NW Illinois News

City of East Dubuque City Council met Nov. 4.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Please Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance

    1.    24-1101    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.    24-1102    Staff Reports

    a.    City Manager Report

Asbestos was identified in the flooring tiles both upstairs and downstairs. Will need to have it mitigated. 

On the Police recruitment we hired an officer who the Chief will talk about later. Hiring the officer brings us to five. Because he is an experienced and certified officer will get some benefit from him right away but he will be riding primarily with the Asst. Chief. To be fully staffed would be six officers. 

K-9 program update will be calling a meeting with the contributors to discuss the future of the program. Since we do not have any officers who are certified handlers. Can not say that we would be able to get that together in the next year and half or two years. We are committed to restoring the K-9 unit. We are keeping the dollars contributed that have not been expended for the program. Anything that we sell will be placed back into this fund. So that we can restart the program.

Budget update will be the second quarter at the next meeting. That will be at the end of October and will be six months into the fiscal year.

    b.    Mayor Report

Received an email from the East Dubuque High School that they wanted us to mention the Veterans Day assembly. Will be held on November 11 at 9 am with free lunch for the Veterans following the assembly. 

    c.    Alderperson Report

    i.    Belken

Should have had a good test this last week with the new roof on 193 Sinsinawa Ave. Luke could you give us an update on 3 nails please on how people can get ahold of them.

    ii.    Burgmeier

    iii.    Degenhardt

The gentleman that bought the duplex is really going to town with fixing the outside up. Also, could Luke give an update on the boat. It is towed.

    iv.    Fluhr

    v.    Meier

    vi.    Robey

    d.    City Attorney, Susan Hess

    e.    Police Chief, Luke Kovacic

Newt Marine towed the boat out which was done on November 1st. 

Have hired an officer who is Andrew Gray with just under 5 years of experience. Who is the fifth officer and still looking for one more. 

3 Nails the owner best way to get ahold of him is through his personal Facebook messenger or the shops Facebook page. Once everything calms down, he will be open for limited hours and days. Right now, it is by appointment only. 

    f.    Public Works Director, Tony VanOstrand

    g.    Fire Chief, Joe Heim

    3.    24-1103    Speakers from the Floor

Don Slaats – Regarding parking tickets for his customers. These tickets occur during street sweeping which is done two times a week. Do not want everyone to get tickets but just need something so that his customers do not get ticked when they park on the street when they drop off their vehicles. Just asking for a little leniency and do not want to have them parking in front of the other businesses. Asking that the street sweeper just sweep around the cars. Just want to work with the City. The City Manager talked with him about odd or even parking or even just calling us to let us know. 

    4.    24-1104    Consent Agenda (City Council Minutes 10/21/24, Public Safety Reports(s), Warrants, Zoning Minutes and Correspondence)

Motion by Alderperson Belken to Approve Consent Agenda (City Council Minutes 10/21/24, Public Safety Reports(s), Warrants, Zoning Minutes and Correspondence) second by Alderperson Degenhardt    ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Meier    Motion carried    Absent – Alderperson Robey

NEW BUSINESS:

    5.    24-1105    Discussion and Possible Action to Approve Origin Contract to Design 193 Sinsinawa Ave in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

You have the contract in your packets. This is the contract for designing 193 Sinsinawa Ave. Recommending that we approve the contract. Yes, we approve their drawing now they are getting into the depth of the design. 

Motion by Alderperson Belken to Approve Origin Contract to Design 193 Sinsinawa Ave second by Alderperson Burgmeier    ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Meier    Motion carried    Absent – Alderperson Robey

    6.    24-1106    Discussion and Possible Action to Receive Estimates for Soil Testing, Demolition and Asbestos Removal at 193 Sinsinawa Ave in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

We have been seeking the council’s approval to seek estimates for work that is being done on 

193 Sinsinawa Ave building. There are a limited number of people for each project but we are reaching out to as many people as possible. We will get to a point where it will be construction so there will be a general contractor. Up until then we are able to save some money by doing the projects individually. This then will prepare the building for construction. 

