NW Illinois News

City of East Dubuque City Council met May 19.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Please Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance

1. 25-0515 Call to Order - Mayor Digman

Start Time: 6:00 pm

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

2. 25-0516 Staff Reports

a. City Manager Report

People have been reaching out to us about their property tax bills in the last week or two. Wanted to talk about property tax issues. Things people have seen since the reassessments which have been pretty extensive. Would like to talk about why their taxes went up. Please see website for the explanation of this.

b. Mayor Report

Denise R from the garage sales said the remaining balance is going to the East Dubuque Fire Department which they in turn are donating it to the Elizabeth Fire Department relief fund for their down firefighters.

c. Alderperson Report

i. Burgmeier

ii. Degenhardt

Thanked people who came and bought flowers over the Mother's day weekend.

iii. Fluhr

iv. Meier

v. Robey

Asked to see if there are any volunteers to plant flowers.

vi. Taylor

d. City Attorney, Susan Hess

Put a memo in the packet for the explanation of Resolution or Ordinance. Resolution temporary one-time action items. Where the Ordinance is codifying a law which is permanently on the books of our City Code. This requires more formality and to change it requires another Ordinance.

e. Police Chief, Luke Kovacic

So, with the cleanup day sent out 8 or 9 warnings to take advantage of dumpster at City Garage. Three of the warnings where improved and two slightly improved. Would like the people who helped.

Starting May 16 through Memorial Day the Jo Daviess County Sheriff's Department has a grant for Click It or Ticket. People, please make sure to take care while driving.

There has been talk of a lot of tickets being wrote by this department. Which they are below average for what they do write where service calls have gone way up. Note it is not just the ED PD out patrolling and giving tickets. There are other agencies which start at the County, State and Federal.

Is Illinois still hands free for cell phone use? Yes.

Trying to delegate work by appointing one officer to the three wards. These are for the citations for violations.

City Manager Seitz wants to thank the officers that did warnings ahead of clean up day.

f. Public Works Director, Tony VanOstrand

g. Fire Chief, Joe Heim

3. 25-0517 Speakers from the Floor

No speakers from the floor.

4. 25-0518

Consent Agenda (City Council Minutes 05/05/25, Public Safety Reports(s), Warrants, Zoning Minutes and Correspondence)

Motion by Alderperson Burgmeier to Approve Consent Agenda (City Council Minutes 05/05/25, Public Safety Reports(s), Warrants, Zoning Minutes and Correspondence) second by Alderperson Degenhardt ROLL CALL: Ayes - Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Meier, Alderperson Robey and Alderperson Taylor Motion carried Absent- Alderperson Fluhr

NEW BUSINESS:

5. 25-0519 Presentation and Discussion with Dan McDonald of Greater Dubuque in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

Dan came in to update us on what has been happening with them. Wanted to let us know that our development summit was really good. We let people know what we are looking for and ask people to let us know if we could help them. Said it was low tech and that what made it go over so well. July 17 from 5:30 till 8 pm hosting the annual meeting at the Q Casino. Handed out the annual report letting people know what they do.

No action required.

6. 25-0520 Presentation and Discussion with Andrew Busch Origin Design on Emergency Service Building in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz Andrew came in to tell us about the design concept for the ES Building. Will vote for this to go to vote in early June with winning bid in July. Outside the building what is exciting is bringing back some of the original look of the building.

Is the trim going to be different on the front and side? No, they will match.

Is that a single car garage or double. It is a single with a little extra space.

He then goes through the design of each floor.

No action required.

7. 25-0521 Discussion and Possible Action to Accept Sidewalk Café Area for 231 in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

They meet the requirements for the ordinance that was passed. City Manager Seitz recommends passage.

Motion by Alderperson Meier to Approve Sidewalk Café Area for 231 second by Alderperson Degenhardt ROLL CALL: Ayes - Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Meier, Alderperson Robey and Alderperson Taylor Motion carried Absent- Alderperson Fluhr .

8. 25-0522 Discussion and Possible Action to Receive Estimates for Street Paving and Confirm City Manager's Recommendation for Award of Same in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

Have a list of estimates from three companies. Going to award miscellaneous streets to Tri-State Paving and Helm. We are seeing the benefits of getting more estimates. This is just streets not for the parking lot on 1st and Wall.

Mayor Digman thanked Tony for his great job on getting more estimates.

As we go through we will add more during the summer.

Will be leaving out Arrowhead Court till construction up on Hiawatha is completed.

