NW Illinois News

City of Lanark City Council met Aug. 19.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

MEETING CALLED TO ORDER/ROLL CALL-Lanark City Council met in regular session at the Lanark City Hall at 7 p.m. Roll call taken by Marilyn Heller, City Clerk, showed Alderpersons present were Brad Knutti, Ethan Lartz Mark Macomber, Justin Rausch, Alisha Metz, and Jim Plock.

Mayor Jeri Rogan was present and presiding.

Others present were: Anthony Burkholder, Matt Strohecker, Andrew Hartman, Trevor Knutti, Attorney Ed Mitchell, Treasurer Deb Throop, Chief Troy Randall, Clerk Marilyn Heller, and Maintenance Manager Jason Alvarado.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE-was led by Alderperson Ethan Lartz.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES-MOTION-was made by Alderperson Brad Knutti and seconded by Alderperson Justin Rausch to accept the minutes of the August 5, 2025 meeting as presented. Motion carried by 5 aye votes and 1 abstain. Aye votes; Alderpersons Brad Knutti, Mark Macomber, Justin Rausch, Alisha Metz, and Jim Plock. Alderperson Ethan Lartz abstained.

PUBLIC COMMENTS- None

LIBRARY REPORT – POSSIBLE ACTION – J.L. Hunter handed out the Library Report. He reported they are focused on the ongoing process of clearing out outdated and unused materials to make space for new resources. Staff are disposing of or selling books that haven't been checked out in decades, including old paperbacks, DVDs, CDs, and audio tapes, with proceeds possibly funding new acquisitions. He asked the council if the library could move storage to the Heritage Center, but the council declined that option. There's also interest in shifting toward digital content, including online movies, similar to current e-book services. Additionally, updates to the library website are being planned to reflect changes and improve communication with the public, especially under the new library director. No Action Taken.

DELINQUENT UTILITIES – POSSIBLE ACTION- Clerk presented the updated shut off list for September 1. Noting customers who make partial payments are moved to a payment plan requiring a minimum of $145 per month, with shutoff scheduled if they miss the next payment due by the 20th. One account (#12) was removed from the shutoff list after making a partial payment. Another account (#10) is linked to a deceased individual, though the property appears occupied by a relative, and the situation remains unclear. A Motion was made by Alderperson Brad Knutti and seconded by Adperson Mark Macomber to proceed with shut offs on 1 through 11 and 13-14. Motion carried by 6 aye votes. Aye votes; Alderpersons Brad Knutti, Mark Macomber, Jim Plock, Justin Rausch, Alisha Metz, and Ethan Lartz.

ABANDONED/BLIGHTED PORPERTIES – POSSIBLE ACTION – Ready Mix Issue: Troy contacted vehicles will be held Thursday. 524 E. Pearl: Still unresolved. Council instructed Attorney to move toward litigation. 410 N. Broad: Garage removed, and water service restored, can be removed form list. 315 Claremont: Residents plan to turn former chicken coop into tortoise pen. Still in transition/moving process. 112 Claremont: Resident inquired about blocked alley access behind property. Council confirmed the alley is active and if obstructed it needs to be removed. 328 W. Locust: Ongoing complaints. Discussion on escalating enforcement through fines and ordinance violation process. Legal review recommended for next steps. 505 W. IL Rte. 64: Alderperson Ethan emailed property Manager. 603 E. Franklin: Tree debris remains in the parkway from a fallen tree. Residents previously indicated intent to keep for firewood. Council agreed to send a certified letter with a deadline. If not removed, city may relocate debris at the owner’s expense.

Council decided to send follow-up letters from City Hall to the remaining non-compliant properties on the list with deadline for compliance. If no progress is not made, Attorney Ed will send fines and start litigation at that time.

Alderperson Mark Macomber will work with Attorney Ed to review and revise to strengthen the ordinances for better compliance and enforcement for the next meeting.

CITY WEBSITE – POSSIBLE ACTION – Tabled – Alderperson Alisha will be scheduling a presentation to start at 6:00 PM prior to the next regular meeting. The library will be included in the website project discussion.

1% GROCERY TAX – POSSIBLE ACTION – The city had previously adopted a 1% grocery tax, which is currently in effect. Due to changes at the state level, this local grocery tax will expire on January 1, 2026, unless a new ordinance is passed. A Motion was made by Alderperson Mark Macomber and seconded by Alderperson Brad Knutti to approve Ordinance # 1017, an Ordinance Implementing a Municipal Grocery Retailers’ Occupation Tax and a Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax for the City of Lanark. Motion carried by 5 aye and 1 abstain votes. Aye votes; Alderpersons Mark Macomber, Brad Knutti, Jim Plock, Alisha Metz, and Ethan Lartz. Alderperson Justin Rausch abstained.

