City of Mt. Carroll City Council met Sept. 26.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
Steve Haring from MSA rang the bell to announce the start of the meeting.
Mayor Bates called the meeting to order at 7:31 p.m.
Roll Call: Mayor Carl Bates, present, Alderman Jeff Elliott, present, Mike Risko, Absent, Paul Kaczmarski, present, Doug Bergren, present and Alderman Nancy Bandemer, present,
Alderman Nancy Bandemer led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Superintendent Bill Zink gave the Invocation.
Alderman Elliott moved and Alderman Bandemer seconded to approve the minutes of the September 12, 2023, Regular Council meeting and Special Council Meeting September 18, 2023. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, absent, Elliott, yes, Bandemer, yes, Bergren, yes. Vote: 4 yeses, 0 nos and 1 absent. Motion carried.
Alderman Kaczmarski moved and Alderman Elliott seconded to authorize the payments of accounts payable dated September 26, 2023 of 22 claims for $35,895.47 as recommended by the Finance Committee. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, absent, Elliott, yes, Bandemer, yes, Bergren, yes. Vote: 4 yeses, 0 nos and 1 absent. Motion carried.
Mayor Bates reported the bank account balances were totaling $6,335,504.97 as of today.
Water
Under Committees, the Water/Sewer Committee Superintendent Zink reported the work at Shaw’s Express Lift Station is almost completed. The plumbing is done, waiting on parts to complete the electrical. The other issue we are having is that they are dumping grease down the drain instead of having a grease trap and we are having to clean out the sewer every month. Zink said we can charge them a surcharge each month or have them purchase a grease trap. The discussion to start charging them now and City Clerk Dauphin reminded the Council that you will have to have an Ordinance approved before you can charge them. Alderman Kaczmarski asked Bill to give them the option to be charged a surcharge or purchase a grease trap.
Ordered Stonehouse waterline of 200 ft of pipe. City Clerk Dauphin asked Len Andeson of the Stonehouse Committee if we are using Stonehouse donations for this project, he said yes up to a $1,000.00.
East Street/Davis Center Loop project is on hold until the dirt work for the school track is completed. Meeting with Economic Growth Andy Fischer in the morning to go over the water cap connecting to Dearborn Building.
In October the cross connection form letter will be mailed to all residents.
Hydrant flushing will begin on October 16, 2023
West Carroll Middle School added a line for future use of the track & concession stand. This is a 2- inch meter that are not cheap and accoding to the school plans the City is to pay for it. Bill and Jonathan will be attending the IRWA Conference in Rockford on Oct 17, 2023, with Bill going on the 18th also.
Finance
Recommendation made to approve to pay 22 claims totaling $35,895.47.
A. Discussion and Possible Action on IEPA Loan for Waterlooping Phase 3 Jill Pepin of CFPS reviewed the Ordinance draft for Phase 3 going over what the cost of a 20-year loan to a 30-year loan. At 20 years, the cost per resident of 933 users would around $2.90 and for 30 years, the cost would be $2.68 per resident. This cost would be added to the current Debt Service monthly charge of $22.50. After some discussion consensus was made for a 20-year loan. Asked Jill to request a current cost estimate also.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Discussion of 2023 Captial Improvement Plan: Jill Pepin from CFPS presented the Final Draft 10 and the completed map with the changes requested from Council of Draft 9. Council will look over and if no changes needed will approve next council meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Discussion and Possible Action for Waterlooping Project Phase 2 Pay Request #3 MSA $20,027.23, CFPS $5,000.00, Martin & Company $126,038.70 total request amount $151,065.93: Jill from CFPS let the Council now that the amount due to Martin & Company needed to be amended from 126,038.70 to $162,592.50, there was an error in addition and 2 lines were excluded on the first total. The total request amount will be 187,619.43 Alderman Elliottmade the motion to approve the amended Pay Application #3 and Alderman Kaczmarski seconded. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, absent, Elliott, yes, Bandemer, yes, Bergren, yes. Vote: 4 yeses, 0 nos and 1 absent. Motion carried.
