NW Illinois News

City of Mt. Carroll City Council met Sept. 23.

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 Bergren led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mary Boelkens gave the Invocation.

Alderman Elliott made a motion to approve the minutes from the August 26, 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 17 accounts payable in the amount of $38,773.95 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: $4,226,248.66

Water and Sewer Committee:

Superintendent Jonathan Armstrong reported there is an IRMA conference in Rockford on October 28 & 29 he would like to attend and have Alex Handel attend at least 1 day. Had a sewer issue of tree roots on Mill Street. Council said they repair job on the asphalt on Mill Street looked really good. Parking protectors are in. The power monitors are in and we should know something in 2 weeks. Fire hydrants at Main and Washington have been replaced and plan to do 1 more before winter. Will do hydrant flushing the week of October 20th. Asked if he could get prices for a root cutter attachment for the sewer Jetter, it would help by not having to dig up the streets, he will get prices for the next meeting but estimated around $1,200.00. Recommendation to purchase 2 radar lever transducers to replace the broken one at the cost of $6,670.00 each. Alderman Elliott made the motion to approve the recommendation and Alderman Kaczmarski 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.

Davis Community Center:

Director Nancy Bandemer announced Community and Coffee is tomorrow sponsored by Community Foundation, Carroll County Farm Bureau and Friends of the Library are hosting in October. We have 14 teams signed up for Trivia Night Saturday night and we have tons of donated baskets to raffle and a silent auction. It is a BYOB and doors open at 5:00 p.m. For October we have a Blood Drive on the 3rd, a volleyball tournament on the 4th, gourd making & tie-dye classes, Harvest Hustle 5K and hosting the Community Halloween parade and kids’ meal Halloween night. We had a donation of a refrigerator for the concession room and a member welded a rack to hold the weights.

Finance Committee:

Recommendation to pay 17 accounts payable for a total of $38,773.95

A. Discussion of City Hall Roof Inspection from Freeport Industrial Roofing Inc. With the age and condition of the roof we should start budgeting for a new roof in the next 4 years. Estimated cost will be $40,000.00-$45,000.00. Agreed to start budgeting for repairs.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Discussion and Possible Action for Loren Thacher to hold “Sonic Harvest” Music Festival in the bandstand at the park on September 27, 2025: Alderman Elliott made a motion to approve the music festival being held at the park and Alderman Kaczmarski seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes, Alderman Buss, yes, Alderman Soenksen, absent. Vote: 5 yeses, 1 absent and 0 nos. Motion carried.

2. Discussion and Possible Action to Hire a Full Time Police Officer: Chief Cass spoke that due to health reasons he is going to be retiring, we need to hire a full-time police officer and get him trained. Police Chairman Bergren and I have interviewed this individual and would like to hire Julian Bendict at $25.00 an hour with benefits. Alderman Bergren made a motion to approve the hire Julian Benedict and Alderman Kaczmarski seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes, Alderman Buss, yes, Alderman Soenksen, absent. Vote: 5 yeses, 1 absent and 0 nos. Motion carried.

3. Discussion and Possible Action to Approve a Donation for the 14th Annual Step Up for Great River Outreach: Alderman Elliott made a motion to approve a donation of $50.00 and Alderman Kaczmarski seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Buss, yes, Alderman Soenksen, absent. Vote: 5 yeses, 1 absent and 0 nos. Motion carried.

4. Discussion and Possible Action to Approve the 2026 Annual Car Cruise Night 2026 Schedule and to cover the event under the City of Mount Carroll Insurance: Alderman Kaczmarski made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2025-08-05 and Alderman Elliott seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Buss, yes, Alderman Soenksen, yes, Alderman Wolber, absent. Vote: 5 yeses, 1 absent and 0 nos. Motion carried.

5. Discussion and Possible Action to Approve Ordinance No. 2025-09-01, Ordinance Authorizing the sale of real property; 105 W. Washington Street PIN# 05-08-01-402-020: Alderman Elliott made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2025-09-01 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.

6. Discussion and Possible action to set Trick or Treat hours and Parade, Free kids’ meal to follow and permission to purchase items for the kid’s meals not to exceed $450.00: Alderman Kaczmarski made a motion to approve Halloween parade to start at 5:30, with free kids’ meals to follow and Trick or Treat hours of 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Alderman Bergren seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Wolber, yes, Alderman Buss, yes, Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Soenksen, absent. Vote: 5 yeses, 1 absent and 0 nos. Motion carried.

7. Discussion and Possible Action to approve the Pay Chart Update: City Treasurer, Amy Schneider, explained to the Council that due to longevity we had increase the steps for the part-time employees and to keep inline with pay for part-time police officers we increased the pay from 23.31 an hour to $25.00 an hour. Alderman Elliott made amotion to approve the Pay Chart update 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.

Public Comment

Alderman Wolber asked to discuss the burning ordinance at the next License & Ordinance meeting, he had 2 phone complaints on Sunday. Mayor Bates a Proclamation for Constitution Week September 17-23, 2025

Correspondence:

1. Girl Scout Cooke Sales start Jan 6- Jan 26, 2026, with delivery on February 5, 2026

2. Homecoming Parade on October 8, 2025

Adjournment

Alderman Elliott made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:36 pm, Alderman Kaczmarski seconded. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Elliott, yes, Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Alderman Buss, yes, Alderman Bergren, yes, Alderman Soenksen, yes, Alderman Wolber, absent. Vote: 5 yeses, 1 absent and 0 nos. Motion carried.

https://cms3.revize.com/revize/mountcarrollil/Documents/Government/City%20Council/Minutes/2025/9-23-25%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf?t=202510101701560&t=202510101701560