NW Illinois News

City of Byron City Council met Aug. 6

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Rickard called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Led by Mayor Rickard

3. ROLL CALL – Aldermen present: Todd Isaacs, Herb Santiago, Mittzi Fulrath, Ron Boyer,Doug Wilken, Jessica Nehring, Michael Gyorkos. Seven members present.

Aldermen Absent: Christy Hanlin

 PRESENT: Mayor John Rickard

 City Attorney Aaron Szeto

City Clerk Caryn Huber

City Administrator Brian Brooks

City Engineer Jason Stoll

Police Chief Jeremy Boehle

Public Works Dir. Aaron Vincer

Others Charles Van Horn, Patricia Diduch

4. REVERENCE PERIOD – Led by Mayor Rickard

5. APPROVAL/AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA –Motion by Alderman Boyer to approve, as  presented, the August 6, 2025, agenda. Seconded by Alderman Fulrath. Roll call  vote: Santiago, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Boyer, AYE; Wilken, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Isaacs, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 7; NAY, 0; ABS, 0. 

6. MINUTES – 

a. July 16, 2025 – City Council Regular Meeting Minutes –Motion by Alderman  Wilken to approve, as presented, the July 16, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting  Minutes. Seconded by Alderman Boyer. Roll call vote: Fulrath, AYE; Boyer, AYE;  Wilken, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Santiago, AYE. Motion  passed: AYE, 7; NAY, 0; ABS, 0. 

7. PUBLIC COMMENT – None 

8. TREASURER’S REPORT – No report.  

9. LIST OF BILLS – AUGUST 6, 2025 – Motion by Alderman Boyer to approve, as  presented, the August 6, 2025, List of Bills in the amount of $487,885.45. Motion  seconded by Alderman Isaacs. Roll call vote: Boyer, AYE; Wilken, AYE; Nehring,  AYE; Gyorkos, AYE: Isaacs, AYE; Santiago, AYE; Fulrath, AYE. Motion passed: AYE,  7; NAY, 0; ABS, 0. 

 Alderman Hanlin called into the meeting at 6:34 pm. 

Motion by Alderman Fulrath to allow Alderman Christy Hanlin to attend the meeting  electronically. Motion seconded by Alderman Isaacs. Roll call vote: Wilken, AYE;  Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Santiago, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Boyer, AYE.  Motion passed: AYE, 7; NAY, 0; ABS, 0. Eight members present. 

10. MAYOR’S REPORT – Mayor Rickard reported that the IML Conference is September 18- 20. Those who wish to attend should contact Clerk Huber as soon as possible. He attended  two ribbon cuttings in the last several weeks. One was for the new downtown mural, and  the other for Sinnissippi Centers. The Ogle Co. Economic Development Corporation has  hired Liz Hiemstra as their new Executive Director. She is a resident of Oregon.  

11. CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – Administrator Brooks previously reported that we  are being audited for the use of MFT funds for fiscal year 2022-2023. An in-person meeting  with the auditor is scheduled for Thursday, August 14. The Chamber Golf Playday is  Thursday, August 21. He asked any interested golfers to contact him.  

12. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT – All items are on the agenda. 

13. CITY ENGINEER’S REPORT – Engineer Stoll reported that JULIE is complete, and Martin  & Company will begin the street work soon. 

14. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS REPORT – 

a. Public Works Building Update – Paving will begin on Friday. Floor sealing will  be done next week, and then they will begin a list of punch list items. The fuel tanks were  delivered this week. He anticipates starting to move in at the end of the month.  

b. Wastewater Treatment Plant – Bid documents will be reviewed and ready by  the end of the month.  

c. Other – Kirby Cable has been hired through Fehr Graham to do the vac work on  identifying water service lines, which will ultimately provide us the information for the lead  and galvanized replacement plan. The project plan currently is in review at IEPA. City  parking lot 1 and the City Hall parking lot on 2nd St. will be sealed and striped on Monday  and Tuesday next week. Residents can enter City Hall from the Washington St. side. The  water bill drop off will temporarily be placed on Washington St. as well.    

15. POLICE CHIEF REPORT – Chief Boehle reported that there was a good turn-out at  National Night Out. 

16. COMMITTEE REPORTS – 

a. Community Services – Alderman Boyer reported that most items are on the  agenda, but he added that Mayor Rickard is attempting to contact ComEd regarding bridge  lights. 

b. Public Safety – No report. 

c. Administrative – No report.    

17. CONTINUING BUSINESS – 

a. Ordinance Implementing a Municipal Grocery Retailers’ Occupation Tax – The Administrative Committee did not make a recommendation. Alderman Isaacs stated he  is in favor of it but is not sold on the 1%. He does feel the city needs the revenue. Mayor  Rickard stated he was both in favor and against it. He wished the state would have given  municipalities other options to recoup the funds received through the grocery tax by, for  instance, increasing the amount we receive through the Local Government Distributive  Fund, or allowing sales tax to be increased. His hope is that legislators will still be able to  come up with a better option or we can find other ways to do without those funds. If this  happens, the tax could be eliminated in the future. The money has been baked into our  budget for many years. He would like to see us institute the tax and then find ways to replace it and then eliminate it. Alderman Isaacs motioned to approve the Ordinance  Implementing a Municipal Grocery Retailers’ Occupation Tax. Motion seconded by  Alderman Nehring. Roll call vote: Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, NAY; Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs,  AYE; Santiago, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Boyer, NAY; Wilken, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6;  NAY, 2; ABS, 0. 

