NW Illinois News

City of East Dubuque City Council met July 15.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Please Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance

1. 24-0712 Call to Order – Mayor Digman

Start Time: 6:00 pm

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

Absent – Alderperson Robey

2. 24-0713 Staff Reports

a. City Manager Report

Exciting news on downtown development. The Arena Building has been purchased as has the lot between that and 1st Street. Will be for the downtown dispensary as well as green space and gardens along 1st Street. Exciting news with new construction and businesses in the downtown area.

Façade improvement plan been working with the Mayor and Chairman Meier. Working on being able to get the façades improved in the downtown area.

The roof has been assessed and we will be able to go onto getting quotes for the roof fixed to save the rest of the building. The departments got together and worked on what space is needed between the departments.

Previous year books are done and then we are ready to hit the ground running when we have an auditor in place.

Been looking at the playgrounds and they have not been addressed in a while. We will start with the 6th Street one in the flats and then moving on with what we can afford to do. Will keep doing them year after year until all are done and ready to start the process all over again.

b. Mayor Report

Would like to thank Alderperson Fluhr. Drove through his Ward and listened to his concerns. It was productive and encouraged the other Alderpersons to reach out and drive around in their Ward.

Been a year and reflected on things that have changed and what we have accomplished. We are talking about Façades and economic growth. Want to thank City Manager Seitz, the City Council, City Attorney Hess, Department of Heads and staff. Have a lot to be proud of. Nice job.

c. Alderperson Report

i. Belken

ii. Burgmeier

iii. Degenhardt

iv. Fluhr

v. Meier

Asked about the gravel spots on when they will be working on those. They have been filling in the holes as they come but with all these storms they are just washing out. Contracts are all signed and we are just waiting for their schedule to work out. We should see the work done hopefully by August.

vi. Robey

d. City Attorney, Susan Hess

e. Police Chief, Luke Kovacic

f. Public Works Director, Tony VanOstrand

g. Fire Chief, Joe Heim

3. 24-0703 Speakers from the Floor

No speakers

4. 24-0704 Consent Agenda (City Council Minutes 07/01/24, Public Safety Reports(s), Warrants, Zoning Minutes and Correspondence)

Motion by Alderperson Burgmeier to Approve Consent Agenda (City Council Minutes 07/01/24, Public Safety Reports(s), Warrants, Zoning Minutes and Correspondence) second by Alderperson Fluhr

ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Meier

Motion carried

Absent – Alderperson Robey

OLD BUSINESS:

6. 24-0705 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve WHKS Water Main Replacement Project of Hiawatha, Montgomery and Arrowhead Court in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

We planned for these projects when we did our budget. Work cannot be done until next year because of the cycle of funding. We do need to get going on planning and get into a position where we can apply to the state for the funding.

Will this be the area where all the potholes are? Yes, it will be working in the area where we have had water main breaks in the first half of the summer. The area that was for Lead Service Lines or water main breaks will be paved this year either way.

Motion by Alderperson Meier to Approve WHKS Water Main Replacement Project of Hiawatha, Montgomery and Arrowhead Court second by Alderperson Degenhardt

ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Meier

Motion carried

Absent – Alderperson Robey

8. 24-0708 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve An Ordinance to Allow the Operation of Utility Task Vehicles and Golf Carts on Streets and Alleyways in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

We discussed this two weeks ago and then made corrections with a page at the end to make any changes that was suggested. Some of those were changed from 18 to 16 to drive, then 16-year-olds would need to take safe driver class, but Illinois does not have any and then they are required to wear helmets.

As ATV’s are allowed to cross state highways Golf Carts are not.

Should not have been operators under sixteen it was for any passengers under sixteen. This was just a recommendation from the last meeting. Can offer any of the amendments or any new ones.

Attorney Hess brought 10-7-1:F to amend that Golf Carts cannot cross State Highways. Otherwise, we can just take golf cart in the first sentence.

Right now, it was drafted to 18-year-olds.

Motion by Alderperson Degenhardt to Take Golf Cart Out of 10-7-1:F second by Alderperson Meier

ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Meier

Motion carried

Absent – Alderperson Robey

Motion by Alderperson Degenhardt to Approve An Ordinance to Allow the Operation of Utility Task Vehicles and Golf Carts on Streets and Alleyways second by Alderperson Meier

ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Meier

Motion carried

Absent – Alderperson Robey

NEW BUSINESS:

5. 24-0705 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve WHKS 3rd Street Channel Feasibility Study in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

This is estimated at $7,500. Have walked the entire ditch with Travis and a structural engineer to look at potential options of fixing the ditch. Bad situation in many ways the retaining walls are collapsing in places, sink holes are developing, fill is being washed out, capacity of the drainage system itself are insufficient.

Motion by Alderperson Belken to Approve WHKS 3rd Street Channel Feasibility Study second by Alderperson Burgmeier

ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Meier

Motion carried

Absent – Alderperson Robey

6. 24-0706 Discussion of WHKS Lift Station Improvements in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

There were plans to replace the lift stations. Were the recommendations of Fehr Graham to replace everything. Thought maybe it was overreaching and not all necessary. So asked Travis and WHKS to take a look at and see what needed to be done. The two lift stations of the mass majority of problems and greatest need was Hiawatha and Family Beer lift stations. Did not feel that we needed the extended replacement that we thought was proposed. Hiawatha has changed from $984,000 to $736,000 and Family Beer from $407,000 to $290,000. Should be able to do Hiawatha and Family Beer for the amount that was projected just for Hiawatha.

Travis says the structure is in good condition and we will be able to reuse it and not have to replace it. This is where most of the cost savings are coming from. All four pumps are from 1990’s, which is 30 years old now and one of the reasons we are encountering issues with them.

No action required.

7. 24-0707 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve Special Event Permit and Class D Liquor License for Wingfest to be Held Downtown East Dubuque on Saturday, August 10, from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm with the Closure of the 100 Block of Sinsinawa Avenue in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

Motion by Alderperson Belken to Approve Special Event Permit and Class D Liquor License for Wingfest to be Held Downtown East Dubuque on Saturday, August 10, from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm with the Closure of the 100 Block of Sinsinawa Avenue second by Alderperson Meier

ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Meier

Motion carried

Absent – Alderperson Robey

8. 24-0708 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve Audit Firm Odoni Partners, LLC or Wipfli LLP to Represent the City of East Dubuque as Our Auditor in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

We put out an RFP for proposals for a new auditor. Put out to nine different firms and only received two back. Sat down with Cindy our CPA while they are similar on what they produce. The Odoni one was less costly than Wipfli. It will be a little more than our last contract with O’Conner Brooks. This is a company out of Chicago that bought company in the Quad Cities. Cindy also has had experience with them from one of the other communities she serves. Recommend Odoni.

Motion by Alderperson Belken to Approve Audit Firm Odoni Partners, LLC to Represent the City of East Dubuque as Our Auditor second by Alderperson Degenhardt

ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Meier

Motion carried

Absent – Alderperson Robey

9. 24-0709 Adjourn

End Time: 6:36 pm

Motion by Alderperson Degenhardt to Adjourn second by Alderperson Meier

ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Meier

Motion carried

Absent – Alderperson Robey

https://www.cityofeastdubuque.com/agenda/minutes/july-15-2024-minutes