. Unfortunately, this will have us missing this season. Will need a motion to pull out the old pilings and then to move forward with the grant process.
Motion by Alderperson Burgmeier to Proceed Removing Pilings and DNR Grant second by Alderperson Degenhardt ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Alderperson Meier
iii. Sweeper Update
Just waiting for the financing. Was going to go through the sweeper company but Fidelity said they could do better. So once that is done then will have a sweeper.
Welter and Sons is hauling the sledge from wastewater plant to Nick Tranel’s fields. This is done every year. Found some things that need to be addressed with Fehr Graham which have a message to them.
Alderperson Belken – Do they drill that in the field? No, they knife it in.
g. Fire Chief, Joe Heim
i. Badge Pinning and Swearing in of Members
Six new members River Alvarado, Brenton Baldwin, Maddie Heim, Sam Lange and Shirlee Scott Absent – Brady Mispagel
3. 23-0603 Speakers from the Floor
Sandy Lorenz 358 Menominee Ave – Business across the way is a total mess. Was only supposed to be one but now it is three business. There is also an abandoned car, is there anything we can do about it. They are also parking on the residential side of the street. Taking care of the grass on the empty lot.
Diane Gallagher – Here to remind us that she represents us in the county. Planning session every two years. If there are any issues that need to be addressed, please let her know. This should be done by the end of the year. If would like to get in touch with her just let the city staff know and they will forward a message to her.
4. 23-0604 Consent Agenda (City Council Minutes 05/15/23, 05/22/23 and 05/30/23, Public Safety Report(s), Warrants, Zoning Minutes and Correspondence)
Motion by Alderperson Degenhardt to Approve Consent Agenda (City Council Minutes 05/15/23, 05/22/23 and 05/30/23, Public Safety Report(s), Warrants, Zoning Minutes and Correspondence) second by Alderperson Burgmeier ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Alderperson Meier
NEW BUSINESS:
5. 23-0605 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve East Dubuque High School’s Annual Homecoming Parade in Downtown East Dubuque on October 13, 2023, at 3:30 pm with Street Closing for Staging in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Herrig
Motion by Alderperson Belken to Approve East Dubuque High School’s Annual Homecoming Parade in Downtown East Dubuque on October 13, 2023, at 3:30 pm with Street Closing for Staging second by Alderperson Burgmeier ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Alderperson Meier
6. 23-0606 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve Condemnation of Properties in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Herrig
Paul Henkel/Janis Shimkus properties in the flats area. Estate is not probated and still in father’s name. She has someone to buy the property but once again she is ignoring their phone calls also. We have exhausted all avenues and there is nothing additional we can do. So, to get something done with these properties we need condemnation of properties.
Attorney Hess – Would have to do a certified letter and see what liens there are. This would be for three properties (two houses and one lot). This will start court proceedings and if she does not have someone there the court might appoint a person.
Motion by Alderperson Belken to Approve Condemnation of Properties second by Alderperson Robey ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Alderperson Meier
7. 23-0607 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve IEPA Loan 17-4205 Disbursement #13 in the amount of $235,096.20 Including Origin Design Invoices #78956 & 78818 and Caldwell Tanks Pay Application #7 in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Herrig
Alderperson Belken – How much is left to finish this loan? Not sure if it is payments or dollars. We are getting down to the tail end. But we still have the main and site rep. There is a bit of sitework to be done. About a million to pay off yet.
Motion by Alderperson Belken to Approve IEPA Loan 17-4205 Disbursement #13 in the amount of $235,096.20 Including Origin Design Invoices #78956 & 78818 and Caldwell Tanks Pay Application #7 second by Alderperson Burgmeier ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Alderperson Meier
8. 23-0608 Adjourn
End Time: 6:44 p.m.
Motion by Alderperson Robey to Adjourn second by Alderperson Belken ROLL CALL:
Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Alderperson Meier
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