NW Illinois News

City of Mt. Carroll City Council met Sept. 10.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Bates called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

Roll Call: Mayor Carl Bates, present, Alderman Doug Bergren, present, Alderman Jeff Elliott, present, Alderman Paul Kaczmarski, present, Mike Risko, present, Alderman Jeff Soenksen, present, Jody Wolber, present.

Alderman Jeff Soenksen led the Pledge of Allegiance

Invocation was led by Sophia Anderson

Alderman Elliott made a motion to approve the minutes from the August 27, 2024 Regular City Council meeting Alderman Wolber Risko. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Elliott, yes, Risko, present, Wolber, yes, Bergren, yes, Kaczmarski, yes, Soenksen, yes. Vote: 6 yeses and 0 nos. Motion carried.

Alderman Elliott made a motion to authorize the payments of 31 claims payable for $95,392.26, Alderman Kaczmarski seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Soenksen, yes, Bergren, yes, Wolber, yes, Risko, yes. Vote: 6 yeses and 0 nos. Motion carried.

Mayor Bates reported the bank account balances were totaling $4,107,115.26

Streets

Under Committees, Street Superintendent Eric Dauphin reported they completed replacing the culvert on Ridge Street and will be done on with the one on the corner of State Street and Washington Ave by the end of the week. Will continue working on culverts and sidewalk repairs. Dauphin has Erickson Paving coming to give an estimate for paving Rapp Street by the Library and City Hall, we also replace the storm gutter at Carroll Street at the same time. The older backhoe has a hydraulic leak and the mechanic is coming this week to take a look at it.

Police

Reviewed monthly Police Report. Chief Cass and Police Chairman Bergren reported the new tahoe will be here in 60 to 90 days. Questions from the audience were how much the loan was taken out for and small discussion on the trade in value for the current 2019 Tahoe. Why do you need to trade

vehicles if you put a new motor and transmission in the current tahoe and it only has 68,000 miles? It isn’t so much of the miles on the vehicle it’s the hours it has on it that puts the wear and tear on it.

Davis Community Center

Director Bandemer reported Jo Carroll Energy came and did an energy survey, we are in good shape. We are discussing having a volunteer program. The budget was set for 2 employees to open and 2 employees to close, with sending 1 home if it is slow. We have several large events coming and will need additional help. Our community event is hosting the West Carroll High School Football team dinner. Will are now self staining for the Mini Food Center, which means we will have to take a truck and pick up the food at the food center in Sterling/Rock Fall food bank, we are looking for volunteers.

Finance

Recommendation to pay 31 accounts payable claims for a total of $95,392.26. Alderman Risko reported that we had our first BDD Façade bill come back from Mt. Carroll Pub & Gaming for replacing their railing out front of the building.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Discussion and Possible Action for Computer Dynamics Managed Services for the Davis Community Center: Mayor Bates said this is just adding their computers to the contract we already have for $60.00 more a month. Alderman Risko made a motion to approve and Alderman Soenksen seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Risko, yes, Alderman Soenksen, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Vote: 6 yeses and 0 nos. Motion carried.

2. Discussion and Possible Action to Purchase Holiday Decorations for Downtown: Alderman Elliott made a motion to table this item and discuss further at the Finance Meeting on September 13, 2024 Aldeman Risko seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Risko, yes, Alderman Soenksen, yes, Alderman Bergren, NO, Alderman Wolber, NO Vote: 4 yeses and 2 nos. Motion carried. After the vote Alderman Risko asked Alderman Bergren and Alderman Wolber why they voted no. Their response was that this item is in the budget for twice the amount requested and we have the funds in the BDD account to pay for it.

3. Discussion and Possible Action to Approve a Roadblock Application from the Knights of Columbus: Alderman Elliott made a motion to approve the Roadblock Application and Alderman Kaczmarski seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Soenksen, yes, Bergren, yes, Wolber, yes, Risko, yes. Vote: 6 yeses and 0 nos. Motion carried.

4. Discussion and Possible Action to Approve 2025 Car Cruises Downtown: Len Anderson gave an update on the current car cruises and what to expect for next year. Alderman Elliott made a motion to approve adding this event to the City insurance and to pay for the DJ Services from the band fund and Alderman Soenksen seconded. Call Vote: Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Soenksen, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes, Alderman Risko, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Vote: 6 yeses and 0 nos. Motion carried.

5. Discussion and Possible Action to Pave South Mill Street: Alderman Elliott made a motion to table this item and discuss further at the Finance Meeting on September 13, 2024 and Alderman Kaczmarski seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Soenksen, yes, Bergren, yes, Wolber, yes, Risko, yes. Vote: 6 yeses and 0 nos. Motion carried.

General Audience:

Sharon Larson spoke to council about 2 properties that are in dispair and one has a tentant living in the store front and need to be addressed.

Judson Smith asked if the City thought about purchasing paving equipment now that the County does not offer this service any longer.

Mike Risko gave a statement on the success of the Farmers Market.

Alderman Kaczmarski gave a statement about the Davis Community Center

Correspondence

1. MSA Water Main Project Phase 3 Weekly Updates

Adjournment

Alderman Risko made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 p.m., Alderman Elliott seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Risko, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes, Alderman Soenksen, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes. Vote: 6 yeses and 0 nos. Motion carried.

https://www.mtcarrollil.org/government/city_council/minutes.php