b. Change Order to Martin & Co. Contract for East Mill Rd. Resurfacing – Alderman Boyer stated that this change order covers patching of E. Mill Rd. We will be  applying for a TARP grant to reconstruct the road in the next year or two. Engineer Stoll  added that our original contract with Martin & Company was for $537,650, and with the  change orders is now $704,298. The Community Services Committee recommends  council approval of the change order to the Martin & Company contract to include  resurfacing of E. Mill Rd. at a cost of $23,575.00. Roll call vote: Gyorkos, AYE;  Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE Santiago, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Boyer, AYE; Wilken, AYE;  Nehring, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 8; NAY, 0; ABS, 0. 

18. NEW BUSINESS – 

a. Fehr Graham Proposal for Surveying WWTP IDOT Excess Parcel Transfer – The proposal for the survey is $9,500. Engineer Stoll showed the parcel on the screen. It  has been used for plant operations for years (driveways) and the plans for the new  wastewater treatment plant have buildings placed on the parcel. In order to transfer the  parcel to the city, IDOT requires an access plat to initiate their process which will involve  engaging an appraiser to put a valuation of the land and present the city with a price.  Engineer Stoll will provide council with a more detailed outline of the cost of the survey. 

b. Ordinance Approving Variance of Pool Lot Line Setback for 335 E. 3rd St. – Administrator Brooks explained that the setback for pools is 6 ft. The home previously had a  pool that had a 3 ft. setback. The homeowner went before the ZBA asking for a 3 ft. setback  instead of 6 ft. The neighbors to the north attended the meeting and had no objection to the  request. The ZBA recommends council approval of the request. Alderman Fulrath  motioned to bypass first read and approve the Ordinance Approving the Variance of  the pool lot line set back for 335 E. 3rd St. Motion seconded by Alderman Boyer. Roll  call vote: Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Santiago, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Boyer, AYE;  Wilken, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 8; NAY, 0; ABS, 0. 

c. Health Care Insurance Renewal – Administrator Brooks presented the health  care renewal rates for this year. As a whole, the city’s rates will decrease. The  Administrative Committee will review at its’ next meeting and make a recommendation for  Council to vote on at the August 20 meeting.  

19. COUNCIL TALK – Alderman Nehring had a resident speak with her about the possibility of  fencing in one of the city’s playgrounds in order to better accommodate families with autistic  children. She asked if anyone would be interested in accompanying her to speak with the  Park District and possibly the school to initiate conversations about this. Alderman Isaacs  and Alderman Santiago offered to join Alderman Nehring. Engineer Stoll offered help with  grant writing. Alderman Boyer suggested contacting Kim Boyer, who wrote, and was  awarded, a grant for the Mary Morgan Pre-K playground. Mayor Rickard suggested writing  a description of the issue and having the elected officials sign in support of the idea.  

Alderman Isaacs asked about the Comprehensive Plan. Administrator Brooks stated that  the Steering Committee has been inactive, but we are in the final phases of the plan. Once  he retires, Administrator Brooks will still be involved on the public side and have the new  City Administrator involved on the city side.  

20. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Executive Session pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1) of the  Open Meetings Act to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, and 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(21)  Review of Closed Session Minutes. Alderman Gyorkos motioned to go into Executive  Session at 7:06 pm. Motion seconded by Alderman Boyer. Roll call vote: Isaacs,  AYE; Santiago, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Boyer, AYE; Wilken, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos,  AYE; Hanlin, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 8; NAY, 0; ABS, 0. Mayor Rickard invited  Attorney Szeto, Clerk Huber, and Administrator Brooks to remain.  

21. RECONVENE OPEN SESSION - The City Council returned to Open Session at 7:20 pm.  Roll call: Isaacs, Santiago, Fulrath, Boyer, Wilken, Nehring, Gyorkos, Hanlin. Also  present: Mayor Rickard, City Administrator Brooks, Attorney Szeto, Clerk Huber,  Patricia Diduch, Police Chief Jeremy Boehle, Charles VanHorn. There was no action  taken in Executive Session. 

22. EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT – Resolution Approving Employment Agreement for  City Administrator – Alderman Fulrath motioned to approve the Resolution  Approving the Employment Agreement for the City Administrator. Motion seconded  by Alderman Gyorkos. Roll call vote: Santiago, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Boyer, AYE;  Wilken, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 8; NAY, 0; ABS, 0. 

23. COMMUNICATION –  

a. Regular City Council Meeting – Wednesday, August 20, 2025, 6:30 pm 

24. ADJOURN – Alderman Nehring motioned to adjourn. Motion seconded by Alderman  Isaacs. Roll call vote: Fulrath, AYE; Boyer, AYE; Wilken, AYE; Nehring, AYE;  Gyorkos, AYE; Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Santiago, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 8;  NAY, 0; ABS, 0. 

 Mayor Rickard adjourned the City Council meeting at 7:22 pm.

https://www.cityofbyron.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_08062025-36