NW Illinois News

City of Mt. Carroll City Council met Feb. 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Andy Fisher rang the bell to announce the start of the meeting.

Mayor Carl Bates called the meeting to order at 7:31 p.m.

Roll Call: Mayor Carl Bates, present, Alderman Jeff Elliott, present, Mike Risko, present, Paul Kaczmarski, present, Doug Bergren, present.

Alderman Elliott led the Pledge of Allegiance

Invocation was led by Mary Boelkens

Alderman Elliott made a motion to approve the minutes from the January 24, 2024 Special City Council meeting Alderman Risko seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, yes, Elliott, yes, Bergren, yes, Vote: 4 yeses, and 0 nos. Motion carried.

Alderman Kaczmarski made a motion to authorize the payments of 49 claims payable for $212,642.84, Alderman Elliott seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, yes, Elliott, yes, Bergren, yes, Vote: 4 yeses, and 0 nos. Motion carried.

Mayor Bates reported the bank account balances were totaling $3,804,932.26 as of February 9 2024

Streets

Under Committees, Street Superintendent Dauphin said with the warmer weather they have been able to do some cold patching and tree trimming. Spring truck maintenance has been completed and ready for spring. If the weather stay warms we will do some street sweeping. Alderman Risko asked if Superintendent Dauphin had a schedule of the streets that will seal coated this year. He said he did not but would like to focus a little more on sidewalks since we have let that go in past 2 years. Mill Street will be one of them that is included with the Phase 3 Waterlooping Project and we need to have $60,000.00 for that project alone.

Police

Reviewed monthly Police Report. Chief Cass reported he is still looking for quotes for replacing the Tahoe. Had to have some wiring done on the current Tahoe.

Davis Community Center

Davis Director Nancy Bandemer reported the opening is going well; the heavy flow of activity is between 3-7:00 p.m. with lots of families enjoying the facility. We are also extending our Sunday hours to 6:00p.m. and adding program activities to the day, starting this Sunday with Pickle ball pay to play. I have been in contact to set up basketball and volleyball leagues. Fitness classes will be starting in April. A Big Thank You to Judson Smith for contacting the owner of the old high school to get wood from the old bleachers to make resting benches in the gym, with Dave Smith finishing the wood and building them into benches. I have also spoke with Lake Carroll and Timber Lake Playhouse on advertisment.

Finance

Recommendation to pay 49 accounts payable for a total of $212,642.84

Alderman Risko handed out the schedule for budget meetings with each department Alderman Risko asked to have a committee meet to discuss what the City is going to do with the Kraft Building now that the Community Center is open. Mayor Bates recommended the Finance Committee who meets since this will a finance matter.

OLD BUSINESS

1. Discussion and Possible Action on Agreement with Economic Growth-Shimer Square on a Day Care Center: Mayor Bates introduced Beth Payne and Andy Fisher from Economic Growth. Beth gave an update on the Day Care Center, showing that it was better structually and financially to use the original plan to build a new building than to restructure one of the current buildings in Shimer Square. She asked the City for a letter of commitment of $376,000.00 and that this is the missing piece to get this project underway or we lose the $800,000.00 grant. Alderman Elliott said I agree that this a great project and yes we need this for our town, but where is the money coming from and how are we going to pay it back? Why if we knew that this was needed why haven’t we discussed before tonight where this is money is coming from? We need to be fiscally responsible for once. Alderman Risko spoke in favor of this project and that is a great opportunity for our town. Alderman Kaczmarski said I need to see where it’s coming from before I can approve on the commitment. Alderman Bergren said he agreed with Alderman Risko that this important to our town and that the where it comes from we can decide later, I can think of at least 3 different ways without using Davis Trust Funds. Alderman Risko made the motion to approve a commitment of $376,000.00 to the Shimer Square Day Care Center and Alderman Bergren seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Risko, yes,

Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Elliott NO, Alderman Kaczmarski NO. Mayor Bates broke the tiebreak voting, yes. Vote: 3 yeses and 2 nos. Motion carried.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Discussion and Possible Action on Flood Insurance Renewal: Mayor Bates said we wait until we hear back from IEPA to make a decision.

2. Discussion and Possible Action to Hire Chad Hermes as a Part-time police officer: Alderman Kaczmarksi made the motion to hire Chad Hermes and Alderman Elliott seconded. Call Vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Risko, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes. Vote: 4 yeses, and 0 nos. Motion carried.

3. Discussion and Possible Action for Davis Community Center Budget and Appropriations: Alderman Risko asked for an updated copy after the new numbers are entered and for the next 3 months now that the center is fully operating. Alderman Risko made a motion to approve the Amended budget and Appropiations and Alderman Kaczmarski seconded, all approved. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman yes. Vote: 4 yeses, and 0 nos. Motion carried.

4. Discussion and Possible Action on Updated Salary Worksheet: The new worksheet now shows a chart for the Davis Community Center. Alderman Risko made a motion to approve the new worksheet and Alderman Elliott seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Risko, yes. Vote: 4 yeses, and 0 nos. Motion carried.

5. Discussion and Possible Action to Russell Construction Pay Application #18, $104,325.66: Alderman Risko made a motion to approve Pay Application #18 and Alderman Kaczmarski seconded, all approved. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Risko yes, Vote: 4 yeses, and 0 nos. Motion carried.

6. Discussion and Possible Action on New Part-Time Employees at the Davis Community Center: The 5 new applicants are Haylee McGinnis, Jacob McGovrn, Kendal Asay, Madison Eppenstein and Rachel Kniss. Alderman Kaczmarski made the motion to approve all applicants and Alderman Elliott seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, and Alderman Risko, yes. Vote: 4 yeses and 0 nos. Motion carried

7. Approve Mayor Bates’s Appointments: Alderman Risko made the motion to approve adding Jody Sweich and removing Ben Johnson to the BDD Committee and Alderman Kaczmarski seconded. Call

Vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Risko, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes. Vote: 4 yeses, and 0 nos. Motion carried.

8. Discussion and Possible Action of a Donation to the West Carroll School After Prom: Alderman Elliott made a the Motion to Approve of a donation of 100.00 to the West Carroll After Prom and Alderman Kaczmarski seconded. Call Vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Risko, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes. Vote: 4 yeses, and 0 nos. Motion carried

General Audience:

Correspondence

1. Updated BDD Guidelines

Alderman Risko made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:54 p.m., Alderman Kaczmarski seconded, all approved. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, , Alderman Risko, yes Vote: 4 yeses, and 0 nos. Motion carried.

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