NW Illinois News

City of Polo City Council met July 15.

Here are the minutes 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 Thomas Bardell, Alderman Joseph Kochsmeier, and Alderman Randy Schoon.

Absent: None.

5. Motion to approve the Consent Agenda

Motion made by Alderman Schoon and by Alderman Bardell to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda:

A. Minutes from the July 1, 2024 Council Meeting.

B. Minutes from the July 5, 2024 Council Meeting

C. List of Bills as amended. Alderman Kochsmeier added bills for Blue Cross Blue Shield for $16,979.66 and Dearborn Life Insurance Company for $70.00 for the administration department.

D. Treasurer’s Report

Motion carried 6-0. Yes- Chesnut, Weaver, Bardell, Kochsmeier, Busser, 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. Beth Sundman paint of the crosswalks. The council gave their graces to Beth Sundman to proceed with the project.

7. Committee Reports

➢ Alderman Chesnut- None.

➢ Alderman Weaver- None.

➢ Alderman Bardell- None.

➢ Alderman Kochsmeier- Alderman Kochsmeier would like to know what the plan is for updating our city ordinances to assist Police Chief Coppotelli. He would like to get a plan in place.

➢ Alderman Busser- None.

➢ Alderman Schoon- Alderman Schoon stated that there was a pre-construction meeting on Tuesday. The lead service construction will start August 1st. 207 S. Division will be the starting point. They will be done with all the lead service line replacements within a couple of months. The contract states they have to be completed within 120 days. The lead service line replacement is a 2-million-dollar project that is through an IEPA forgiven loan. If the City of Polo was not getting all the lead services replaced this year, the City would need to have a plan in place by 2027 before the next CMOM report was due and then in 2034 all the lead services would have to be replaced per the IEPA. Alderman Schoon spoke with Greg Gates a grant writer about the Streetscape grant and he is looking to file the grant on Wednesday this week. Greg is waiting on a support letter from Darin LaHood’s office.

➢ Police Chief Matt Coppotelli- None.

➢ City Clerk Bartelt- None.

➢ Public Works Director Kendall Kyker- The park benches came in for the bike path. They have been put together and then he is planning on putting them on the bike path.

8. Items Removed from Consent Agenda

A. None

9. Old Business- Discussion/Action Items

A. Consideration & Possible Action on Ordinance 24-10, 2024/2025 Appropriation Budget. (second reading)

Alderman Schoon made a motion to approve ordinance 24-10, seconded by Alderman Weaver. Motion carried 6-0. Yes- Chesnut, Weaver, Bardell, Kochsmeier, Busser, Schoon.

B. Consideration & Possible Action on diversifying City Funds to multiple banks.

Mayor Knapp stated that Milledgeville State Bank, Sterling Federal Bank, and Holcomb bank would like to have a piece of the City’s certificates of deposit. Alderman Schoon feels that the City needs to talk to First State Bank Shannon Polo to see if they would be willing to match what the other banks are offering. He also feels that we need to stay in Ogle County.

Joey will talk with Pam and Robin so this will be tabled until the next meeting.

Alderman Busser made a motion to recess until tomorrow (Tuesday, July 16, 2024) at 7PM due to the tornado warnings, seconded by Alderman Kochsmeier. Motion carried 6-0. Yes- Weaver, Bardell, Kochsmeier, Busser, Schoon, Chesnut.

Mayor Knapp stated that the recess is ended, and the meeting will come to order. Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 7:00 PM.

10. New Business- Discussion/Action Items

A. Consideration & Possible Action on hiring a part-time police officer.

This will be discussed in closed session.

B. Consideration & Possible Action on pay request #4 and two change orders for Irving Construction. Alderman Busser made a motion to approve pay request #4, seconded by Alderman Schoon. Motion carried 6-0. Yes- Weaver, Bardell, Kochsmeier, Busser, Schoon, Chesnut.

C. Consideration & Possible Action on pay request #4 for Sjostrom & Sons, Inc. and Willett Hofmann & Associates invoice.

Alderman Busser made a motion to approve pay request #4, seconded by Alderman Weaver. Motion carried 6-0. Yes- Bardell, Kochsmeier, Busser, Schoon, Chesnut, Weaver.

D. Consideration & Possible Action on a road closure with alcohol consumption for the Polo Chamber of Commerce Chili Cook-off.

The consensus of the council is to allow this. Attorney Suits will draft an ordinance for the next meeting.

E. Consideration & Possible Action on entering an agreement with Midwest Disposal for sanitation services.

Alderman Bardell made a motion to authorize the mayor to sign the agreement with Midwest Disposal, seconded by Alderman Schoon. Motion carried 6-0. Yes- Kochsmeier, Busser, Schoon, Chesnut, Weaver, Bardell.

11. Other Items for Discussion & Information

Motion made by Alderman Chesnut to go into closed session at 7:38 p.m., seconded by Alderman Weaver. Motion carried 6-0. Yes- Busser, Schoon, Chesnut, Weaver, Bardell, Kochsmeier. 7:57

The Polo City Council returned to open session at 7:56 PM.

Alderman Chesnut made a motion to hire Caden Coppotelli as a part time police officer at $26, seconded by Alderman Busser. Motion carried 5-1. Yes- Busser, Chesnut, Weaver, Bardell, Kochsmeier. No- Schoon.

12. Adjournment

Motion by Alderman Bardell second by Alderman Busser to adjourn from regular session at 7:58 p.m. Motion carried 6-0.

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3619/Polo/4675465/08052024_Agenda_Packet.pdf