NW Illinois News

City of East Dubuque City Council met Monday, Dec. 18.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Please Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance

1. 23-1107 Call to Order – Mayor Digman

Start Time: 6:00 p.m.

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

2. 23-1108 Staff Reports

a. City Manager Report

Issued a building permit for Bridge City which is the dispensary down on Sinsinawa. The estimate of construction is $2 million dollars. Permit will be effective once we receive their check. Then they will begin building.

DACRA had a meeting on Friday night in Warren. Think have come to a conclusion that Warren will now be taking over the administration duties after the January court. We then will be paying the same costs as any other community that is in DACRA. The only difference is that we write more tickets than any other community and will pay a percentage of the number of tickets we write each month. Handed out a sheet that he has figured out what it would kind of come to for us each month. This is going from about $3,000 a month to $600. We will still manage everything that is in collections on our watch and when those dollars come in, we will get our 10% before it goes to original recipient. There is over $150,000 dollars unpaid between the communities.

Want to recognize Officer Maggie Walstrom had a difficult case last week. She took very good care of the victim, and we received a call from that person thanking Maggie for the work she did. This ended up being a 19-hr. shift taking care of the investigation. Thank you, Officer Maggie Walstrom.

An insurance claim that dates back to February 2023. This was a sewer back up and was being paid before it was sent to the insurance company. City Manager Seitz had it sent in August 2023 but because we paid before putting the claim in, they denied it. This was a cost of $31,500. We have another one that is similar in that we have not paid and have put a claim into the insurance company. Hopefully, they will pay for that.

The audit will not be out before Christmas. They just got some more information as of today but are doing their do diligence as they were asked.

The old police station been through with an architect and structural engineer, and they said the frame is solid but will need work on the inside. The cost of what would be done on the inside would be cut in half by having those walls. The final will be after the Fire Department does some training and open up some places. This will let us take a better look at the structure. Think this building has another life and hope it is with the City.

The Water Tower project received a $3 million dollar award but when bids came in, they were $3.5 million. At the time the decision was made to go ahead and would try to get the extra money funded. Learned that this money is not a sure thing, but Jill Pepin is working hard to get this money for us. Might have to fill this $500,000 hole if the funding does not come through.

b. Mayor Report

After the last meeting went to talk with City Manager Seitz and said this meeting was a win. Want to circle back around on this because it shows what is going on here and how we are going to get out of it. Before the meeting talked with City Manager Seitz about tabling a couple of the agenda items. But the council members had already done it without being suggested to be tabled. This is how it is supposed to work. Need to ask questions especially if you are not sure what is going on. So, consider this a win and want to let you know about your great job.

c. Alderperson Report

i. Belken

How are we doing on the old Temperly property on Sherwood? The sale fell through apparently a relative fought it. So, the people who were going to purchase the house backed out. Now what is being done is an unrealistic thought of what the house is worth. And Attorney Hess has filed for condemnation. The owner will still be gone for months.

Ran into Attorney Kurt and he wants to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

ii. Burgmeier

iii. Degenhardt

Surplus equipment that we will be getting rid of. Now there is some military equipment down there that can be surplus also. We still need the title for the Humvee yet. This has been brought up many times. Do have people who would like to buy that? Will need to call Camp McCoy for the title. Also do we not have some military trucks down at Frentress? There are two down there.

Does the surplus go out for bid or how do people know about this? We put an ad in the paper. Because if it is not being used then there is no sense holding on to it when it could be money we could be using.

Are we on top of getting the books all sorted out? Yes, the audit should be done here soon and then we have a contract with the CPA to get us up to date for this year and then we should be able to fly on our own.

iv. Fluhr

v. Meier

vi. Robey

When reading over the packet you see an expenditure you do not feel the City has the money to pay do not be afraid to ask. Just make sure to ask questions if you are not sure. All have the right to table or vote against the item that is on the agenda.

Do we post the bid items on the website? So, people who go out to the website can see that they are out for bid. For the realty property we do not have to go to bid if we go through a realtor. But it does need to be over 80% of the appraised value. It does have to be publicly available. Pam has a list of people so if you want to give information to her or email her, she will get the information to them once it is ready to go. We are also making sure we are going about the sell correctly by going through Attorney Hess. We have the appraisals in draft form right now so they hopefully will be in quickly.

d. City Attorney, Susan Hess

Do not have anything on the Paul Hinkle property. Attorney Nack is opening an estate for the properties. Hope is that we can still march forward on this. Have been working with Chaz McDermott’s Attorney and Attorney Nack to get this claim resolved.

e. Police Chief, Luke Kovacic

i. November Monthly Report

f. Public Works Director, Mark Fluhr

g. Fire Chief, Joe Heim

i. Participation in National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Community Risk Reduction

Was invited to Bartlett, IL to sit in on a think tank meeting with National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Basically, what it came down to was retention, purchasing equipment, purchasing apparatus, training and a lot of everything that revolves around the fire department. Was attended by McHenry County, East Dubuque, Glen Ellyn, Oregon, Maryland and Colorado. Was a grant project that they wanted to put together for Fire Chief’s to be able to get answers on various questions. Think this was a big deal because most of the solutions were East Dubuque, that they could reach out to help with their questions. Was supposed to be there for 8 hrs. but was able to knock out the whole thing in 5 hrs. The City is out there on the National level for a lot of stuff.

