NW Illinois News

City of Fulton City Council met Jan. 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Pro-Tem Keith King at 5:30 p.m. On roll call, Alderpersons Boonstra, Brondyke, King, Mask, and Wilkin were present. Alderpersons Banker and VanKampen were absent. City Attorney Huizenga, Officer Hermes, Public Works Director Sikkema, Business Manager Hamling, Seargent Hamilton, and City Clerk Wade were also in attendance.

Mayor Pro-Tem King advised the Council that he will be a voting member at this meeting.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Presentations –  Dan Dolan was to give a presentation. He was not in attendance at this time.

Appointments – Mayor Pro Tem King appointed Alderperson Terry Boonstra to sit on the Finance Committee. He will be taking the place of Alderperson Keith King, now that he is Mayor Pro Tem.

Mayor Pro Tem King also appointed ReNee Grant as Liquor Commissioner for the City of Fulton.

Mayor Pro Tem King announced that the City would now swear into office, Chad Hermes, as Fulton’s Chief of Police. City Clerk Tori Wade read the Oath of Office to Hermes, with him replying, “I do.” Official documents were signed. Chief of Police, Hermes’ wife, then pinned on his badge. He was congratulated by everyone.

There were no recognitions.

Communication from Visitors. (Any communication that is NOT on the agenda for consideration.)

Resident, Mr. Scott Hutchison spoke to the Council stating that he was informed that the City might be interested in purchasing his property located at 1007 2nd St. Mayor Pro Tem King asked him to contact Business Manager Hamling to let her know what he is asking for the property.

Mayor Pro-Tem King asked for a motion to approve the Council meeting minutes from December 10, 2024, the Bill List, the Bill List Addendum, the Treasurer’s Report and the Special Meeting Minutes from December 19, 2024.

Alderperson Boonstra made the motion. Alderperson Brondyke seconded.

On roll call, all yes. (Alderpersons Banker and VanKampen were absent).

Motion carried.

Current Business

Mayor Pro Tem King asked for a motion to approve payment to Porter Brothers for 19th Avenue & 13th Street project.

Motion made by Burggraaf made the motion. Alderperson Brondyke seconded.

Discussion was held on the work that was done during this project.

On roll call, all yes. (Alderpersons Banker and VanKampen were absent.)

Motion carried.

Mayor Pro Tem King asked for a motion to approve the Resolution for Maintenance under the Illinois Highway Code (MFT).

Motion made by Wilkin made the motion. Alderperson Burggraaf seconded.

Discussion was held on the work that was done during this project. These funds will be used to purchase road salt, cold patch, some sidewalk repair, and repaving 14th St. from 7th Avenue to 14th Avenue and an area in front of the Elementary School.

On roll call, all yes. (Alderpersons Banker and VanKampen were absent.)

Motion carried.

Mayor Pro Tem King announced that the Council will go back to presentations as Mr. Dan Dolan has just arrived at approximately 5:45 p.m.

Mr. Dolan stated that he was here to request a Class A Liquor License for his property at his strip mall, what he calls Fulton Crossing (located on Highway 84). He would like to open “Alana’s” (name of business) there and add a drive-up window on the south side of the building. He was told that 18,000 cars a day go by this property and he feels the need to capitalize on this. He wants to start by offering coffee, ice cream and hot dogs with all the fixings. He expects to be open about 100 hours a week with a total of about 4 to 5 employees. A few dispensaries have opened in the Quad Cities area, that may be taking some of his business, but he feels Fulton’s dispensary is doing well and is benefiting the City of Fulton.

Mr. Dolan stated that the Cultivation Center got its license to operate on December 9. The plants are started and are now about 3 feet tall. He expects to be shipping product out the door the first week of April. Presently, there are the equivalent of 6 full-time employees at the facility. Once they get to harvest, they will probably have another 10 employees. His plan is to continue to grow. He stated that they have a lot of expansion opportunities inside the building. He hopes for continued success, he is really happy with working with the City of Fulton.

Alderperson Mask informed Mr. Dolan that the Clinton Herald inquired about doing an article on the cultivation center. She said there is a lot of interest and people are wondering what is going on in the gargantuan sized building. She asked if the Clinton Herald could reach out to him or someone in his business to let them know what the progress is to date. A representative from the Fulton Journal was present and Dolan said he would give him his contact information.

Mr. Dolan stated that he is really busy right now, the business is growing rapidly. Alderperson Mask asked if the Council would have the opportunity to see the operation. Doland stated that it’s a secure facility, so he’d have to defer to the state on that. The Illinois Department of Agriculture is really strict about letting people in, but he hopes he can find a way to get that arranged at some point.

Alderperson Wilkin asked, so, you’re asking for a Class A liquor license and it’s going to be a coffee shop? Dolan replied, yes, it will be a café with a counter. It needs to get started and it will grow. He just wants to get started. Alderperson Wilkin asked if he was just going to sell alcohol or if he was also interested in gaming? He said yes. He’s not sure what the sales are going to generate.

Alderperson Boonstra asked about the road that goes in front of the fire station. Who owns that road and who maintains it? Public Works Director, Eric Sikkema, stated that the road is owned and maintained by the City. He knows it is deteriorating and needs repair. Sikkema stated that they could possibly use TIF money to do this. He will look into it at the next budget meeting.

