NW Illinois News

City of East Dubuque City Council met Oct. 7.

Please Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance

1. 24-1001 Call to Order – Mayor Digman

Start Time: 6:00 pm

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

Absent – Alderperson Degenhardt

2. 24-1002 Staff Reports

a. City Manager Report

The playgrounds are just about done, Livingston, Clinton and sixth are completed. So if you want to go by and take a look at them. We have seen the return of children to the playgrounds. Peach will be worked on tomorrow and be done shortly.

The Police Station roof project masonry portion should be done by Wednesday. With the roof people coming in and installing the roof before the bad weather comes in.

Police recruitment is under way and asking people who know of experienced officers to please pass on the information.

The Mastic project on Montgomery St is done. That should protect the concrete for years to come.

b. Mayor Report

Going to give out the official Halloween update. Have a few events in the city here.

East Dubuque Elementary PTO Trunk or Treat, October 13, 11am – 1pm at the elementary lower parking lot.

AHVA Trick or Treat, October 26, 1pm – 2:30pm

Timmerman’s Supper Club Trunk or Treat, October 28, 6pm- 8am

East Dubuque Trick or Treat will be October 31, 5pm-7pm

c. Alderperson Report

i. Belken

Wanted to offer their condolences to City Manager Seitz on the loss of his father. Joe Heim’s Retirement party went well.

ii. Burgmeier

iii. Degenhardt

iv. Fluhr

v. Meier

vi. Robey

Are we putting our Halloween events on our website? Yes, we are.

The Sailboat down at the dock. Getting complaints from the fisherman are some big boats around it. Everyone has been contacted and just trying to figure out how to get it out of the water. The DNR has the authority down there. So, our folks cannot do anything about it. Assistant Police Chief Lange has been in touch with the DNR.

Trailer parking there is a trailer with TX plates sitting at the top of Sherwood and Montgomery. Also getting complaints about campers.

Do we have to publish our financial statement or treasurer’s report? We have to publish our audit which our annually. We have to file our financials with the state.

d. City Attorney, Susan Hess

e. Police Chief, Luke Kovacic

f. Public Works Director, Tony VanOstrand

g. Fire Chief, Joe Heim

3. 24-1003 Speakers from the Floor

No speakers

4. 24-1004 Consent Agenda (City Council Minutes 09/16/24, Public Safety Reports(s), Warrants, Zoning Minutes and Correspondence)

Motion by Alderperson Burgmeier to Approve Consent Agenda (City Council Minutes 09/16/24, Public Safety Reports(s), Warrants, Zoning Minutes and Correspondence) second by Alderperson Meier ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Degenhardt

NEW BUSINESS:

5. 24-1005 Discussion of Projects with Origin Design and WHKS in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

Strategy to Fix East Dubuque Infrastructure

Balance our Annual Operating Budget done

Eliminate the City Deficit working on

Spend Wisely on Other Needs we have to make sure we balance everything and still be able to take care of everything else.

Initially Direct Low Interest State Financing to Biggest Needs

Use Cash to Improve Infrastructure Every Year Oxford St

Apply Savings to Do More Infrastructure Work once we get out of the deficit we will pay off debts so if we pay them off the money that was going to them can be diverted to infrastructure needs.

How we approach a water main break and why you see a lot of breaks in the same area. So, what happens is you dig out the broken parts and you have to go back far enough to find pipe that is solid enough to put a clamp onto. So now you put the new pipe in and clamped at both ends but now you have disturbed the pipe going out both ends. Then you will fill it and make sure that it’s got support. So once that is done you still have to pack the gravel so the road does not end up settling. You are vibrating and pressuring plus taken the water pressure of the main itself which stresses the brittle pipes we have that is how you end up with multiple breaks in the same area.

Oxford St we are not able to do the water part and now will need to pay this with cash. This will be the first-year end investment of cash we will see. Bad news it will put us in a tighter spot financially good news is it saves us the long term debt. Did get financing for the Oxford St sewer.

Will be doing the first two lift stations and put off the last two for a while since they are not critical.