Motion by Alderperson Robey to Approve Estimates for Street Paving and Confirm City Manager's Recommendation for Award of Same second by Alderperson Taylor ROLL CALL: Ayes - Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Meier, Alderperson Robey and Alderperson Taylor Motion carried Absent --- Alderperson Fluhr

9. 25-0523 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve CFPS Agreement for Professional Services Amendment #02 for IEPA C17-5984 Indian Hills in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

This is in recognition of the third go around on Indian Hills. This will be covered by the grant. Motion by Alderperson Burgmeier to Approve CFPS Agreement for Professional Services Amendment #02 for IEPA C17-5984 Indian Hills second by Alderperson Degenhardt ROLL CALL: Ayes --- Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Meier, Alderperson Robey and Alderperson Taylor Motion carried Absent - Alderperson Fluhr

10. 25-0524

Discussion and Possible Action on Waiving Bulk Water Fee for Initial Filling of Dunleith Park Pool as Part of a Plan to Keep the Pool Open for the 2025 Season in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

The pool is not the property of the City of East Dubuque. Not the responsibility of the City of East Dubuque and we do not have any control over the pool and park. Does it benefit the City to keep it open this summer. This is just for the major filling. Thinks this is a suitable solution to help them open this season.

So we are looking at $2,500 which is revenue we will not collect.

Motion by Alderperson Robey to Approve Waiving Bulk Water Fee for Initial Filling of Dunleith Park Pool as Part of a Plan to Keep the Pool Open for the 2025 Season second by Alderperson Meier ROLL CALL: Ayes - Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Meier, Alderperson Robey and Alderperson Taylor Motion carried Absent-Alderperson Fluhr

11. 25-0525 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve Payment of Request for Reimbursement Made by Culbie's Corporation Pursuant to a Redevelopment Agreement Adopted by the Mayor and the City Council of the City of East Dubuque on August 5, 2024 in the Amount of $50,000 in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz Memo from Culbie's with receipts to back this up. Just issuing the check but this shows that they have spent the amount required to receive the reimbursement.

Motion by Alderperson Degenhardt to Approve the Payment of Request for Reimbursement Made by Culbie's Corporation Pursuant to a Redevelopment Agreement Adopted by the Mayor and the City Council of the City of East Dubuque on August 5, 2024 in the Amount of $50,000 second by Alderperson Burgmeier ROLL CALL: Ayes - Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Meier, Alderperson Robey and Alderperson Taylor Motion carried Absent - Alderperson Fluhr

12. 25-0526 Discussion and Possible Action to Retroactively Approve Payment of the Request for Reimbursement Made by 128 Sinsinawa, LLC, Pursuant to a Redevelopment Agreement Adopted by the Mayor and the City Council of the City of East Dubuque on February 3, 2025 in the Amount of $50,000 and Issued on February 18, 2025 in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois/ Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

This is the same as above which they met all the requirements. Recommend that we approve. Motion by Alderperson Meier to Retroactively Approve Payment of the Request for Reimbursement Made by 128 Sinsinawa, LLC, Pursuant to a Redevelopment Agreement Adopted by the Mayor and the City Council of the City of East Dubuque on February 3, 2025 in the Amount of $50,000 and Issued on February 18, 2025 second by Alderperson Burgmeier ROLL CALL: Ayes - Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Meier, Alderperson Robey and Alderperson Taylor Motion carried Absent - Alderperson Fluhr

13. 25-0527 Discussion and Possible Action to Appropriate $4,500.00 for the Purpose of Funding Merit- Based Bonuses for Employees of the East Dubuque Public Works Department to be Determined on a Case-By-Case Basis Subsequent to Evaluation of Individual Job Performance During Fiscal Year 2025 Using an Approved, Standardized City of East Dubuque Employee Performance Evaluation in the City of East Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, Illinois / Mayor Digman, City Manager Seitz

Brought forward by Alderperson Belken who wanted to see a merit system for the Public Works Department.

This can be terminated at any time. This is written for this year which makes this a test. Motion by Alderperson Degenhardt to Approve A Motion to Appropriate $4,500.00 for the Purpose of Funding Merit-Based Bonuses for Employees of the East Dubuque Public Works Department to be Determined on a Case-By-Case Basis Subsequent to Evaluation of Individual Job Performance During Fiscal Year 2025 Using an Approved, Standardized City of East Dubuque Employee Performance Evaluation second by Alderperson Burgmeier ROLL CALL: Ayes - Alderperson Burgmeier, Alderperson Degenhardt, Alderperson Meier, Alderperson Robey and Alderperson Taylor Motion carried Absent - Alderperson Fluhr

14. 25-0528 Adjourn

End Time: 7:34 pm

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

https://www.cityofeastdubuque.com/media/cms/05_F297C0D882600.pdf