NW Illinois News

City of Polo City Council met Dec. 4.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

1. Invocation.

2. Pledge of Allegiance.

3. Call to order- Mayor Knapp called the meeting to order.

4. Mayor Knapp called roll call and the following members of the Council answered present: Alderman Thomas Bardell, Alderman Larry Weaver, Alderman Keith Chesnut, Alderman Joseph Kochsmeier, Alderman Busser, and Alderman Randy Schoon.

Absent: None.

5. Motion to approve the Consent Agenda

Motion made by Alderman Bardell, second by Alderman Schoon to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda:

A. Minutes from the November 20, 2023 Council Meeting.

Motion carried 6-0. Yes- Chesnut, Weaver, Bardell, Kochsmeier, Busser, Schoon.

6. Mayor Knapp opened Public Comment and the following persons provided comments: Members of the public are welcome to speak at this time but are limited to only 3 minutes.

7. Committee Reports

➢ Alderman Chesnut- Very good response on listing for police chief position; 7 interviews over the next couple of days.

➢ Alderman Weaver- Several properties that have been condemned in Polo.

➢ Alderman Bardell- Pool manager posted on Facebook for the public to purchase pool passes for Christmas. There has been a lot of interest so far.

➢ Alderman Kochsmeier- Joey has been working on getting CD’s rolled over to a better promotional rate.

➢ Alderman Busser- None.

➢ Alderman Schoon- Tom Demmer said that there are several different options to pick through. 1-2 options may work. There is a company out there that will tear down the building for free and will recycle the material. The gentleman will get ahold of Randy in a week.

➢ Police Chief Tim Rockwood- The officers have been filling their shifts very well. They have also stepped up with some community events. They are doing a good job.

➢ City Clerk Bartelt- None.

➢ Public Works Director Kendall Kyker- Fischer’s who has been doing the potholing to search for lead whips have said they are done. They were potholing at the buffalo box. They were supposed to pothole in the middle of the road at the main. They didn’t have someone to fill the holes in the street. They also had trouble with the tracers.

8. Items Removed from Consent Agenda

NONE

9. Old Business- Discussion/Action Items

10. New Business- Discussion/Action Items

A. Consideration & Possible Action on updates to the City of Polo employee handbook. The handbook needs to state if the City needs to pay it out or if an employee doesn’t use it that they lose it. City Clerk Bartelt will look at the statute and figure out what we can legally say.

B. Consideration & Possible Action on ordinance 23-13, an ordinance regarding the Illinois Paid Leave For All Workers Act for the City of Polo. (first reading)

The Polo City Council accepted the first reading of ordinance 23-13.

C. Consideration & Possible Action on a recommendation from the Business Development Committee to purchase pavilions from Imagine Nation, LLC for 212 S. Division Ave.

The BDD looked at several different options and eliminated polycarbonate panels to save us $60,000. The revised the quote with the Sourcewell discount that brought it down to $117,304.00. Mark Scholl is concerned that this will not help local businesses which are generating the additional sales tax for the City. He feels that the BDD should be focusing on giving back to the local businesses.

Alderman Bardell made a motion to approve the purchase of the pavilions for 212 S. Division Ave., seconded by Alderman Schoon. Motion carried 6-0. Yes- Bardell, Busser, Schoon, Chesnut. No- Weaver, Kochsmeier

D. Consideration & Possible Action on the 2023 Polo Dollars for City employees.

Alderman Weaver made a motion to approve the Polo Dollars for the City employees, seconded by Alderman Busser. Motion carried 6-0. Yes- Kochsmeier, Busser, Schoon, Chesnut, Weaver, Bardell.

E. Consideration & Possible Action on Resolution 23-08, A Resolution for Maintenance of Streets. Alderman Kochsmeier made a motion to approve resolution 23-08, seconded by Alderman Weaver. Motion carried 6-0. Yes- Busser, Schoon, Chesnut, Weaver, Bardell, Kochsmeier.

11. Other Items for Discussion & Information

12. Adjournment

Motion by Alderman Schoon, second by Alderman Bardell to adjourn from regular session at 7:49 p.m. Motion carried 6-0.

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3619/Polo/3824423/12182023_Agenda_Packet-_website.pdf