Speaks well of our Chief and department that we are leaders on figuring out how to do things better.

3. 23-1109 Speakers from the Floor

Gerold Podraza came and spoke to the Council about reviving the Twin City Zephyr from Chicago to East Dubuque. He wanted to know if the council would approve a resolution to study the feasibility of the Amtrac route.

4. 23-1110 Consent Agenda (City Council Minutes 12/04/23, Public Safety Report(s), Warrants, Zoning Minutes and Correspondence)

Motion by Alderperson Belken to Approve Consent Agenda (City Council 12/04/23, Public Safety Report(s), Warrants, Zoning Minutes and Correspondence) second by Alderperson Burgmeier ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier,

Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried

Absent – Alderperson Fluhr

NEW BUSINESS:

5. 23-1111 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve the Resolution for Maintenance of Streets and Highways by Municipality Under the Illinois Highway Code hereby Appropriated the Sum of $113,346.59 of Motor Fuel Tax Funds from May 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024 in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

What do we use this money on other than streets?

For more than three years we have been approving resolutions for $30,000 of salt and $15,000 of lights. This number has never been adjusted from year to year. Some of the money that was approved has not been taken out of account. So, money that was being spent came out of the general fund and MFT was left alone. So, we looked at what was spent last year and added 5% to the salt and took the actual then estimated the last 4 months of the lights. We will only use what we spend, nothing more. We must have your approval then send it to the DOT to approve the amount to be spent. Cannot spend any money unless approved by both parties. We cannot go back to past years.

Will be looking into brining. This will cut our salt cost by almost in half if not more. Would also like to add a road project with this but that will be in the next fiscal year.

Did a test of brining on the hills and did not work well at all.

Motion by Alderperson Robey to Approve the Resolution for Maintenance of Streets and Highways by Municipality Under the Illinois Highway Code hereby Appropriated the Sum of $113,346.59 of Motor Fuel Tax Funds from May 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024 second by Alderperson Degenhardt ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried

Absent – Alderperson Fluhr

6. 23-1012 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve Notice of Intent to Award Fischer Excavating for IEPA PWS Lead Service Line Replacement Loan 17-6364 in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

This will be lead lines that will include galvanized. Will not fund all of the changes but will be able to do up to our limit. We can stop when we hit our limit. This is a grant so not using our dollars.

When will this project start? Will start in 2024 and thinking it will be done in late fall 2024.

Is there a chance another grant will be out to finish this project? There is talk of another grant. Some might be taken care of by other projects that are going to start.

Motion by Alderperson Belken to Approve Notice of Intent to Award Fischer Excavating for IEPA PWS Lead Service Line Replacement Loan 17-6364 second by Alderperson Degenhardt ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Alderperson Fluhr

7. 23-1013 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve An Ordinance Regarding the Illinois Paid Leave for All Workers Act for the City of East Dubuque in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

We are required to have paid leave for all workers based on the number of hours worked. This allows us to do what we have been doing and go by the minimum requirement.

Do we have to pay a part-time employee 40 hrs. of vacation? No, we have to pay them based on the hours that they work during the year. No less than 1 day paid leave.

Motion by Alderperson Degenhardt to Approve An Ordinance Regarding the Illinois Paid Leave for All Workers Act for the City of East Dubuque second by Alderperson Burgmeier ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Alderperson Fluhr

8. 23-1014 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve Resolution Authorizing Execution for the Sale of Surplus Municipal Property in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

Was the property that was purchased for the Fire Station. This is allowing the property to be made surplus so that we would be able to put it up for sale.

Do we have an idea of what it is worth? Was purchased last year for $125,000 so guess is that the appraiser will go off price of last purchased. So not going to change much. We do have the right to refuse the sale if necessary.

Motion by Alderperson Meier to Approve Resolution Authorizing Execution for the Sale of Surplus Municipal Property second by Alderperson Degenhardt ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Alderperson Fluhr

9. 23-1015 Adjourn

End Time: 6:46 p.m.

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

https://www.cityofeastdubuque.com/agenda/minutes/december-18-2023-minutes