NW Illinois News

City of Mt. Carroll City Council met April 23.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Alderman Paul Kaczmarski rang the bell to announce the start of the meeting. Mayor Carl Bates called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

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

Alderman Bergren led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mary Boelkens gave the Invocation

Alderman Elliott made a motion to approve the minutes from the April 9, 2024 Regular City Council meeting Alderman Risko seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Risko, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, Alderman Wolber, yes. Vote: 5 yeses and 0 nos. Motion carried.

Alderman Kaczmarski made a motion to authorize the payments of claims payable for $22,471.22 Alderman Elliott seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Risko, yes, Alderman Wolber Vote: 5 yeses, and 0 nos. Motion carried.

Mayor Bates reported the bank account balances were totaling $3,866,025.37 as of April 30, 2024.

Water/Sewer

Superintendent Jonathan Armstrong reported the Water Tower painting is completed. Completeded measuring Shimer Square for 620 water main, waiting on a quote. Had another sewer line issue at 410 S. College Street. Taking the pump out of the pool to rebuild the motor. We will have 6 possible new connections this summer and 2 annexing into the City Limits. Plan to finish trenching up by the water tower. Discussed having a contract with Wayne Goellner for $30.00 a straight truck load to haul sludge.

Licenses and Ordinance Committee

Recommendation to approve the 2024 Handbook updates. Alderman Risko made a motion to approve all 2024 Hanbook Updates and Alderman Kaczmarski seconded. Alderman Risko, yes,

Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Wolber Vote: 5 yeses, and 0 nos. Motion carried.

Finance

Recommendation to pay accounts 26 payables for a total of $22,471.22.

A. Budget for Davis Community Center was reviewed. Alderman Risko made a motion to approve the budget as presented and Alderman Kaczmarski seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Alderman Risko, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes. Vote: 5 yeses and 0 nos. Motion carried.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Discussion and Possible Action to Appoint Jeff Soenksen for Alderman Ward 1: Alderman Elliott made a motion to appoint Jeff Soenksen to Alderman Ward 1 and Alderman Risko seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Risko, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes. Vote: 5 yeses and 0 nos. Motion carried.

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

2. Discussion and Possible Action for a Donation request for Music at the Ice Cream Social from the Lutheran Church: Alderman Risko made a motion to approve a donation of $300.00 and Alderman Kaczmarski seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Alderman Risko, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Soenkeson, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes. Vote: 6 yeses and 0 nos. Motion carried.

3. Discussion and Possible Action for a Donation request for the Fire Department Building Expansion from the Mt. Carroll Fire Department: Mayor Bates requested that we acknowledge we received the request and pass it onto the Finance Committee.

4. Discussion and Possible Action to host a Rural Community Mini-Food Center at the Community Center: A Representive from Ogle County came and spoke to the Council how the program works and what is needed from the city to be a host, such as a cement pad and an electric outlet. Alderman Risko made a motion to approve hosting a Rural Comminity Mini-Food Center at the Davis Center and Alderman Kaczmarski seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Alderman Risko, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Soenksen, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes Vote: 6 yeses and 0 nos. Motion carried.

5. Discussion and Possible Action to Hire a new Water/Sewer Operator: Alderman Elliott made a motion to hire Dillion Sipe at Grade 1, Step 1 at $17.40 an hour and Alderman Kaczmarski seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Alderman Alderman Elliott, yes, Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Risko, yes, Alderman Soenksen, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes. Vote: 6 yeses and 0 nos. Motion carried.

6. Discussion and Possible Action to Approve Ordinance 2024-02-01, Ordinance to Rezone 314 & 316 S. Clay Street from R2- Medium Density to C2-2 Downtown Commerce District from the Mt. Carroll Fire Department District: Alderman Risko made a motion to approve Ordinance 2024-04-01 and Alderman Elliott seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Alderman Risko, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Soenken, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes, Vote: 6 yeses and 0 nos. Motion carried.

7. Discussion and Possible Action to Approve Ordinance 2024-04-02, Ordinance to Rezone 402 S. Clay Street from R2- Medium Density to C2-2 Downtown Commerce District from the Mt. Carroll Fire Department District Ambulance: Alderman Kaczmarski made a motion to approve Ordinance 2024-04-21 and Alderman Risko seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Risko, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Soenken, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes, Vote: 6 yeses and 0 nos. Motion carried.

8. Discussion and Possible Action to Ordinance 2024-04-03, Ordinance Authorizing the Slae of Surplus Real Property 108 N. Carroll Street PIN: 05-08-01-41-046: Alderman Risko made the motion to approve Ordinance 2024-04-03 and Alderman Kaczmarski seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Alderman Risko, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes, Alderman Soenksen, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes. Vote: 6 yeses and 0 nos. Motion carried.

9. Discussion and Possible Recommendation for 2-30 Minute Parking Spots and 1- Handicap spot in front of the Library: After a small discussion and worried about parking for the Bowling Alley if the new owner opens during the daytime. Consenus to proceed after speaking with the new owners.

10. Discussion and Possible Action to Approve Resolution R7-2024, Authorizing IMRF calculated at Gross Wages: The reason for the change is due to the new payroll software and how it does the calculations, if we don’t change then the Payroll Software is unuseable. Alderman Kaczmarski made a motion to approve Resolution R7-2024 and Alderman Wolber seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes, Alderman Risko, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Soenken, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes, Vote: 6 yeses and 0 nos. Motion carried.

11. Discussion and Possible Action to Approve Resolution R8-2024, Authorizing Year-End Transfers: Alderman Elliott made a motion to approve R8-2024 seconded by Alderman Kaczmarski.

Roll Call Vote: Alderman Risko, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Bergren, NO, Alderman Soenken, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes, Vote: 5 yeses and 1 nos. Motion carried.

12. Discussion and Possible Action to Approve Arbor Day Ad not to exceed $300.00: Alderman Risko made a motion to approve the Arbor Day Ad seconded by Alderman Kaczmarski.

Roll Call Vote: Alderman Risko, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Soenken, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes, Vote: 6 yeses and 0 nos. Motion carried.

13. Approve Arbor Day Proclamation: Alderman Elliott made a motion to approve the Arbor Day Proclamation seconded by Alderman Kaczmarski.

Roll Call Vote: Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Risko, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Soenken, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes, Vote: 6 yeses and 0 nos. Motion carried.

14. Discussion and Possible Action to pay for 2 rooms, 1 night at Molly’s INN for the Professional Gravestone Repair Personel not to exceed $300.00. Alderman Risko told the Council that these funds would come out of Cemetery-Save the Stone funds. Alderman Risko made a motio to approve and Alderman Kaxzmarski seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Alderman Risko, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Soenken, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes, Vote: 6 yeses and 0 nos. Motion carried.

15. Approve Mayor Bates’s Appointments: Mayor Bates Appointer Doug Bergren to Finance, Jeff Soenksen to Water & Sewer and Building and Mike Risko to Solid Waste. Alderman Elliott made a motion to approve and Alderman Risko seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Risko, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Soenken, yes, Alderman

Wolber, yes, Vote: 6 yeses and 0 nos. Motion carried.

Correspondence:

1. NWILED Satellite Office at the Davis Community Center

2. Thank You Letter about the Davis Community Center.

General Audience:

Len Anderson said the Stonehouse is hosting Master Gardnering

Alderman Risko reminded everyone to get your Façade Applications turned in by May 5, 2024

Adjornment

Alderman Elliott made the motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:22 pm and Alderman Bergren seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Alderman Ellott, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Risko, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes. Vote: 5 yeses, and 0 nos. Motion carried.

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