City of East Dubuque City Council met Sept. 5.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
1. 23-0901 Call to Order – Mayor Digman
Start Time: 6:00 p.m.
Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier, Alderperson Robey, Mayor Digman and Attorney Hess Via Phone – Alderperson Burgmeier
2. 23-0902 Possible Action to Approve Alderperson Jeff Burgmeier for Remote Participation for up to Three Months in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, Interim City Manager Seitz
Motion by Alderperson Belken to Approve Alderperson Jeff Burgmeier for Remote Participation for up to Three Months second by Alderperson Meier ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Abstain – Alderperson Burgmeier
3. 23-0903 Staff Reports
a. City Manager Report
The main focus for the last month has been on bringing our financial report up to date. Can report good progress on that. Managed to find a CPA with significant municipal experience over 20 years. Brought her in to over see the process and to ensure that it is done properly. Will also coordinate with the auditors so that we don’t duplicate anything but get the financials that we need to move forward with the Fire Station and other projects.
b. Mayor Report
Food Truck ordinance says it is $250 a day. If someone brings one in for a special event can come to the council and ask if the fee can be waived.
c. Alderperson Report
i. Belken
ii. Burgmeier
Update on residential complaints that were brought up. Is there any progress on that.
Interim City Manager Seitz – Working on some new plans so that people who are repeatedly fined without changing the situation those fines will be increased as we go forward. Also, instead of the normal that assessing violations two or three times a year will be given a week to address the situation if they don’t, they can be cited again. Working on a plan to give people more time to fix the situation if they agree to commit to the plan that is discussed.
iii. Degenhardt
How are we doing with the vacant buildings on main street. Talking about Quade and getting on him to take care of his buildings. Like the one at the end of the street where the bricks are falling to the ground.
Mayor Digman – No I think there has to be a plan put in place. I know there are talks about checking different ordinances. Where we can put a little heat on the owner.
Alderperson Degenhardt – He buys them and lets them sit.
Mayor Digman – We’ll put that on the list.
iv. Fluhr
v. Meier
vi. Robey
Would it be possible to get a monthly police report put in the council packet. Do have some examples from 2018.
Interim City Manager Seitz – Yes, the Chief is not here tonight he is excused for a family issue. We can work up a report on that.
Alderperson Robey – Can we get our committee’s going (Ordinance, Finance, Utilities and Civil Service). Know we used to do them and know it is a good way for those who are new to the council to learn exactly how we operate our community. Also gives a say as to what the ordinances say and where we are sitting with finances compared to the budget. Would that be possible.
Mayor Digman – Not sure how that works. Knows what she is talking about and how it used to be. Attorney Hess can you look into that.
Attorney Hess – Yes, I can certainly look into reforming those committees like an audit committee and ordinance committee. Do you know why they stopped doing them.
Alderperson Robey – When Loras came on he got rid of the committee and did the Committee of the Whole. Normally when we did committees in city council the committee only give advice to the council and the council actually makes a decision.
Mayor Digman – I believe the way it was back in the day you had someone from each ward was on a committee, so each ward had a representative.
Attorney Hess – Do you know a time frame when it switched.
Alderperson Robey – When Loras came on in 2019.
Interim City Manager Seitz – Can we organize them by area (Law Enforcement and Fire) or by issue (Code Function or things like that). Looking to limit them so people can focus on them. Need to come up with what are the most important ones.
Alderperson Robey – Noticed in our spending report that we have a lot of expenditures on the Visa card. Why do we use credit cards rather than purchase orders. Who all has access to the credit card.Interim City Manager Seitz – That he is not sure. Will need to look into that.
Alderperson Degenhardt – City crew has access to it.
Alderperson Robey – That’s what I mean does each department have a credit card or do they have to come in and ask for the card.
Sue Leute –The Fire and Police have their own card. The city crew comes in and asks to use the card (Mark didn’t want it).
Interim City Manager Seitz – Right now they have to come to him for expenditures.
Chief Heim – Uses theirs for Powerade, batteries and small things. Buys everything locally when using the card. Might use it for online buys that are cheaper than going through a main vendor.
Alderperson Robey – Item is from Vortex Optics for $3,641.94 who would purchase something like that.
Interim City Manager Seitz – So that was the Police Department that was optics for rifles for tactical use. This purchase was pre-approved and was donated funds.
Alderperson Robey – Got calls on water break (over the weekend) and why it wasn’t being fixed. Who does the traffic control.
Mark Fluhr – Sent information on what was needed to Selco for traffic control and they had it set up the next morning so that the crew could work on it. Was not worked on since it was a slow leak. This is an old lead service, and the State will reimburse us for the repair.
Alderperson Robey – Frontier lines that are low hanging can something be done with them.
Mark Fluhr – Yes, trying to get them taken care of but do not have a contact to get them to come and take care of the lines. We also have a bill for them for the incident with Van’s. Just can’t get anyone to respond.
Alderperson Degenhardt – Alderperson Belken has called them, and they just do nothing.
Alderperson Belken – Also had Jo-Carroll call them and send pictures but nothing came of that call. There are some that are on the ground on the 300 block.
Mark Fluhr – What do we have to do can we get a different company here. Like Northwestern Bell how does the city go about that.
Interim City Manager Seitz – Its hard to force a change cause its their assets that you’re dealing with. We should be able to find State level people to that can put pressure on them. Will look into that.
