NW Illinois News

City of Polo City Council met Feb. 19.

Here is the agenda 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 Keith Chesnut, Alderman Larry Weaver, Alderman Joseph Kochsmeier, and Alderman Randy Schoon. Absent: Alderman Thomas Bardell and Alderman James Busser.

5. Motion to approve the Consent Agenda

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

A. Minutes from the February 05, 2024 Council Meeting.

B. List of Bills as amended. Alderman Chesnut added bills for CentralSquare for $5,440.50 for the police department, and Alderman Kochsmeier added a bill for BCBS for $15,617.42 for the administration department.

C. Treasurer’s Report

Motion carried 4-0. Yes- Chesnut, Weaver, Kochsmeier, 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- The police department has been busy and they are doing a fantastic job.

➢ Alderman Weaver- The City of Polo should enforce our ordinances. The city should not be allowing a gentleman to run a junk yard in the middle of a residential area.

➢ Alderman Bardell- Absent.

➢ Alderman Kochsmeier- None.

➢ Alderman Busser- None.

➢ Alderman Schoon- The Ogle County Economic Development Corporation has hired their executive director. Her name is Charlene Coulombe. Charlene came toured Polo with Randy last week. Council members can still turn in a list of things to achieve for the City of Polo.

➢ Police Chief Matt Coppotelli- None.

➢ City Clerk Bartelt- Sue Waszak’s has turned in her retirement notice. She plans on retiring on November 1st. City Clerk Bartelt would like the council’s blessing to start advertising for her replacement. She recommends having the new person work with Sue for a minimum of 3 months with a maximum of 6 months. The council will think about this and let Sydney know how they would like to proceed.

➢ Public Works Director Kendall Kyker- None.

8. Items Removed from Consent Agenda

A. None

9. Old Business- Discussion/Action Items

A. Consideration of the possible adoption of the 2024 ICC building codes.

The City of Polo’s building inspector, Casper Manheim, explained to the City of Polo that they need to update their ICC building codes before the end of this year. The City’s current code is the 2006 edition. This will be discussed more at the next meeting.

10. New Business- Discussion/Action Items

A. Consideration & Possible Action on Polo lead service line bid award.

Alderman Schoon made a motion to award the Polo lead service line bid to Five Star Energy Services, LLC, seconded by Alderman Weaver. Motion carried 4-0. Yes- Weaver, Kochsmeier, Schoon, Chesnut.

B. Consideration & Possible Action on additional scope of full-time construction observation for the lead service line replacement program.

Alderman Schoon made a motion to approve the additional scope for full-time construction observation for the lead service line replacement program, seconded by Alderman Chesnut. Motion carried 4-0. Yes Kochsmeier, Schoon, Chesnut, Weaver.

C. Consideration & Possible Action on Ordinance 24-02, an ordinance authorizing the City of Polo to borrow funds from the Public Water Supply Loan Program. (first reading)

Alderman Schoon made a motion to bypass the first reading of ordinance 24-02, seconded by Alderman Weaver. Motion carried 4-0. Yes- Schoon, Chesnut, Weaver, Kochsmeier.

Alderman Schoon made a motion to approve ordinance 24-02, seconded by Alderman Chesnut. Motion carried 4-0. Yes- Chesnut, Weaver, Kochsmeier, Schoon.

D. Consideration & Possible Action on Polo City Hall Project Bid Award.

Alderman Schoon made a motion to award the city hall project bid to Irving Construction, seconded by Alderman Weaver. Motion carried 4-0. Yes- Weaver, Kochsmeier, Schoon, Chesnut.

Buffalo Township’s square footage of the building that they will be paying for is 663 sq.ft. With the cost of the project the price per square foot is $402. $250,000 down payment from Buffalo Township. City of Polo will put down $500,000. Mayor Knapp and Alderman Schoon have been meeting with several banks regarding 30-year loans. They will be meeting with another bank tomorrow.

E. Consideration & Possible Action on Polo City Hall Project Management and Inspection Observation Services.

Alderman Schoon made a motion to approve the city hall project management and inspection observation services with Fehr Graham, seconded by Alderman Kochsmeier. Motion carried 4-0. Yes- Kochsmeier, Schoon, Chesnut, Weaver.

F. Consideration & Possible Action on a petition from OneEnergy Development LLC regarding a Community Solar Farm.

Susie Corbitt was present from the Ogle County Board. She said that solar farm permits have to go through a planning commission, a zoning board committee, a committee board, then the county board. Back in 2019, 7 solar farms were approved including this proposed one. Solar farms had to go through the county first then went through a lottery system with the State of Illinois. Their permit that they received from the County, expired in 2020.

Forrest Howk from One Energy spoke regarding the proposed solar farm. The proposed solar farm is a 5- megawatt solar farm on 30 acres. It would generate $1.2 million dollars in property taxes. They also do cash donation to the schools for solar panels for the school. Polo residents can subscribe to the project if you are a ComEd customer.

Tammy Merdian spoke regarding the solar farm. She had several questions for Forrest about the proposed solar farm. She was wondering what cover crop they use in between the panels. She was also wondering if the solar panels contamination the water ways. Forrest stated that they would not be using Primrose. Primrose is too invasive. He also said that they solar panels do not cause contamination of water ways.

Richard Butler spoke regarding the solar farm. He said that he isn’t that knowledgeable about solar farms and would like some more information.

Joyce Pearson spoke regarding the solar farm. She said that her family has owned that property since the 1900’s. It has always been a farm and she will never sell the land to be an industrial park, subdivision, or solar farm. She is highly against solar farm.

G. Consideration & Possible Action on Resolution 24-04, a resolution in support of studying the feasibility of reviving the Twin Cities Zephyr Amtrack Route from Chicago to East Dubuque.

Alderman Schoon made a motion to approve resolution 24-04, seconded by Alderman Weaver. Motion carried 4-0. Yes- Schoon, Chesnut, Weaver, Kochsmeier.

11. Other Items for Discussion & Information

12. Adjournment

Motion by Alderman Schoon second by Alderman Chesnut to adjourn from regular session at 8:25 p.m. Motion carried 4-0.

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3619/Polo/4055383/02192024_Minutes_of_the_Polo_City_Council.pdf