NW Illinois News

City of Byron City Council met Sept. 4.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Rickard called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Led by Mayor Rickard

3. ROLL CALL – Aldermen present: Todd Isaacs, Mittzi Fulrath, Ron Boyer, Jessica Nehring, Michael Gyorkos, Christy Hanlin. Six members present.

Aldermen Absent: Emily Gerdes

PRESENT: Mayor John Rickard

City Clerk Caryn Huber

City Attorney Aaron Szeto

City Administrator Brian Brooks

Public Works Dir. Aaron Vincer

Police Chief Jeremy Boehle

City Engineer Jason Stoll

Citizens Lindsey Fish (Sikich), Kevin Wills (Bernardi Securities), Charles Van Horn (102.3 The Coyote), Brian Malone, Sean Smith (Byron Chamber of Commerce), Amy King, Rhonda Powell, Dylan Powell, Tyler Hankins, Tanner Schrock, Mattie Christian, Marguerite Brass, Lexi Malone, Baylee Christian, Dawson Christian, Mila Reed, Elaine Bonnell, Angie Schrock, Melissa Christian, Nolan Brass, Andre Brass, Dalton Powell, Spencer Morrissey, Carrie, Blaike and Logan Boehle

4. REVERENCE PERIOD – Mayor Rickard led the Council in prayer

5. APPROVAL/AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA –Motion by Alderman Hanlin to approve, as presented, the September 4, 2024, agenda. Seconded by Alderman Isaacs. Roll call vote: Fulrath, AYE; Boyer, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.

6. MINUTES –

a. August 21, 2024 – City Council Regular Meeting Minutes – Motion by Alderman Hanlin to approve, as presented, the August 21, 2024, City Council regular meeting minutes. Seconded by Alderman Isaacs. Roll call vote: Boyer, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Fulrath, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.

7. PUBLIC COMMENT – None

8. TREASURER’S REPORT – Clerk/Treasurer Huber stated that the 3rd distribution of property taxes was received. Specifics are in Dropbox.

9. LIST OF BILLS – September 4, 2024 – Alderman Isaacs asked about the charge of $1,700.00 from Sean Wiley Trucking. Director Vincer stated that this is for the sidewalk in front of China King. Motion by Alderman Boyer to approve, as presented, the September 4, 2024, List of Bills in the amount of $82,611.77. Motion seconded by Alderman Gyorkos. Roll call vote: Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Boyer, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.

10. MAYOR’S REPORT – Mayor Rickard administered the oath of office to Police Officers Dalton Powell and Tanner Schrock.

11. CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – No report. All items are on the agenda.

12. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT – No report. All items are on the agenda.

13. CITY ENGINEER’S REPORT – No report. All items are on the agenda.

14. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS REPORT –

a. Public Works Building Update – No update.

b. Wastewater Treatment Plant – No update.

c. Other – Work has resumed at the Boat Launch. The boat dock mount and the pad for the gazebo have been poured. There was a substantial service line break in Byron Hills. Kelsey Excavating and Jason Benesh (vac truck) assisted. Director Vincer thanked the Public Works crew for their hard work.

15. POLICE CHIEF REPORT – Chief Boehle thanked the council for getting the Police Department to full staff. The new officers have begun field training and will be working on their own at the end of November/beginning of December.

16. COMMITTEE REPORTS –

a. Community Services – No report. All items are on the agenda.

b. Public Safety –No report.

c. Administrative – No report.

17. CONTINUING BUSINESS

a. 221 N. Walnut St. Sidewalk Replacement – Two alternate designs have been proposed for the building – one with a ramp and one with a lift. The designs have gone out to bid and we expect to have them back in a few weeks.

b. Fehr Graham Proposal for ITEP Grant Application – This is a proposal from Fehr Graham to complete the ITEP grant application for downtown 2nd Street at a cost of $3,500. The Community Services Committee recommends council approval of the Fehr Graham Proposal for the ITEP Grant Application at a cost of $3,500. Roll call vote: Gyorkos, AYE; Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Boyer, AYE; Nehring, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.

c. 2023-2024 Audit Presentation for Approval – Lindsey Fish, the city’s auditor from Sikich, reviewed the 2023-2024 audit which includes four reports – the Annual Financial Report, the TIF Financial Report, the Auditor’s Communication to the City Council, and a Communication of Material Weakness in Internal Control. The auditors again cited a deficiency in internal control regarding segregation of duties regarding the accounting function. This is hard to achieve with a limited staff, and Ms. Fish stated that it is important for the council to continue to monitor financial transactions. Three out of six deficiencies noted last year have been successfully implemented. The audit report stated that Sikich has issued a clean, unmodified opinion, which is the highest level of assurance they can provide. Ms. Fish continued by reviewing the audit, highlighting the statement of net position, the statement of assets, liabilities and fund balances, statement of revenues collected, and notes to financial statements. She also highlighted the last page of the report which outlines changes in net pension liabilities. As of December, 2023, we are well-funded at 83% with IMRF. She added that performing the audit was a smooth process. Alderman Gyorkos motioned to accept the 2023-2024 audit. Motion seconded by Alderman Nehring. Roll call vote: Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Boyer, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.

18. NEW BUSINESS

a. DPI Final Payment – No information available.

b. Byron Chamber of Commerce ChiliFest Presentation – Sean Smith, Executive Director of the Byron Chamber of Commerce, presented information about ChiliFest on October 19, 2024. He is asking for council approval of the closing of the street and sidewalk of the 100 W. Second St. block (alleyways would be blocked off also), approval of event layout, and approval for the Mayor to make last minute decisions if necessary. Additional information is in Dropbox. Alderman Fulrath motioned to bypass first read and approve the Chamber’s ChiliFest requests as presented. Motion seconded by Alderman Nehring. Roll call vote: Isaacs, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Boyer, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Hanlin, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.

c. Struck and Irwin Slurry Seal Project, Pay Estimate 1 Final Payment – The Community Services Committee recommends first and final payment to Struck and Irwin for the 2024 Slurry Seal work in the amount of $190,097.68. Roll call vote: Isaacs, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Boyer, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Hanlin, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.

d. Rock Roads HMA Overlay Project, Pay Estimate 1 Partial Payment - The Community Services Committee recommends making first payment to Rock Road Companies for the 2024 HMA overlay work in the amount of $254,092.75. Roll call vote: Fulrath, AYE; Boyer, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.

19. COUNCIL TALK – Alderman Boyer asked that the council begin to address lighting on the bridge, at minimum on the side with the walking path.

20. COMMUNICATION –

a. Regular City Council Meeting – Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 6:30 pm

21. ADJOURN – Alderman Isaacs motioned to adjourn. Motion seconded by Alderman Fulrath. Roll call vote: Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Boyer, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.

Mayor Rickard adjourned the City Council meeting at 6:58 pm.

https://www.cityofbyron.com/media/3856