Alderperson Robey – The piles down at the boat ramp
Mark Fluhr – That is from last year from the milling on Montgomery Ave. Was going to use that in the alleyways down in the flats area. It was hard finding a contractor to spread that for us. Not sure how good it is right now. Might have someone who is interested. Would like to get the piles out of there.
Alderperson Degenhardt – It’s just blacktop.
Mark Fluhr – Yes, not much good for anything right now.
d. City Attorney, Susan Hess
e. Police Chief, Luke Kovacic
f. Public Works Director, Mark Fluhr
g. Fire Chief, Joe Heim
4. 23-0904 Speakers from the Floor
5. 23-0905 Consent Agenda (City Council Minutes 08/21/23, Public Safety Report(s), Warrants, Zoning Minutes and Correspondence)
Motion by Alderperson Degenhardt to Approve Consent Agenda (City Council Minutes 08/21/23, Public Safety Report(s), Warrants, Zoning Minutes and Correspondence) second by Alderperson Fluhr ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried
NEW BUSINESS:
6. 23-0906 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve to Update Appraisals for Parcels 05-503-970-00 and 05-503-980-00 Duplex and Parcels 05-500-160-00, 05-500-170-00, 05-500-180-00 and 05-500-190-00 Vacant Lots in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, Interim City Manager Seitz
Alderperson Belken – Do we have access to the Duplex that we were in litigation with the Library.
Alderperson Robey – That wasn’t litigation on the Library. We were trying to get access from the back.
Alderperson Belken – Not sure if we got that or not.
Alderperson Robey – Thought Loras was going to drop that when he was talking about putting the park back there. This was the last she had heard.
Alderperson Degenhardt – Bob Johnson was supposed to have something do with redoing it. That was way over a year ago.
Alderperson Robey – Not even know that the bond even got taken out on that.
Interim City Manager Seitz – Had discussions about all those properties. The Library would love to give them the Duplex property. There is potential interest in purchasing the Duplex. That is why would like to do the appraisal now to find the value and if we are able to move it. It would be a beautiful building for someone to renovate it.
Alderperson Degenhardt – It is a shame to let it go like that.
Alderperson Robey – The bond for that Duplex never went through with Bob Johnson did it.
Interim City Manager Seitz – No we have ownership of the Duplex.
Motion by Alderperson Robey to Approve to Update Appraisals for Parcels 05-503-970-00 and 05-503-980-00 Duplex and Parcels 05-500-160-00, 05-500-170-00, 05-500-180-00 and 05-500-190-00 Vacant Lots second by Alderperson Belken ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried
7. 23-0907 Discussion and Possible Action to Prepare the Former Police Station Property for a Potential Sale Including Appraisal of 193 Sinsinawa Ave in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, Interim City Manager Seitz
Interim City Manager Seitz – This is the former Police Station there is some interest we are hearing of purchasing it. It appears that the parcel it is in also includes the current Fire Station and Well #1. This is why it is worded differently so that we are able to create a new parcel and then move to an appraisal.
Alderperson Fluhr – Ain’t that tied into that pump.
Interim City Manager Seitz – Yes, there was talk of a water softening system. The sense is that we are far from considering such a proposal. It is more important to have that building which faces the main street and business district to have it repaired or taken down.
Alderperson Robey – When we go to sell these is there a law that states that we cannot sell them below appraisal price unless there is a building that needs to be knocked down.
Attorney Hess – Can accept bids but wants to have the appraisal as a benchmark.
Alderperson Belken – We can refuse any bids.
Motion by Alderperson Robey to Approve to Prepare the Former Police Station Property for a Potential Sale Including Appraisal of 193 Sinsinawa Ave second by Alderperson Degenhardt ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried
8. 23-0908 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve IEPA Loan 17-4205 Disbursement #16 in the amount of $15,000.00 Including Louie’s Trenching Application #9 and CFPS Invoice #6 in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, Interim City Manager Seitz
Interim City Manager Seitz – Suggest to table this there is paperwork that is not in yet. So, we can take it up at a later date.
Motion by Alderperson Degenhardt to Table IEPA Loan 17-4205 Disbursement #16 in the amount of $15,000.00 Including Louie’s Trenching Application #9 and CFPS Invoice #6 second by Alderperson Belken ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried
9. 23-0909 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve Change Order #7 Louie’s Trenching in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, Interim City Manager Seitz
Alderperson Belken – What’s this on Bob.
Interim City Manager Seitz – This is part of a project it came through and Jill advises that everything is through on this one. If you would like more information on this one, we can table this one unless Mark knows what this one is.
Mark Fluhr – I don’t know if this one is waiting for the tank to get sanitized. There has been a hold up on things. Thinks they thought the seeding/pavement would have been done. Still waiting for that. This might be a question for Marc Ruden.
Interim City Manager Seitz – Again suggest to table this.
Motion by Alderperson Belken to Table Change Order #7 Louie’s Trenching second by Alderperson Robey ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried
10. 23-0910 Executive Session: 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) Personnel Matters / Mayor Digman, Interim City Manager Seitz
Motion by Alderperson Belken to Go into Executive Session second by Alderperson Degenhardt ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried
Motion by Alderperson Belken to Leave Executive Session second by Alderperson Robey ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried
11. 23-0911 Adjourn
End Time: 6:58 p.m.
Motion by Alderperson Robey to Adjourn second by Alderperson Fluhr ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried
https://www.cityofeastdubuque.com/agenda/minutes/september-5-2023-minutes
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