2. Discussion and Possible Action to Approve the Letter to return the OSLAD Grant: No Discussion or Action taken
3. Discussion and Possible Action to Hire Gwyn Bemis as Part-Time Operations Manager at the Davis Community Center: Eric Dauphin Street Superintendent addressed the Council that his employees do not make that much and we are on call 7 days a week, 365 days a year with more projects added on in the past few years. Mayor Bates said this is not the place to discuss this in open session. Alderman Kaczmarski made a motion to approve the Hire of Gwyn Bemis as Part-Time Operations Manager hours not to exceed 20 hours a week at $20.00 an hour and Alderman Bandemer seconded. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, absent, Elliott, yes, Bandemer, yes, Bergren, yes. Vote: 4 yeses, 1 absent and 0 nos. Motion carried.
4. Discussion and Possible Action to approve the Mayor to sign the IT Contract Agreement with Computer Dynamics discussed at the September 12, 2023 meeting: Alderman Elliott asked if they put in writing that each additional computer is $20.00 and City Treasurer Amy Schneider said yes. Alderman Elliott made the motion to approve the Mayor’s signature and Alderman Kaczmarski seconded. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, absent, Elliott, yes, Bandemer, yes, Bergren, yes. Vote: 4 yeses, 1 absent and 0 nos. Motion carried.
5. Discussion and Possible Action on Gonverment Website: City Treasurer Amy Schneider spoke to the council that our current website company raised their rates considerable to $2,500.00. After researching website companies, I spoke with Revize and their program so much up to date and alsos the City to create a Microsite for the Davis Center and Chamber. I spoke with the Chamber of Commerce and they are on board for the change. Consensus made for City Treasurer Schneider to move forward with a quote with Revise.
6. Discussion and Possible Action to Change Phone Companies to Becktech a Barbeck Communicatins. Quote for install and Equipment is $1,185.00, with a monthly charge of $190.29. Saving $87.49 a month: Discussion that we will have local technical support with Doug Sherf and the program will come with a phone app to use on your personal cell phones. Alderman Bandemer made a motion to change phone companies and Alderman Kaczmarski seconded. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, absent, Elliott, yes, Bandemer, yes, Bergren, yes. Vote: 4 yeses, 1 absent and 0 nos. Motion carried.
7. Discussion and Possible Acion to Approve the Road Block Application from the Humane Society on September 30, 2023: Mayor Bates told the Council the Humane Society called to Ammend the Application date from September 30, 2023 to October 7, 2023. Alderman Elliott made the motion to approve the ammended Road Block Application for October 7, 2023 and Alderman Kaczmarksi seconded. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, absent, Elliott, yes, Bandemer, yes, Bergren, yes. Vote: 4 yeses, 1 absent and 0 nos. Motion carried.
8. Discussion and Possible Action to Approve the Road Block Application from Heather Houzenga of Zenga’s Now & Zen Gallary on the 200 Block of West Market Street on October 21, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. to hold a 10 year Anniversary Celebration with Artist Vendors, Music and Food Trucks: Alderman Bandemer made the motion to approve the Road Block and Alderman Kaczmarski seconded. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, absent, Elliott, yes, Bandemer, yes, Bergren, yes. Vote: 4 yeses, 1 absent and 0 nos. Motion carried.
9. Discussion and Possible Action for the Midwest Alarms Contract at the Davis Community Center for an Annual Charge of $1,474.50: Mayor Bates said the first full annual payment will not be until 2025 and for $600.00 in 2024. Alderman Bandemer made the motion to approve the contract and Alderman Elliott seconded. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, absent, Elliott, yes, Bandemer, yes, Bergren, yes. Vote: 4 yeses, 1 absent and 0 nos. Motion carried.
10. MSA Weekly updates of Waterlooping Project Phase 2 and Project Updates: Curb & gutters will be starting in the next week on phase 2. Moving forward on Phase 3 and will get the updated cost of the project to Jill Pepin at CFPS. Downtown Sidewalk, there has been some activity with Law Excavating and we will visit the site this week and update the Council.
11. Discussion of Employee Evaluation Forms: Mayor Bates thanked City Treasurer Amy Schneider for her hard work on updating the forms and asked if anyone had any comments. Alderman Bandemer suggested a Comments section on the form. City Clerk Dauphin said there is a section on the back for all comments. Treasurer Schneider asked Alderman Bandemer to send an email with her suggestions.
General Audience:
Linda Anderson announced the ribbon cutting for the Stonehouse Outhouse will be held on October 21, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
Correspondence
1. None
Adjourned at 8:01 p.m.
Alderman Elliott made a motion to adjorn and Alderman Kaczmarski seconded. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, absent, Elliott, yes, Bandemer, yes, Bergren, yes. Vote: 4 yeses, 1 absent 0 nos. Motion carried.
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