Indian Hills there is confusion that we are going to do this for the 3.7 million and a lot of debt for the city. Folks pointed out why are we doing this kind of debt when we have more pressing issues that need to be taken care of. The Council decided not to do the Indian Hills at the time. Then we worked with our consultant and the State we will be able to spend the portion that was grant funded. The State is providing a 2.2 million dollar grant which does not need to be repaid. We asked the consultants to redesign it for the maximum coverage for customers and reach for our sewer system into future areas of development. We are not barrowing for Indian Hills.

Will be able to start Oxford St next year.

The 2.2 million is an actual grant. We do not pay anything back for that. That is correct.

The IEPA loan is 30% forgivable. Yes, but will not use unless need for amounts not paid by the state. Would be a small amount for the redesign costs.

WHKS has three active projects with the city. Those are 3rd St channel doing a feasibility study see what it would take to relocate the storm sewer outside the channel, Hiawatha water main project, along with Hiawatha and Family Beer Lift Stations.

3rd St channel right now waiting for the DNR’s final report.

Water main project and Lift Stations will be the next IEPA projects that will be long term projects. Will not be submitting until March of next year. Will not find out till several months later if they accepted. Will not be until 2026.

Think it is a good thing to have you explain the timeline as people see all the spray paint and people working on those streets.

Is Hiawatha and Sinsinawa our two biggest problems for water main breaks. Hiawatha, Montgomery, Sinsinawa, Oxford and then Menominee. If we took the first three out we would be at an 80% reduction. More talk of adding more valves.

No action required.

6. 24-1006 Discussion and Possible Action to Accept Initial Drawings for Restoration of the Police and Fire Station in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

Working back and forth with the architects, Police Chief and Fire Chief. Trying to stay in range of a budget. To do everything in the buildings over here that we need them to be. These are basic drawings on space so asking tonight if people are comfortable we will move forward to actually doing plans. Will be coming in for bonding to complete this project. We are currently moving on TIF funding which will be the major portion of the funding. City Manager Seitz went through the floors to where everyone would be.

Do we even have a holding cell on there? No do not need one.

Will be selling the old holding cells. Once they are surplused. Any idea what they are worth? There is a broad range. Would not surprise him if they are $1,500 or more.

Motion by Alderperson Belken to Approve Initial Drawings for Restoration of the Police and Fire Station second by Alderperson Robey ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Degenhardt

7. 24-1007 Discussion and Possible Action to Accept Proposals for Tree Trimming for Hiawatha Park,East St, Clinton St and Sherwood Ave in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

Hiawatha Park there are three trees that need a series haircut would be nice to get done before we move ahead with the new mulch. Sherwood would be across from 631 address have been overhanging the road for quite a while. Cannot get by them with the sweeper now and will be catching them when the snow starts falling. East St trees have been coming up as an issue of limbs falling just trying to get them cleaned up in our alley.

Bonnet only has one. Yes, that is correct. He only bid on Hiawatha Playground.

Cedar Birch Tree Service he bid on all three. With this bid it can be broken down by each one. Yes.

If Bonnet wants to do playground and Cedar Birch want to do the other two because the third bid came in high.

Most cost effective would be giving Bonnet the playground and Cedar Birch the other two. Or have Cedar Birch do all three.

Motion by Alderperson Meier to Approve Hiawatha Park to Bonnet Property Managers andEast St and Sherwood Ave to Cedar Birch Tree Service second by Alderperson Burgmeier ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Degenhardt

8. 24-1008 Executive Session: 5ILCS 120/2(c)(6) Sale of Real Estate / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

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

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

9. 24-1009 Discussion and Possible Action on Matters Discussed Executive Session in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

Motion by Alderperson Burgmeier to Approve to Authorize City Manager Seitz to Enter into an Agreement of a Warranty Deed for the Sale of 339-341 Sinsinawa Ave second by Alderperson Meier ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey Motion carried Absent – Degenhardt

10. 24-1010 Adjourn

End Time: 7:13 pm

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

https://www.cityofeastdubuque.com/agenda/minutes/october-7-2024-minutes