Soil testing is for the placement of an elevator. Demolition is stripping the inside out so that construction can begin. The flooring has asbestos and can save on this by having the interior demolition done beforehand and then they can come in do what they need and then we will be ready to go. 

Motion by Alderperson Burgmeier to Approve Action to Receive Estimates for Soil Testing, Demolition and Asbestos Removal at 193 Sinsinawa Ave second by Alderperson Meier    ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Meier    Motion carried    Absent – Alderperson Robey

    7.    24-1107    Discussion and Possible Action to Approve Resolution Authorizing Extension of Water Main North on Highway 35 to City Limits in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

This one was discussed and passed by the development committee. The jest is that this will take the water from the new water tower to the city limits on the right of way of the highway. Will provide city water to the Lange Sign business and couple of homes along there. Then will go on past to Leibold Irrigation headquarters. Assuming we will be able to do an annexation agreement we would pay for the project to the city limits with Leibold Irrigation would pay for the extension up to their property. This would give us water almost to the state line. This would give us access to any developments west and north of the highway. This would also give us the ability to serve the new building and the folks in between. Would be a thousand feet for the city and eight hundred outside the limits. The city will own the entire water main. It will be a TIF expenditure from the Highway 35 TIF for the City’s portion.

Motion by Alderperson Degenhardt to Approve Resolution Authorizing Extension of Water Main North on Highway 35 to City Limits second by Alderperson Belken    ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Meier    Motion carried    Absent – Alderperson Robey

    8.    24-1108    Discussion and Possible Action to Approve An Ordinance Amending the Boundaries of the Joint Northwest Illinois Certified Enterprise Zone in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

We are part of the Northwest Illinois Certified Enterprise Zone and we receive some benefits from this. This is primarily focused on other areas. This involves Lena but still needs to be approved by all involved. This is just a formality, right? Yes.

Motion by Alderperson Belken to Approve An Ordinance Amending the Boundaries of the Joint Northwest Illinois Certified Enterprise Zone second by Alderperson Meier    ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Meier    Motion carried    Absent – Alderperson Robey

    9.    24-1109    Discussion and Possible Action to Approve A Resolution to Authorize an Amendment to the Intergovernmental Agreement for the Operation of an Enterprise Zone in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

Motion by Alderperson Degenhardt to Approve A Resolution to Authorize an Amendment to the Intergovernmental Agreement for the Operation of an Enterprise Zone second by Alderperson Meier    ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Meier    Motion carried    Absent – Alderperson Robey

    10.    24-1110    Discussion and Possible Action to Approve TIF Award for Mid-Town Marina in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

This is an exciting proposal that the Development Committee passed. This would be an improvement expansion of the facility. Will be adding a Tiki Bar which will increase the seating capacity with the bar and regular seating. Will be improvements to the interior and exterior. It does what a TIF is supposed to do by increasing the value of the property. As well as increasing the revenue. By bringing more people to the Marina than by bringing them to East Dubuque. Will also be a benefit to the other businesses in town. This is about $223,000 project of that the committee recommendation be $50,000 of TIF. This will be given as a reimbursement for expenditures made.

Motion by Alderperson Meier to Awarded Mid-Town Marina $50,000 TIF Money second by Alderperson Degenhardt    ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Meier    Motion carried    Absent – Alderperson Robey

    11.    24-1111    Discussion and Possible Action to Approve the East Dubuque United Memorial Walk on Saturday, November 30, 2024 in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

Motion by Alderperson Burgmeier to Approve East Dubuque United Memorial Walk on Saturday, November 30, 2024 second by Alderperson Belken    ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Meier    Motion carried    Absent – Alderperson Robey

    12.    24-1112    Executive Session: 5ILCS 120/2(c)(1) Personnel Matters / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

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

    13.    24-1113    Discussion and Possible Action on Matters Discussed in Executive Session in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

No action needed

    14.    24-1114    Adjourn

End Time: 6:59 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/november-4-2024-minutes