Mayor Pro Tem King asked if there were any more questions for Mr. Dolan. There were none. King stated that it will be on the next agenda for discussion. He thanked Dan Dolan for visiting.

 Mayor Pro Tem King asked for a motion to Appoint and Approve the FOP Negotiation Team to consist of Public Works Director, Eric Sikkema; Business Manager, Aley Hamling; Mayor Pro Tem, Keith King; Alderperson Mindy Burggraaf and Chief of Police, Chad Hermes.

Alderperson Mask made the motion. Alderperson Brondyke seconded it.

On roll call, all yes. (Alderpersons Banker and VanKampen were absent.)

Motion carried.

Committee of the Whole

Mayor Pro Tem King asked to discuss the grow facility License fees. Ordinance #1672, amending Chapter 119 of the Fulton Code of Ordinances for the Regulation of Recreational Cannabis and Cannabis Business Establishments. This will be decided after the budget is complete.

Alderperson Burggraaf stated that there’s 5 licenses out there now at $10,000.00 each. She asked if this is our opportunity to raise that if we want to make that consideration so we can use it in this budget year. They renew every year, so if we don’t do anything this year we could wait until next year. Burggraaf asked is there is someplace we could get data on this.

Alderperson Mask thought we should see what other communities are doing.

Public Works Director, Eric Sikkema said that under our cannabis licensing and the regulation of it, we do have the ability to raise our percentage rate that we would get back by a quarter of a percent up to 3%. We get 1% of what they gross right now. If the Council decides to raise the percentage, it has to be done by April.

Alderperson Mask stated that she thinks it’s important to max out whatever the State of Illinois allows us to do because the whole purpose of bringing all that in was to generate revenue for us. Mask asked Business Manager Hamling to research what other communities are doing.

Alderperson Wilkin asked if the Council could see some numbers from the sales, so if it is decided to raise the percentage, the Council would have an idea what the revenue might look like. Eric Sikkema said he will bring that to the next budget meeting. Alderperson Mask stated that medical cannabis is not taxed, so we should be taxing the maximum percentage the State allows on regular cannabis.

Discussion was held on the Main Street traffic count for considering a one-way or two-way street. Public Works Director Sikkema stated that he received traffic count numbers from IDOT for the year 2023. Going northbound on 4th Street off of 14th Avenue the traffic count is 3,000 per day. Going south off of the bridge on 4th Street was 4,050. On 14th Avenue going West towards Clinton was 10,500 and going east, so coming into town was 7,500.

Discussion was held on how the changes will affect residents when traveling through town, along with safety issues at some intersections.

Alderperson Mask recommended that the public have some input into this decision, especially for the business owners on Main Street. Alderperson Wilkin stated that ultimately what business owners would like, is more parking spots.

Eric said he will be meeting with Matt Hansen from Willet Hofmann to get the sidewalk portion of the project out for bid.

Alderperson Mask would like to somehow get feedback from residents. Possibly, an article in the Fulton Journal, a Facebook or City website announcement. Eric will ask Matt if we could have the video that shows the different one or two-way scenarios to place on our website.

Alderperson Wilkin asked why there were only a couple of meetings for the downtown business owners. They are asking what is happening. Sikkema would like to set up a meeting with business owners in the near future.

Next, was the discussion on Ordinance #1636, specifically the Ken Damhoff property. Alderperson Burggraaf said that in going through the ordinance it does look like there is some confusion between the 3 days or 7 when it talks about the 72 hours in the Ordinance, but Damhoff was told 7 days. She also said the Ordinance does not address the tarping issue. Alderperson Burggraaf suggested working with Adam Wherry, our Code Officer, to draft an updated Ordinance so that it is correct and bring something back to the next meeting.

Alderperson Burggraaf would like to notify Mr. Damhoff of the Council’s findings because his questions weren’t answered when he attended the Council meeting.

Discussion was held on the status of the condemned property at 517 12th Avenue. Eric Sikkema told the Council that letters have been sent to the bank and to the property owners. The bank said they do not want it so then it defaults back to the property owner. The property owner has yet to respond to the City. Does the City want to take this property back?

City Attorney Huizenga informed the Council of its options regarding this property,

Eric Sikkema will get an estimate on what the cost would be to take the house down. Maybe consult with a realtor as to what the lot is worth. The Council would like to discuss this at the next meeting when they have more information.

Eric Sikkema will try to contact Keith Norman regarding the appraisal of the marina.

Alderperson Brondyke stated that he read through the new International Zoning Code, he feels that the Council should adopt it, it is basically what we have now, but with updated verbiage. Eric Sikkema agreed.

Committee Reports

Alderperson Mask gave a brief report on the Historical Society.

Business Manager’s report – Alderperson  Burggraaf asked about the website compliance updates. Business Manager Hamling stated that it is items like IMRF reporting, state mandated trainings, etc.

Alderperson Wilkin asked how the website is going so far. City Clerk, Tori Wade said it is going well. Business Manager Hamling told the Council that more hours will be needed for the website updating.

Mayor Pro Tem King asked for a motion to go into Closed Session.

Alderperson Burggraaf made the motion. Boonstra seconded.

Council went into Closed Session at 6:30 p.m.

https://cityoffulton.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Council-Minutes-01-13-25.docx