NW Illinois News

City of East Dubuque City Council met May 6.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Please Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance

1. 24-0501 Call to Order – Mayor Digman

Start Time: 6:00 pm

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

2. 24-0502 Staff Reports

a. City Manager Report

Fund condition with all the talks I combined all into one graph. This shows all the major funds for the past year. What it is showing is that our cash position as a city has improved by 86%, which is an increase of $548,364 in one year.

Garage sales are coming up this weekend. Don’t forget about clean-up day on Saturday also. Have information on all of that on the website or at City Hall.

The garage demo is moving ahead. This should be happening later this week or earlier next week.

NuEra dispensary received their building permit today. This is for the sitework that needs to be done. Demo of existing building, DOT stormwater requirements, bringing in the utilities and parking lot. Then in the next couple of weeks they will be back for the building permit.

There has been a request from a citizen for a parking ban of semis in the downtown. Interested in hearing from the council on that topic.

Where are they parking these at because I have not seen them.

Have been told they block parking spots when they are being used for events. This usually takes place when there are events happening downtown.

Is this a requiring thing all the time or just once in a while. Have been told it is very regular. They are parking overnight. We can talk more about it and see if there is a resolution that needs to be made.

b. Mayor Report

Would like to apologize for the technical difficulties of the last two meetings. The audio version is available online.

c. Alderperson Report

i. Belken

Three weeks from today is memorial day and would like to remind everyone of the parade and would like to have council members participate. This starts at 9:30.

ii. Burgmeier

iii. Degenhardt

Like to remind you on Wednesday they will be picking up the flowers for the Lion’s Club. We need your support so let everyone know about it. You are selling at the same place and yes, they will be.

iv. Fluhr

v. Meier

vi. Robey

206 5th St. she is getting complaints on. It is in pretty bad shape and a lot of junk in the yard. We have taken action on that this week. Water bills have been returned and the postal service has stopped delivering there. The owner has been contacted with a letter and warnings for code violations.

Are we going to purchase flowers again for the downtown planters? Normally we go through the Lion’s Club. Why wouldn’t we do it? Nobody has brought it up so thought I would ask. Would be happy to do what we have already done. Randy, is there any way to get baskets with all petunias? Yes, just need to stop by early to pick them out.

Along Menominee St there is a stormwater drain. Tim, do you know what drain that is? Yes, it is 5th and Desoto. Has debris in it that just needs to be cleaned out.

d. City Attorney, Susan Hess

The sale was finalized on 526 Sherwood property. So, hoping the new owner is going to make improvements.

e. Police Chief, Luke Kovacic

f. Public Works Director, Mark Fluhr/Tony VanOstrand

g. Fire Chief, Joe Heim

3. 24-0503 Speakers from the Floor

Courtney from 231 next door would like to set up a couple of outside tables and chairs on the sidewalk. There are pictures in front of you. The pics show three but might just be two because three look really close.

Think it is a good idea and that maybe instead of having a 2-person table make it a 4-person table. Not sure about the sidewalk on the side street if would be able to add them there also.

The issue we have is the code that deals with blocking the sidewalk and must deal with the issue of if we do it here it will be available for other establishments. Suggest that we decide how wide the sidewalk will need to be beyond the tables. There is an ADA requirement of four feet. Then we can have a regulation that can be applied.

Will also have to talk about allowing alcohol on the sidewalk. Not sure if it is in our Code. Think there is an ordinance right now that prohibits outdoor seating. Chief Kovacic, could you please investigate this? Yes, he will. We can readdress the ordinance. We can do some homework and bring it to a future agenda.

4. 24-0504 Consent Agenda (City Council Minutes 04/15/24, 04/24/24 and 04/29/24, Public Safety Reports(s), Warrants, Zoning Minutes and Correspondence)

Motion by Alderperson Belken to Approve Consent Agenda (City Council Minutes 04/15/24, 04/24/24 and 04/29/24, Public Safety Reports(s), Warrants, Zoning Minutes and Correspondence) second by Alderperson Degenhardt ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried

NEW BUSINESS:

5. 24-0505 Executive Session: 5ILCS 120/2(c)(1) Personnel Matters / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

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

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

6. 24-0506 Discussion and Possible Action on Matters Discussed in Executive Session in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

Motion by Alderperson Degenhardt to Approve the Removal of Interim Treasurer from Pam McCarthy Making Her Permanent Treasurer second by Alderperson Robey ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried

Motion by Alderperson Burgmeier to Approve the Contract with Bohnsack & Frommelt, LLP for $70,000 second by Alderperson Meier ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried

Motion by Alderperson Meier to Approve the Contract with Tony VanOstrand to become Public Works Director second by Alderperson Robey ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried

7. 24-0507 Presentation, Discussion and Possible Action to Approve Leo Club Member Joe Delaney’s Idea/Plan to the Council in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz Joe Delaney Junior at East Dubuque High School. Would like to do something new with the welcome sign next to Runde’s on Hwy 35. The wood is deteriorating, and the wood letters are not straight.

Have talked with the woodshop teacher to see if they would be able to help with this project. On board to make it a future project next year.

He is here to get approval and get feedback on what the sign should be of. He has options as to who he can use for the new sign. They would be the High School woodshop, Lange Signs or custom sign websites.

It definitely needs to be replaced. Do we only have the one up? Yes, that is the only one.

Are you planning on putting it back in the same place? The goal is to place it back into the same place. But can discuss putting it in a new location.

Would there only be one or two? He is only thinking about one.

Could use the new logo and then needing to raise the money. Do you have in mind the estimated cost of this project? Not quite yet. Planning on doing fundraisers.

Would like to keep it with other students.

Would it require talking with the owners to see if this is doable be it Runde’s or IDOT?

Other spots could be out on Hwy 20 or up by the new water tower.

Would like to have you come back with a couple of designs to choose from and more information.

Motion by Alderperson Robey to Table Leo Club Member Joe Delaney’s Idea/Plan to the Council second by Alderperson Burgmeier ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried

8. 24-0508 Adjourn

End Time: 7:10 pm

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

https://www.cityofeastdubuque.com/agenda/minutes/may-6-2024-minutes