NW Illinois News

City of Galena City Council met Dec. 26.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

23C-0490 – CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Renner called the regular meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Chambers at 101 Green Street on 26 December 2023.

23C-0491 – ROLL CALL

Upon roll call, the following members were present: Bernstein, Kieffer, Tegtmeyer, Westemeier, Wienen, Renner

Absent: Johnson

23C-0492 – ESTABLISHMENT OF QUORUM

Mayor Renner announced a quorum of Board members present to conduct City business.

23C-0493 – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The Pledge was recited.

23C-0494 - REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES

No reports.

23C-0495 – CITIZENS COMMENTS

None.

LIQUOR COMMISSION

Motion: Wienen moved, seconded by Kieffer, to adjourn as the City Council and reconvene as the Liquor Commission.

Discussion: None.

Roll Call: AYES: Kieffer, Tegtmeyer, Westemeier, Wienen, Bernstein, Renner

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Johnson

The motion carried.

23C-0496 – DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON AN APPLICATION BY BLAUM BROTHERS DISTILLING COMPANY, LLC FOR A CLASS O-1 DISTILLERY PUB LICENSE FOR BLAUM BROTHERS PUBLIC HOUSE, 109 S. MAIN STREET

Motion: Kieffer moved, seconded by Bernstein, to approve the application by Blaum Brothers Distilling Company, LLC for a Class O-1 Distillery Pub License for Blaum Brothers Public House at 109 S. Main Street, 23C-0496.

Discussion: None.

Roll Call: AYES: Kieffer, Tegtmeyer, Westemeier, Wienen, Bernstein, Renner

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Johnson

Regular Board Meeting 26 December 2023

The motion carried.

Motion: Tegtmeyer moved, seconded by Wienen, to adjourn as the Liquor Commission and reconvene as the City Council.

Discussion: None.

Roll Call: AYES: Tegtmeyer, Westemeier, Wienen, Bernstein, Kieffer, Renner

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Johnson

The motion carried.

CONSENT AGENDA CA23-24

23C-0478 – APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF DECEMBER 11, 2023

23C-0498 – APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT OF $10,350 WITH PROTECH HEATING AND COOLING FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A BOILER AT THE FIRE STATION

23C-0499 – APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENT BA23-05 FOR HIGH STREET RETAINING WALL EXPENSE AND GARBAGE AND RECYCLING REVENUES AND EXPENSES

23C-0500 – ACCEPTANCE OF NOVEMBER 2023 FINANCIAL REPORT Motion: Wienen moved, seconded by Westemeier, to approve Consent Agenda CA23-24. Discussion: None.

Roll Call: AYES: Westemeier, Wienen, Bernstein, Kieffer, Tegtmeyer, Renner

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Johnson

The motion carried.

NEW BUSINESS

23C-0501 – DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON A CONTRACT FOR THE 2024 INDUSTRIAL PARK WATER TOWER PAINTING PROJECT

The following bids were received:

Company	Business Location	Cost
LC United	Sterling Heights, MI	$243,000
Era Valdivia	Chicago, IL	$294,664
Seven Brothers	Shelby Township, MI	$324,300
Neumann	Merrillan, WI	$429,500
MW Cole	The Villages, FL	$467,500

In a memo to council, it was noted that LC United did not include the cost of pressure tanks in their bid and they subsequently requested to withdraw their bid.

Regular Board Meeting 26 December 2023

Motion: Kieffer moved, seconded by Tegtmeyer, to approve the contract for the 2024 Industrial Park Water Tower Painting Project with Era Valdivia in the amount of $294,664 to execute the project in Spring or Fall of 2024, 23C-201.

Discussion: None.

Roll Call: AYES: Wienen, Bernstein, Kieffer, Tegtmeyer, Westemeier, Renner

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Johnson

The motion carried.

23C-0502 – DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT WITH DIXON ENGINEERING FOR PREPARATION OF BID SPECIFICATIONS FOR PAINTING THE INDUSTRIAL PARK WATER TOWER

Motion: Westemeier moved, seconded by Wienen, to approve the amendment to the contract with Dixon Engineering for preparation of bid specifications for painting the Industrial Park water tower in the amount of $49,835.00, 23C-502.

Discussion: None.

Roll Call: AYES: Bernstein, Kieffer, Tegtmeyer, Westemeier, Wienen, Renner

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Johnson

The motion carried.

23C-0503 – DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE FISCAL YEARS 2025-29 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN

Motion: Wienen moved, seconded by Westemeier, to table action on the Fiscal Year 2025-29 Capital Improvement Plan, 23C-0503.

23C-0504 – U.S. WATER MONTHLY WATER AND SEWER OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE REPORT

Andrew Schuler gave the water and sewer operations and maintenance report. He reported the following:

∙ Wastewater Treatment Plant treated 15,058,000 gallons.

∙ Drinking Water produced was 15,377,000 gallons.

∙ October and November 57% were billed with a 42% water loss.

∙ Fischer Excavating has reported the amount of water used for highway project. ∙ Budget is going well.

Bernstein stated she was hoping to hear how much the lost water is costing the city. Schuler advised he does have some numbers; however, he would like to go through them more before finalizing his report.

Leak detection will be done in the spring unless there is a dramatic change in usage. The leak detection is done by using a microphone on the hydrants.

Wienen would like to see a more aggressive plan to find the leaks. She feels there has to be a better way to not wait until spring.

Regular Board Meeting 26 December 2023

Renner noted a lot of the pipes are old and are not being serviced.

Moran advised he has done some research looking at the age of the town and infrastructure. Statistics show nationally that older communities have a higher water loss. It is just the reality of it.

23C-0505 – WARRANTS

Motion: Wienen moved, seconded by Tegtmeyer, to approve the Warrants as presented, 23C 0505.

Discussion: None.

Roll Call: AYES: Kieffer, Tegtmeyer, Westemeier, Wienen, Bernstein, Renner

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Johnson

The motion carried.

23C-0506 – ALDERPERSONS’ COMMENTS

Thank you – Tegtmeyer thanked everyone in the city who worked hard at the garbage roll out. There have been some service issues but hopefully by next week those issues will be worked out.

Thank you – Tegtmeyer thanked Mary Weck and Paul Chase for the donation of the picnic table at Washburn Park. She further thanked the Public Works Department for getting it installed.

St. Mary’s School – Bernstein reported there has been more progress made on the St. Mary’s School.

The council wished everyone a “Happy New Year.”

23C-0507 – CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Annexation Agreement – The Tractor Supply annexation agreement will be on the next agenda. Agenda – 403 S. Main Street will be on the next agenda for discussion.

Water Tower Bid – Moran noted the bid on the water tower was well below the original estimates. The City borrowed funds at the beginning of the year. Some of those funds will be put in reserve for the next tower painting which will be the Dodge Street standpipe.

23C-0508 – MAYOR’S REPORT

Mayor Renner wished everyone a “Happy New Year.”

23C-0509 – ADJOURNMENT

Motion: Bernstein moved, seconded by Tegtmeyer, to adjourn.

Discussion: None.

Roll Call: AYES: Tegtmeyer, Westemeier, Wienen, Bernstein, Kieffer, Renner

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Johnson

The motion carried.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:46 p.m.

https://www.cityofgalena.org/documents/filelibrary/side_tabs/agendas__minutes/city_council_minutes/2023/cc122623_DB29A501F56B6.pdf