NW Illinois News

City of East Dubuque City Council met Feb. 5.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Please Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance

1. 24-0201 Call to Order – Mayor Digman

Start Time: 6:00 p.m.

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

2. 24-0202 Staff Reports

a. City Manager Report

DACRA will stop coming to East Dubuque for processing February 7th. All citations will be sent to Warren including East Dubuque’s with March being the first court date there. Like the other communities we will pay a monthly fee of about $543 for fixed cost with an administrative fee. Communities have been paying their share since November.

Alyssa Kovacic resigned effective February 7th. Want to thank her for helping to smoothly transition DACRA and Spillman.

The Fire Department went in and opened the walls in the Police Station so that a structural engineer could look and make sure everything looked good. They used this as a training exercise. The engineer returned and was able to see more and determine that the building could be restored.

Property was posted for sale. Tonight, we are looking to consider 90 Sinsinawa Ave and 166 Sinsinawa Ave. These are open lots for development in the downtown area. The Duplex 339 and 341 Sinsinawa Ave is drawing interest. Hoping to attract commercial or residential development.

Inspector from Illinois EPA looked at our final projects (water tower, Beecher and Desoto) giving final approval. These are now finalized at the state level.

Dan Dalberg will be retiring later this spring after 33 years serving the city of East Dubuque. Appreciate the consideration Dan gave in giving lead time to adjust.

Michael Busch has passed his certification becoming Community Water Supply Operator C & D. This will give Dan time to pass his knowledge on to Michael.

Met with the TIF Counsel and found that a significant portion of our TIF deficit is due to eligible expenditures not being attributed to TIF funding. Will be preparing a resolution to remedy this for a number of expenditures made during this fiscal year. Addressing this does nothing to help our general fund cash situation.

b. Mayor Report

Want to touch base on thriving communities. When started addressing the financial issues this past fall mentioned that while doing this, we needed to keep an eye on the future while keeping things moving forward. Ultimate goal is to make East Dubuque a thriving community. With many components to make a thriving community. One would be a high-quality education system which we are blessed to have inEast Dubuque. Two would be a healthy downtown business district which in most cases is the heart of the city. It is time to implement plans to revitalize, regrow and reinvent our downtown businesses. We have the opportunity to seize this moment tonight.

c. Alderperson Report

i. Belken

Saturday night is the Fire Department Banquet and hope the people invited RSVP’d and hope they support the department.

ii. Burgmeier

Is there an update on the Sherwood property? Nothing to update.

iii. Degenhardt

Any more to report on the houses down in the flats. The Shimkus property, her father’s estate has been opened with a closing date set. Did not have the details with.

It is important to support the Fire Department. Hope people come.

iv. Fluhr

With the properties that are going to be sold. Are there any requirements for them? Will be talking about that in Executive Session. Yes, there are.

v. Meier

vi. Robey

A white car on Sinsinawa Ave at one time was blocked up. Now it is off the blocks and pushed forward and has not moved again. Any problem with the plowing. As far as was told they keep paying for the tickets. Does not bother them.

d. City Attorney, Susan Hess

e. Police Chief, Luke Kovacic

f. Public Works Director, Mark Fluhr

i. Flood Task Force for 2024

Just need to set up a time for the Flood Task meeting.

g. Fire Chief, Joe Heim

i. Update on Progress with Fire Apparatus Specifications

Had received four bids back with three of the bids coming back over a million and one about 8-9 hundred thousand. They have rejected these bids. Did find a demo unit that was brought into town. As it was being tested everyone was impressed with it. This demo unit can be had in 90 days with the few items that need to be updated from HME/Dinges in Amboy, IL for $652,870.

This is a long way from a million. Yes.

Still getting some pricing on letter and have to change out radios. With this approval they will start with the next apparatus.

Once we are familiar with the new apparatus, we would like to ask that we post the old on apparatus websites to try and sell to other communities.

Do not know what the financing package will look like on this. Have potential to get state financing that can be applied to this. The department did a great job of getting what was needed but keeping the cost down.

3. 24-0203 Speakers from the Floo

4. 24-0204 Consent Agenda (City Council Minutes 01/15/24, Public Safety Report(s), Warrants, Zoning Minutes and Correspondence)

Motion by Alderperson Belken to Approve Consent Agenda (City Council 01/15/24, Public Safety Report(s), Warrants, Zoning Minutes and Correspondence) second by Alderperson Degenhardt ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Alderperson Meier

NEW BUSINESS:

5. 24-0205 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve CFPS Invoice #2 Final for the Lead Service Line Application and Bidding Services in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

This is the remaining balance.

Motion by Alderperson Burgmeier to Approve CFPS Invoice #2 Final for the Lead Service Line Application and Bidding Services second by Alderperson Robey ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Alderperson Meier

6. 24-0206 Executive Session: 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) Personnel Matters; 120/2(c)(5) Real Estate Section / Mayor Digman, Interim City Manager Seitz

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

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

7. 24-0207 Discussion and Possible Action on Matters Discussed in Executive Session in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, Interim City Manager Seitz

John came up to let the council and everyone know what he is planning on doing with the property. Looking to put a 9,000 square foot building. Going to be a venue for music, comedy or whatever he can fit in there. What was put in the proposal 5,000 will be dedicated to an open area. Timeline would like to get going as soon as possible. Would like to have the venue up and running by October. If there is a problem with parking will reach out to larger parking areas and then trolly/bus them to the venue.

Motion by Alderperson Degenhardt to Approve the Intent to Sell Subject to Publication

166 Sinsinawa Ave to Johnny O Properties LLC for $63,000 second by Alderperson Burgmeier ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Alderperson Meier

Mike also came up to let the council know what his plan is. Thanked the council and thought the city needed an event center. Thinking they should be able to hold about five hundred people with a little extra space for parking. Looking also to have an outdoor beer garden area. Wanting to make sure that our money is staying here in the community and not going to other places.

Happy that Mike is doing this and changing the look from empty lot to building. Thank you.

Thank you to both gentleman for wanting to invest in the community.

Motion by Alderperson Belken to Approve the Intent to Sell Subject to Publication 90 Sinsinawa Ave to Mike Meyer for $125,000 second by Alderperson Burgmeier ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Alderperson Meier

8. 24-0208 Adjourn

End Time: 7:13 p.m.

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

https://www.cityofeastdubuque.com/agenda/minutes/february-5-2024-minutes