NW Illinois News

City of Fulton City Council met April 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Regular Meeting

The meeting was called to order by Temporary Chair, Burggraaf at 5:30 p.m. On roll call, Alderpersons VanKampen, Mask, Boonstra, Wilkin and Brondyke were present. Alderpersons Banker and King were absent. City Attorney Huizenga, Police Chief Hermes, City Administrator Sikkema, Business Manager Hamling, Community Service Officer Wherry, Liquor License Commissioner Grant, Assistant Public Works Director Foster and City Clerk Wade were also in attendance.

Temporary Chair Burggraaf advised the Council that she will be a voting member at this meeting.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Presentations – Julie Meiners addressed the Council regarding upcoming Blessing of the Bikes to be held on Sunday, June 1, 2025, in downtown Fulton. This will be the 36th Annual Blessing. She asked for a road closure from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. She asked to have barricades delivered. She told the Council that A.B.A.T.E. is going to cover the insurance for the event this year.

Temporary Chair Burggraaf introduced Shannon from MSA to discuss the vision for a Comprehensive and Strategic Plan. She started with an introduction to go over the importance of a strategic plan. She gave a quick overview of the project scope and the objectives and elements. She also shared the timeline and a short conclusion that included some next steps. She spoke of the values and goals with a comprehensive plan.

Mayor Pro-Tem King asked for a motion to approve the Council meeting minutes from March 24, 2025, and the bill list and the addendum to the bill list.

Alderperson Wilkin made the motion. Alderperson Boonstra seconded.

Alderperson Mask brought it to the attention of the Clerk that there was no time or mention of the regular meeting ending in the minutes. The Clerk will correct the minutes.

Alderperson Wilkin asked a couple questions about the bill list. She asked if we are or are not still using Simple Grants? Business Manager Hamling said there is a fee for a monthly meeting. Hamling said she did request their help when she asked for a performance report for the digital signs grant. Wilkin asked if TDG Communications is our current web hosting provider now that we have a new website? This is not our new provider, their services will be canceled.

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

Motion carried.

Temporary Chair Burggraaf asked for a Motion to Approve and Vote for new Liquor License fees and License classifications.

Alderperson Boonstra made the motion. Alderperson Wilkin seconded it.

Liquor Commissioner Grant spoke to the Council regarding the requirement for an in-person presentation for those applying for a Liquor License.

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

Motion carried.

Temporary Chair Burggraaf asked for a Motion and Vote on the Ryan Eissens project.

Alderperson VanKampen made the motion. Alderperson Boonstra seconded.

City Administrator Sikkema stated that the Ordinance is not ready for this yet. We are just proving that the City is going to move forward with our portion of it. Pending the contract being approved at the next meeting. Sikkema said that we should have everything ready to go for the next meeting. Eissens has his survey done and Sikkema is waiting for the legal description of the road and the easement. Once we have all that, we can move forward with amending this motion.

Sikkema told the Council that we’re just voting that the City is going to appropriate the funds and pending the contract review at the next meeting.

On roll call. All yes.

Motion carried. (Alderpersons Banker and King were absent)

Temporary Chair Burggraaf asked for a Motion to Approve and Vote on a request to Vacate an Alley from Jeff Brondyke at 1029 9th Avenue.

City Attorney Huizenga stated that we actually need a ¾ majority vote because it’s for the sale of property. We don’t have enough people here tonight to actually vote on that. Huizenga stated that this needs to be done by ordinance as well so we can put the ordinance in the next packet.

Vacate alley at 1029 9th Avenue was tabled.

Temporary Chair Burggraaf asked for a Motion to Approve and Vote to move Administrative Penalties from the General Fund to Fund 61 (Police).

Alderperson Boonstra made the Motion. Alderperson VanKampen seconded.

Discussion was held that moving forward, the penalty funds will go directly to fund 61 (Police). The way it is set up now, is these funds go into the general fund and then it gets moved to fund 61. The initial amount moved over to fund 61 was $77,583.98.

On roll call, all yes.

Motion carried. (Alderpersons Banker and King were absent)

Temporary Chair Burggraaf asked for a Motion to Approve and Vote on a resolution to Adopt and Allocate Funds for an Outdoor Fitness Court as Part of the 2025-2026 National Fitness Campaign, accepting the grant in the amount of $60,000.00 from Illinois Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Alderperson VanKampen made the motion. Alderperson Brondyke seconded.

Discussion was held on the funds Parks and Rec has in their account. Alderperson Wilkin told the Council that there are not any huge items that will be done out of that fund this year. She stated that this year, there will be a lot of maintenance items done at Heritage Canyon. She hopes to get everything up to par there by the end of the year. The intention is to let that fund grow again this year. Hopefully, next year we will be able dip into these funds for larger projects.

City Administrator Sikkema stated that he is going to apply for another grant through Timken. If approved, this project may happen this year, but that is pending on grant approval.

Temporary Chair Burggraaf asked if that grant is separate from Simple Grants? Sikkema replied it is separate and will go directly through Timken, just like the 10th Avenue Park project.

He also stated that $60,000.00 comes from Illinois Blue Cross Blue Shield, which is a major insurance company and it’s geared toward bettering your community in outdoor fitness and health, walking and running. The City was awarded the highest amount that they give out.

Plans are to use those funds for the Outdoor Fitness Court. This would be built by our municipal lot on First Street. We would also like to add pickle ball courts. The City has until June 12 to know where the rest of the funds are going to come from for this project.

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

Motion carried.

Discussion items:

Discussion was held on the Marina building and its lease. With the possibility of moving the Police Department to that location. The renter’s yearly lease on this building is up in August. The City has to give the tenants a 90-day notice if we are not going to renew their lease. Nothing will be done until 2026.

City Administrator Sikkema stated that the City could also look at giving the tenant’s a one-year lease until April of next year, that gives them a year to find another location.

We are still waiting on the Marina appraisal.

Alderperson Wilkin said she is hesitant to use riverside property for a storage shed. She would hate to invest money into a structure there. Alderperson Mask agreed that it is a beautiful, valuable location. She believes anytime we can preserve riverfront property, like we’re doing just north of the Windmill, where the public gets to benefit using the property is a good thing.

City Administrator Sikkema said that if the Council decides to keep the property, Police Chief Hermes and Sikkema will come up with another plan. Noting that the current PD storage building is not in good shape and infested with mice. This building can not be renovated by adding on to it or building a new one at that location because it is too close to the dyke.

Discussion was held on the Cannabis Business Registration Fee. We have right now what is called a cannabis license fee we cannot charge a license fee to Dan Dolan because we are not able to issue licenses. We can charge a business registration fee for a cannabis business registration fee to him. He has paid that in the past. We are proposing to implement this and reword so we don’t get in trouble with the State. Right now, it’s $10,000.00 per license what Dan has a transportation license, one for a craft grower, one for the dispensary itself. Right now, it is $10,000.00 per license. A lengthy discussion was held on raising the amount per license.

A discussion was held regarding Dan Dolan’s new business. The Council would like to be able to vote at the April 28, 2025, meeting, if the vote to add another B-1 license is approved.

Discussion was held on the updated Administrative Tow Ordinance. The Council should have a new Ordinance ready by the next meeting.

Parks & Rec Committee minutes were reviewed.

Temporary Chair Burggraaf asked for a motion to adjourn.

All yes. Meeting adjourned at 6:29 p.m.

https://cityoffulton.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Council-Minutes-04-14-25.docx