NW Illinois News

City of East Dubuque City Council met Aug. 5.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Please Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance

 1. 24-0801 Call to Order – Mayor Digman

Start Time: 6:00 pm

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

 2. 24-0802 Staff Reports

a. City Manager Report

Want to give thanks and accommodation to the Public Works for the water main break over the weekend. They worked through the night till mid Saturday. Know it was an inconvenience to live without water and be under the boil order. The guys went to work and did not stop until that job was done. Want to thank the Fire Department when it came time to get the water back up and running.

Remind everyone that the small business administration is still in town. We are hosting the emergency office here in town dealing with the flooding in Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. Any business impacted by the flooding has access to low interest loans. Staff will be in the St Mary’s School Cafeteria from 9 till 6 through Thursday. Will still be able to apply online.

b. Mayor Report

Tony, you and the public works department great job. Also, the Fire and Police Department with the water main break over the weekend.

Got to thinking after hearing that is what we did in the past. But I beg to differ. Doing the things we used to and doing things in the past have led us to 100-year-old water mains that we are now dealing with that has also led to vacant lots and decapitated buildings throughout the downtown area. As a city we need to change our mind set rather than looking for reasons why we cannot or why we should not do something. We need to start looking for reasons and ways on how we can do things, grow our city and tax base. I am excited to say that tonight there is some agenda items to begin the process of the revitalization of the downtown business district.

Wingfest is this Saturday afternoon. Going to be a great time. Is a great family event come on down.

People can pick up election papers on the 20th for the April 1st election.

c. Alderperson Report

i. Belken

ii. Burgmeier

iii. Degenhardt

iv. Fluhr

v. Meier

Had a couple neighbors looking on an update on the road repair. Have been telling them the first or second week of August. Are we still on track with that. The streets have been rounded off and work has begun up there. Should start sometime this week.

vi. Robey

Had people call about the boat ramp not having a trash can. Can we get a trash can down there. Took it out a couple of years ago because people threw fish guts away.

d. City Attorney, Susan Hess

e. Police Chief, Luke Kovacic

f. Public Works Director, Tony VanOstrand

g. Fire Chief, Joe Heim

Will send an invite for the Push In Ceremony and garage doors where painted this weekend and labor was donated.

 3. 24-0803 Speakers from the Floor

No speakers

 4. 24-0804 Consent Agenda (City Council Minutes 07/15/24, Public Safety Reports(s), Warrants, Zoning Minutes and Correspondence)

Motion by Alderperson Belken to Approve Consent Agenda (City Council Minutes 07/15/24, Public Safety Reports(s), Warrants, Zoning Minutes and Correspondence) second by Alderperson Meier ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Alderperson Fluhr

NEW BUSINESS:

 5. 24-0805 Executive Session: 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11) Litigation / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

No action required.

 6. 24-0806 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve An Ordinance to Amend Special Use Permit for Adult Use Cannabis Dispensing Organization Approved July 11, 2022 in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

The Zoning Board met at 5 this evening and unanimously passed. The issue is not the special use permit itself. It is not if to have a special use permit but whether this permit can be moved across the road from the original address. The issue is are there any negatives to them moving and no there is not. Positive is that multiple eye sores will be taken care of with this move. Will now have a green space and taken down an old building and replaced with new. City Manager Seitz will add his recommendation with the Zoning Board recommendation.

Motion by Alderperson Degenhardt to Approve An Ordinance to Amend Special Use Permit for Adult Use Cannabis Dispensing Organization Approved July 11, 202 second by Alderperson Burgmeier ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt and Alderperson Meier Nay – Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Alderperson Fluhr

 7. 24-0807 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve Purchase of New Pump for the 6th Street Stormwater Pumping Station in the Amount of $25,554.00 in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

We have the choice of fixing or replacing it. City Manager Seitz is recommending that the pump is replaced instead of fixing existing one. Do not want to be caught in the next flood with no pump. Recommend a new pump because this is emergency equipment that affects property value and human value.

Motion by Alderperson Meier to Approve Purchase of New Pump for the 6th Street Stormwater Pumping Station in the Amount of $25,554.00 second by Alderperson Belken ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Alderperson Fluhr

 8. 24-0808 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve a Façade Improvement Program for the Downtown Businesses on Sinsinawa Ave and Wall Street Between Jordan Ave and Wisconsin Ave in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

The development committee met last week and recommended this plan. The businesses along Sinsinawa and Wall St come and utilize TIF dollars to pay half the cost for fixing their façade. A façade is anything that can be seen from the street. The funds would not be paid out until the project was complete. Once approved by the council the business could get 50% of the project but not to exceed $30,000. The goal is to give a face lift to the business district.

Does it include sides of buildings since they can be seen from the street or just the front. It could be the side it is whatever people can see from the street. But the council will have the final say on the project. There is a list of eligible and ineligible things for this award.

Then this will be opened to other businesses in the TIF districts. The goal to focus on the downtown are right now. Anyone can apply for this award.

For eligible improvements is there anything on there for canopies or signage. Says no signs can be included that seems to knock out awnings and that. Suggest an amendment that would say under eligible improvements permanent awnings or signs consisting of the business name would be allowable. Then under ineligible instead of signage of any kind it would say advertising signage. Written request for time extension may be considered by the Economic Development Coordinator, this should be City Manager.

Motion by Alderperson Belken to Approve Amended Façade Improvement Program for the Downtown Businesses on Sinsinawa Ave and Wall Street Between Jordan Ave and Wisconsin Ave second by Alderperson Meier ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Alderperson Fluhr

 9. 24-0809 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve An Ordinance Approving a Redevelopment Agreement Between the City of East Dubuque and Culbie’s Corporation in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

This is the development that is going in at 90 Sinsinawa Ave. The City Manager had committed to seek $50,000 for façade improvements and then $50,000 of tax rebate that they would be able to receive. This allows them for the remainder of the life of the TIF to receive up to $50,000 tax rebate. He is recommending the approval of this ordinance. Once again, the money would not move until the project is completed and tax rebate is not till value is improved of the property. This was drafted by our TIF council.

The City Manager ensures that the building meets all of the codes. The drawings do not come in front of the council but can be seen since had to come to the City Manager to approve a building permit.

Motion by Alderperson Meier to Approve An Ordinance Approving a Redevelopment Agreement Between the City of East Dubuque and Culbie’s Corporation second by Alderperson Degenhardt ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Alderperson Fluhr

10. 24-0810 Discussion and Possible Action on Receiving Estimates for City Playgrounds in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

Playgrounds in the city have fallen into disrepair. Do not think they have been addressed in four or five years. At a minimum, they need to be bordered and chipped (better breed of chip). Do not have a good idea of the cost for that. Tony has been talking to some folks about what could be done. But to get estimates we need approval from the council.

Mention of the chips done up at Gramercy and how nice they look. There might be grant money out there for updating our playgrounds.

For now we are looking forward to getting them so they can be used.

How many playgrounds we have. There are five.

Motion by Alderperson Belken to Approve Receiving Estimates for City Playground second by Alderperson Meier ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Alderperson Fluhr

11. 24-0811 Adjourn

End Time: 6:37 pm

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

https://www.cityofeastdubuque.com/agenda/minutes/august-5-2024-minutes