NW Illinois News

City of Fulton City Council met Oct. 23.

Here is the agenda provided by the council:

Meeting was called to order by Mayor Wendy Ottens at 5:30 p.m. On roll call, Alderpersons King, VanKampen, Boonstra, Burggraaf, and Mask were present. Alderpersons Banker, Brondyke and Wilkin were absent. Police Chief Neblung, Public Works Director Sikkema, City Attorney Huizenga, City Clerk Wade were also in attendance.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

New Appointments by Mayor Wendy – The appointments will no longer be made. Mayor Wendy is striking the motion because four Alderpersons can not be on one committee.

Recognition of Volunteers – None

Communications from Visitors – None

Presentations – None

Mayor Wendy asked for a motion to approve the Consent Agenda.

Motion to approve the City Council Meeting Minutes from October 9, 2023, and the Bill List.

Motion to approve, Alderperson King, seconded by Alderperson Boonstra.

On Roll Call, all yes.

Motion passed.

Mayor Wendy asked a motion to approve that there be no City Council meeting on Monday, December 25, 2023.

Alderperson King made the motion, Alderperson Boonstra seconded.

On Roll Call, all yes.

Motion passed.

Business

Mayor Wendy asked for a motion to approve Tammy Garibay as Business Manager, she may not be called City Manager. She has to be called Business Manager to take over the responsibilities of the City Administrator’s position starting October 4, 2023, through January 1, 2025. Starting January 1, 2024, she will work three days in the office and one day from home. Her position will stay Union at her request with no interaction for discipline with employees at all. Tammy has approved this motion. Mayor Wendy had sent it to her to approve.

Alderperson Masked motioned to approve. Alderperson King, seconded.

Alderperson Boonstra asked how many hours is that? Mayor Wendy said Tammy is going to do 40 hours per week.

A discussion was held about the title of Tammy’s position; being called the Business Manager, but assuming additional responsibilities, should she have a different title?

On Roll Call, all yes. Motion approved.

Committee of the Whole Discussion

Per Alderman requests, Amendments to Liquor Licenses since 2019, provided by Tammy Garibay are in your packet for you to read.

Discussion was held on Christmas bonuses for full and part-time employees. It will be on the next agenda as a motion item.

Mayor Wendy told the Council that she and Chief Neblung met with a website designer to upgrade the City’s website to make it more user friendly. He is going to come back to them with cost. It’s going to depend on how much we want to change.

We are using a very old and outdated content management system that makes changing and updating items very difficult. They will bring any information they receive back to the Council.

Mayor Wendy talked to the IML to have all future festivals and functions as long as they are on City property will be covered by our insurance. No other insurance is needed or required. Mayor Wendy said this is absolutely the was we need to proceed. The City pays the IML $110,000.00 per year for their services, which includes their risk management program which is the insurance. Mayor Wendy explained how this works in various scenarios. This does not include insurance for events serving alcohol.

Chief Neblung reported on the Clinton MTA service by giving the Council the numbers in a report that is in the Council packets. He stated that at this point we are about half way through our trial period.

Committee Reports:

Finance - None

Personnel - None

Economic Development - None

Parks & Rec - None

Public Safety – Minutes in packet.

Alderperson Boonstra added that they had met and Chief Neblung get the IPMC (International Property Management Code). Copies were given to Council members. Boonstra discussed what this covers as far as properties in the City are concerned and what a Code Enforcement Officer can do. He stated that hopefully in the coming months we will have our current codes codified.

Mayor Wendy said that Chief Neblung has scanned all the new ordinances and it totally caught up, with the exception of one that he is trying to locate. They will be ready to send to the codification company very soon.

Chief Neblung said the goal is by the first meeting in December, when the City has to pass the tax levy, that he will have the facts together to bring it to the Council regarding a Code Enforcement Officer. Discussion was held on a Code Enforcement does.

Marina - None

Tourism – Minutes in Packet.

Alderperson Mask wanted to the Tourism Committee did take a look at the hotel/motel revenues because we knew they were better than they have been in the past. In 2021 we took in $27,898.18. In 2022, $36,271.61 and in 2023 we’re just through our first three quarters we are at $40,240.93. The hotel is doing the best it has for a really long time.

Zoning – None

Budget needs for next year: Signs, Code Officer, Tourism Director, Sidewalks and Streets.

Mayor’s Report – None

Aldermen Report – None

Chief of Police Report – In the Packet.

Alderperson Mask stated that she thought it was interesting when looking at the map of different events that are happening in the City, they are pretty well spread around the City. Chief Neblung commented that sometimes the are localized, sometimes not. He discussed other events that have been occurring in the City lately. Chief also added that the Stevenson County Sheriff's Office is buying nine of the portable radios in the amount of $38,358.00.

Alderperson Mask asked Chief Neblung if the City has any homeless people now. He replied, yes, there is someone living on the island across from the Marina right now. He also believes the City has 3 or 4 homeless individuals right now. The City does not have the facilities to assist them in the winter months so at that point they’ll move on to either Clinton, Sterling or the Quad Cities to find somewhere warm to stay.

Public Works Report – None

Historical Society’s Report – In the Packet.

Mayor Wendy said she approved the Girl Scout Cookie Program.

Mayor Wendy asked for a motion to go into closed session for purposes of personnel, litigation, or sale of property.

Motion to move into closed session, Alderperson Mask. Second by Alderperson Boonstra.

On roll call, all yes.

Motion approved.

Council went into closed session at 6:00 p.m.

Motion to move out of closed session, Alderperson Burggraaf. Seconded by Alderperson King.

On roll call, all yes.

Council adjourned closed session at 6:28 p.m.

Mayor Wendy asked to make a motion to adjourn the regular meeting, all present were in favor.

Meeting adjourned. 6:30 p.m.

https://www.cityoffulton.us/government/city-council/city-council-meeting-minutes/city-council-meeting-minutes-10-23-2023.html