NW Illinois News

City of East Dubuque City Council met Nov. 6.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Please Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance

1. 23-1101 Call to Order – Mayor Digman

Start Time: 6:00 p.m.

Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier, Alderperson Robey and Mayor Digman Via Phone – Attorney Hess

2. 23-1102 Staff Reports

a. City Manager Report

i. Liquor License went out and due back November 29th at noon

Touched that they went out and due back on the 29th

The financials report is a little bit ahead. The auditors were here two days last week and returned again today expecting to finish tomorrow morning. All of this is because we have encouraged them to take an extensive look and are pleased with the effort they have made.

DACRA, we have had one meeting with the communities and will be having another on Wednesday. Hope to come up with a fair means of balancing the cost among all the communities involved.

Collection of Past Due Citations paperwork has been submitted to the State Comptroller. This is to help with overdue citations, utility bills, fire and ambulance charges. Thanks to Alyssa for all her work on that.

General Fund Balance have identified further expenditures from this account but should have been applied to other accounts. Have received the payment for the SRO and have not charged the MFT account (this account needs to be preapproved by the Council and IDOT) as annually directed by Council.

Appraisals for all the land that was approved to be appraised. We are just waiting for the Police Department to be made into its own lot. That has been done now so we have talked to an appraiser and will be waiting for his information.

b. Mayor Report

Citizens can now drop off their utility bills at Fidelity Bank & Trust and will be collecting them from there. May do it at the drive-up or inside. Note they do have a night drop you can do after hours or weekends. A shout out to Dawn Stelpflug for talking with Lisa Leibold at Fidelity to see if it was possible.

Veteran’s day is Saturday want to thank all Veterans that have served with special thanks to Alderperson Degenhardt and Alderperson Belken for their service. Also, those that are still serving.

c. Alderperson Report

i. Belken

ii. Burgmeier

Wondering if there is anything that can be done with the cover on the catch basin on Riverview Ter. Every time someone drives over it makes a lot of noise. Will have someone take a look at it.

iii. Degenhardt

Was contacted by Kathy Accola about putting a handicapped parking in front of Salon 150 at 150 Sinsinawa Ave. Have looked into that and there are issues with that. If there is a handicapped spot there will have to cut the curb to make handicapped accessible since it is a regular curb. That is usually why most handicapped spots are located at the end of the block. It is more than painting a spot. This is not something that we can do before winter.

iv. Fluhr

v. Meier

Was contacted by Runde to see if he knew of any family in need of a Thanksgiving food basket. Might be able to do a couple if there is a need. Alderperson Robey said she would help to look into it for Alderperson Meier.

vi. Robey

Is there a way to get revenue in our packets so everyone can see it. Can we start with the audit when it is done. Can we also add to that account balances, fund balances, loan balances and grant balances if there are any. City Manager does track this every month but looking to get a trend. The fund balance does not give you anything in any given month. Looking to just have an idea of what is going on because right now the council is flying blind right now. How about looking at the one I have posted in my office to see what is going on.

d. City Attorney, Susan Hess

e. Police Chief, Luke Kovacic

i. September Monthly Report

Go over any questions anyone has on September’s monthly report. This is the first one done in several years. Want to the guys and gals for the phenomenal job they are doing. Knew we were busy but not this busy. Shout out to Pam for putting this together to make the report for you. 867 different calls in September.

Alderperson Robey wanted Chief to go over everyone but first asked about the school. Since Officer Mast is the SRO, he will close out at the two schools when he leaves. Business building check is that checking doorknobs. Yes.

Is there any way to add the millage from the squad cars in this report. We don’t track millage anymore. We have our own fuel barrel down at the city garage. There is no need for it anymore.

f. Public Works Director, Mark Fluhr

g. Fire Chief, Joe Heim

i. Update on Fire Apparatus

Feedback from the engineers that they are having a difficult time with the smaller truck. If they can do it this will drive the cost up. Need guidance of okay to go longer and then figure out what is going to happen.

Alderperson Robey asked to see where we stand with the new fire department. Waiting for the financials from the audit. Won’t get this till December.

The average length of a short truck is 30 to 32 feet. How long is the garage in the flats. It is 28 feet. There is room there, but it is in the front not the back. There is potential.

They are waiting for the RFP’s to come back in but there are still a lot of questions yet.

Can we have someone go down and see what it would cost and be able to extend the existing garage.

We can just have someone take a look to let us know if it is doable.

3. 23-1103 Speakers from the Floor

Marc Ruden – Origin Design – Wanting to know if the council has any questions about the letter that was in their packets. This letter is a Substantial Completion letter. Instead of going with cost only went with engineering payment. They still have stuff to do on the punch out list. Will also have a walk through in 2 months to make sure everything is good. This new tower will give us better water quality.

4. 23-1104 Consent Agenda (City Council Minutes 10/23/23, Public Safety Report(s), Warrants, Zoning Minutes and Correspondence)

Motion by Alderperson Belken to Approve Consent Agenda (City Council 10/23/23, Public Safety Report(s), Warrants, Zoning Minutes and Correspondence) second by Alderperson Degenhardt ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried

NEW BUSINESS:

5. 23-1105 Presentation and Discussion of NWILED Engagement with Jo Daviess County Workforce Housing Needs Assessment Study in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

David Schmit, Cory Ritterbusch and Jason VanHemert came to talk about the Housing Needs Assessment Study. Publish in January 2023 showing that work force housing need is increasing. Can go to the website to see the information.

They want to help with looking for long-term rentals or small family homes to rent or buy. They are looking to help the surrounding communities with housing growth. Can contact them to see where there are areas for this growth.

Cory – looking to spur housing in the Jo Daviess area. Would like to help the city with custom building to fit with the city.

Jason – very few houses and rentals in the area. They could compile developers for us.

No action required.

6. 23-1017 Adjourn

End Time: 6:45 p.m.

Motion by Alderperson Degenhardt to Adjourn second by Alderperson Meier ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried

https://www.cityofeastdubuque.com/agenda/minutes/november-6-2023-minutes