SCHOOL DRIVE RETAINING WALL – POSSIBLE ACTION – The city council held a lengthy and detailed discussion about ongoing drainage issues on School Drive (building at 106 E. Pearl), specifically focusing on a proposed retaining wall project and associated water flow problems. School officials acknowledged the issue but won’t contribute financially. Videos taken during storms show significant water flow issues, especially on the east side of the street. The Retaining Wall Project (~$15,367.59) is a partial fix, with acknowledgment that additional drainage and street grading work will be needed in the future. The council agreed to reimburse Butcher Block (building at 106 E. Pearl) for the materials of the retaining wall. A Motion was made by Alderperson Brad Knutti and seconded by Alderperson Ethan Lartz to approve the reimbursement to Butcher Block up to $15,367.59 for the retaining wall materials only. Motion carried by 6 aye votes. Aye votes; Alderpersons Brad Knutti, Ethan Lartz, Jim Plock, Justin Rausch, Alisha Metz, and Mark Macomber.

STANDING COMMITTEES AND BOARDS-POSSIBLE ACTION- Economic Development - The Economic Committee discussed installing a Gaga ball pit near the basketball court where a tree was recently removed. They plan to schedule the installation for a Saturday in September, but city maintenance will prep the area before; check for roots and level, and then a rubber pad will be used as the base. Streets and Property - Carroll Street Curb and Gutter: The project is completed and well-received by residents and businesses. Sealcoating for Carroll Street and East Planner is expected before the second week of September, weather permitting. The committee plans to hold a meeting soon to seriously consider implementing a 1% sales tax specifically for street improvements. The committee will follow up on the sealcoating schedule and alternative tuckpointing contractors for the Heritage Center. Water and Sewer – Pearl St. Water Project: Progressing steadily with no major complaints, though one homeowner incident was noted. A supply drop on W. Prairie and Broad is causing visibility and traffic concerns; relocation is being addressed. Water Tower Cleaning: Still awaiting a start date from the contractor despite a signed contract. Exterior cleaning is scheduled before the end of October. Ordinance - The group discussed updating ordinances but emphasized that changes are meaningless without proper enforcement. They agreed the town needs a dedicated code enforcement officer, possibly outsourced. Funding options like fines and budgeting for next year were considered. Finance – Quickbook closing issue has been resolved so Jim will be meeting with treasurer tomorrow to go over last three months closing reports.

REPORTS-EMPLOYEES, ATTORNEY, CLERK, TREASURER, ALDERPERSONS AND MAYOR Attorney Ed Mitchell – AT the last meeting the council discussed a proposed 20-year community solar agreement that could offer the city approximately $3,500 in annual savings through electricity bill credits. While the broker emphasized low risk for municipalities, concerns were raised about the long-term commitment, lack of flexibility, unclear contract details, and potential changes in solar subsidies or energy markets. Ultimately, the council decided not to move forward at this time, opting to monitor outcomes in other communities first. A Motin was made by Alderperson Brad Knutti and seconded by Alderperson Alisha Metz to mot sign the solar community agreement at this time. Motion carried by 6 aye votes. Aye votes; Alderpersons Brad Knutti, Alisha Metz, Ethan Lartz, Jim Plock, Justin Rausch, and Mark Macomber. Next, Elkay is requesting a Certificate of Occupancy (CO), which the city never previously issued. While not required by local ordinance, state law allows for COs on commercial buildings, especially after renovations exceeding 50% of property value (effective January 1, 2025). Since the city lacks its own building codes and inspectors, it was agreed that Elkay can hire a licensed third-party inspector from county list, and upon receiving a valid inspection report, the city could issue a CO—the city will need to pass a simple ordinance to formalize the process. Separately, the Flynn Fox property was discussed. It was sold for under $100, likely as a family transfer, to an individual in Rockford. The council agreed to reach out to current property owners to explore voluntary repayment before proceeding with legal action. Mayor Jeri – shared she will be attending the Northern Illinois Mayors meeting with Alderpersons Brad at the Davis Center on Thursday.

ADJOURNMENT-MOTION-was made by Alderperson Brad Knutti and seconded by Alderperson Mark Macomber to adjourn at 8:49 p.m. Motion carried by 6 voiced aye votes.

https://lanarkil.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/08192025-City-Council-Meeting-Minutes.pdf