NW Illinois News

City of East Dubuque City Council met Feb. 3.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Please Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance

    1.    25-0201    Call to Order – Mayor Digman

Start Time: 6:00 pm

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

    2.    25-0202    Staff Reports

    a.    City Manager Report

The East Dubuque Development Summit is coming up the response has been excellent. We are over fifty people that will be in attendance. Which represents property owners, investors, developers, realtors, engineers, bankers who all are vital to the role developing a project. Our hope is to get them all into a room and show them what East Dubuque has to offer. Hope to get some good development going on in this city.

Last Monday we hosted Congressman LaHood. It was good to have the congressman coming to town who showed a real interest in what the city is doing. He was impressed with what was going on in particular they toured the existing Fire Station and then the Police/Fire Station. When he found out that our plans are to save 5 to 6 million dollars while preserving an important building in the city. He was impressed and would like to help when potential funding come available. Also discussed other challenges the city is facing like the 3rd Street ditch and storm water issues. Depending on any federal funding available might make sense to go after one or the other. If we could get some help with one of the many projects that we have on our plate. It was great to have the congressman here to show his interest and support.

We have a new/old Police Officer coming in Caleb Stines will be rejoining the Department. He will be starting on February 12th. This is a great sign of how East Dubuque is turning things around thanks to this council we are finally able to compete for excellent police officers. Thank you for giving the tools to accomplish this.

The Emergency Services Building is almost finished with the demo. Cutting out the jail cells is left and then we will be able to get offers for the asbestos removal. As you can see the new rendering of the building. As the design work is finished we will be able to take offers from the contractors to start the rebuild of the building.

    b.    Mayor Report

 Excited about the Development Summit which is the next step to grow our city. Getting both commercial and residential developers. I want to thank Bob for the hard work that he has put into reaching out to the developers. Also, Desiree with the mailer and emails. Really excited about this.

Would like to thank Alderperson Degenhardt and Alderperson Belken for representing the city at the NuEra grand opening.

    c.    Alderperson Report

    i.    Belken

In regard to the grand opening there were quite a few people there.

    ii.    Burgmeier

    iii.    Degenhardt

Wondering when the old water tower is going to be torn down. Right now, we have our plate full but is on our to do list. Reminder Saturday night is the Fire Department Banquet.

    iv.    Fluhr

    v.    Meier

    vi.    Robey

    d.    City Attorney, Susan Hess

    e.    Police Chief, Luke Kovacic

    f.    Public Works Director, Tony VanOstrand

    g.    Fire Chief, Joe Heim

Reminding council of the Fireman’s Banquet and to RSVP by February 1st.

    3.    25-0203    Speakers from the Floor

No Speakers.

    4.    25-0204    Consent Agenda (City Council Minutes 01/20/25, Public Safety Reports(s), Warrants, Zoning Minutes and Correspondence)

Motion by Alderperson Degenhardt to Approve Consent Agenda (City Council Minutes 01/20/25, Public Safety Reports(s), Warrants, Zoning Minutes and Correspondence) second by Alderperson Meier    ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey    Motion carried

NEW BUSINESS:

    5.    25-0205    Discussion and Possible Action to Approve Notice of Intent to Award to Award Louie’s Trenching for Oxford Street Reconstruction 2025 Project Loan Numbers L17-7079 and L17-6365 in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

Last discussed we had two bidders on this but one was not qualified. Louie’s is higher then the estimate by 9% but believe that number will come down. Thinking that there will be some adjustments. They do not get paid what they bid if they come under. They get paid what the actual cost. Question asked if could do a rebid but not sure we would have anyone or if the bids would be higher then what we have right now. This would also delay the project.

When are we looking at getting started on this. With the approval then it goes to the state IEPA which then is in their court. Looking to get back to us not till March.

Before it goes to IEPA do we need to get with Louie’s to redo the amount. Thinks this is the amount that goes to IEPA. But until the bid is approved they cannot discuss changing the amounts.

Motion by Alderperson Belken to Approve Notice of Intent to Award to Award Louie’s Trenching for Oxford Street Reconstruction 2025 Project Loan Numbers L17-7079 and L17-6365 second by Alderperson Burgmeier    ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey    Motion carried

    6.    25-0206    Discussion and Possible Action to Approve An Ordinance Approving a Redevelopment Agreement Between the City of East Dubuque and 128 Sinsinawa, LLC in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

This is the formal agreement that you had before you that was a place holder for this agreement. This is the formalization of that contract. You have the ordinance in front with the contract behind it.

On page four after the preambles and stuff where it says $50,000 but on the contract it has an extra zero after the decimal. Is this typo, sum or percentage? Yes, would say that is just a typo.

With getting the $50,000 are they getting a tax abatement. They are not.

Motion by Alderperson Burgmeier to Approve An Ordinance Approving a Redevelopment Agreement Between the City of East Dubuque and 128 Sinsinawa, LLC second by Alderperson Degenhardt    ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr and Alderperson Meier    Motion carried    Nays – Alderperson Robey

    7.    25-0207    Discussion and Possible Action to Approve A Resolution Approving TIF Funds Used in Marketing of Developing Properties in TIF Districts in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

This is just so that we have a paper trail and approvals for the expenditure of TIF dollars. One expenditure allowed is for marketing purposes. When we do the development summit the materials that need to be prepared regarding the various properties that are available for sale. There will be cost in that and then the box lunches that we are providing at the meeting.

Motion by Alderperson Degenhardt to Approve A Resolution Approving TIF Funds Used in Marketing of Developing Properties in TIF Districts second by Alderperson Belken    ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderperson Belken, Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Fluhr, Alderperson Meier and Alderperson Robey    Motion carried

    8.    25-0208    Adjourn

End Time: 6:19 pm

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

https://www.cityofeastdubuque.com/agenda/minutes/february-3-2025-minutes