NW Illinois News

City of Mt. Carroll City Council met July. 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Carl Bates called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

Roll Call: Mayor Carl Bates, present, Alderman Doug Bergren, present, Alderman Amy Buss, present, Alderman Jeff Elliott, present, Alderman Paul Kaczmarski, present, Alderman Jeff Soenksen, absent, Alderman Jody Wolber, present.

Alderman Elliott led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Joel Medendorp gave the Invocation.

Alderman Elliott made a motion to approve the minutes from the July 08, 2025 Regular City Council meeting, Alderman Wolber seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Buss, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Soenksen, absent. Vote: 5 yeses, 1 absent and 0 nos. Motion carried.

Alderman Kaczmarski made a motion to authorize the payments of accounts payable in the amount of $87,436.37 Alderman Elliott seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Buss, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes, Alderman Soenksen, absent. Vote: 5 yeses, 1 absent and 0 nos. Motion carried.

Financial Report: $4,085,736.01

Water and Sewer Committee:

Superintendent Jonathan Armstrong reported they worked on the pressure reducing bolts and had some issues getting them unlocked and had to have a locksmith come and get them drilled out. Still working on the electricity testing at sewer plant, Jo Carroll is supposed to come and check to make sure everything is good on their end and I am keeping track of the surge protectors. Priced out a new garbage pump which will be around $1907.00, this is a budget item. Had a leak in Aspen Park we had to dig to find the shut off, found the curb stop and found the leak was on the resident’s property. Plan to install 2 hydrants next week, waiting for locates to be done. I would like permission to abandoned the 4” line going into the old school so we can put in a valve not have to always shut down 4 blocks to do repairs. There is a 6” line in the back of the school when we need to turn it back on. Council agreed that was a good idea. Renee Warfield asked what does the cost of a new liner for the pool costs to do some fundraising for it. Council spoke that it is just not the liner that is the issue, the pool itself is old and parts and pumps all need to be replaced. The plan is to eventually applying for a grant to put in a new pool.

Finance Committee:

Recommendation to pay 28 accounts payable for a total of $87,436.37.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Discussion and Possible Action to Allow Loren Thacher to hold music in the bandstand at Point Rock Park July 26, 2025 from 6:00 pm to dusk: Alderman Ellott made a motion to approve the request for music in the park and Alderman Kaczmarski seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Buss, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes, Alderman Soenksen, absent. Vote: 5 yeses, 1 absent and 0 nos. Motion carried.

2. Discussion and Possible Action to approve a $100.00 Donation to the Pheasants Forever Scholarship: Alderman Kaczmarski made a motion to approve a $100.00 Donation and Alderman Elliott seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Buss, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes, Alderman Soenksen, absent. 5 yeses, 1 absent and 0 nos. Motion carried.

3. Discussion and Possible Action to Hire Larissa (Lara) Zink at the Davis Community Center, front desk starting pay $15.00. Alderman Kazcamrski made a motion to approve and Alderman Wolber seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Buss, yes, Alderman Soenksen, absent. Vote: 5 yeses, 1 absent and 0 nos. Motion carried.

4. Discussion and Possible Action to replace the 2021 Durango, due it being totaled out by the Insurance Company after a police pursuit: Alderman Elliott made a motion to purchase a 2024 Durango from John Jones Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram and Fiat for $42,787.50 and $850.00 to Shawn Picolotti for transporting the vehicle and Alderman Kaczmarski seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Kaaczmarski, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Buss, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes, Alderman Soenksen, absent. Vote: 5 yeses, 1 absent and 0 nos. Motion carried.

5. Discussion and Possible Action on City Hall Renovations: Mayor Bates spoke to the Council how he worked with Len Anderson on the plans to make City Hall ADA compliant. Len worked hard and made model for the Council; the updates are broken down into stages. With the sale of the Kraft Building, I would like to do the 1st phase. Len Anderson gave a breakdown of the phases and answered questions from the Council. Alderman Elliott agrees that the City Hall needs updates but finding the funds is not possible at this time and would like to see this go to the Building Committee to help decide, because that building also needs a new roof. Mayor Bates liked that idea but said he will be sending out a memo that the doors will be closed starting tomorrow for safety reasons.

Public Comment

Correspondence:

1. City Hall will be hosting Coffee and Community Wednesday at the Davis Community Center 9:30-11:00 a.m.

Adjournment

Alderman Elliott made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:56 pm, Alderman Wolber seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes, Alderman Buss, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Soenksen, absent. Vote: 5 yeses, 1 absent and 0 nos. Motion carried.

https://www.mtcarrollil.org/government/city_council/minutes.php