NW Illinois News

City of Fulton City Council met Oct. 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Shane Malone at 5:30 p.m.

On roll call, Alderpersons Boonstra, Burggraaf, King, Mask, Ratcliff, and Wilkin were present. Alderpersons Suehl and VanKampen were absent. City Administrator Sikkema, City Attorney Huizenga, Business Manager Hamling, Chief of Police Hermes, Community Service Officer Wherry, Assistant Public Works Director Foster and City Clerk Wade were also in attendance.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Presentations – None

Appointments – None

Communication from Visitors –

Nicole Dopler introduced herself to the Council. She is running for State Representative House District 73 in Illinois. She is from the Port Byron/Rapid City area. Her platform is to protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.

Barb Frantz representing the Fulton Kiwanis Club informed the Council of an upcoming event, Winter Fantasy, to be held at the Fidelity-Drives building on November 14, 2025. Small and Large artificial Christmas trees and wreaths may be purchased by individuals or groups to decorate and return to the venue by November 13, 2025. They will then be bid on for purchase. The cost for small trees is $50.00. All proceeds go to further development of the upper level and to put in a nice kitchen at the Fidelity-Drives building.

Consent Agenda –

Mayor Malone asked for a motion to approve the amended regular meeting minutes from August 25, 2025, meeting, approve the regular meeting minutes from September 22, 2025, meeting, the August 31, 2025, Treasurer’s Report and the Bill List.

Alderperson Mask made the motion. Alderperson Ratcliff seconded.

Alderperson Ratcliff had a question on the bill list regarding a payment made to Porter Brothers in the amount of $255,000.00. He asked if that was the last payment for the street improvement?

City Administrator Sikkema stated that Porter Brothers haven’t actually received the check. The City has been holding the check in order to get all the required paperwork we need.

Alderperson Ratcliff asked if there is a hold up on that?

The CA stated that the City has not received all the required documentation that we need for the testing that was done, certifications from testing from the blacktop plant. We are waiting on that before we make any kind of payment.

Alderperson Mask asked if that is a final payment? CA stated, no, that is actually withholding money.

On roll call, all yes. Alderpersons Suehl and VanKampen were absent.

Motion carried.

Mayor Malone asked for a motion to Approve and Vote on an Exemption for the River Bend School District to have two portable storage containers on their property for a period of one year.

Alderperson King made the motion. Alderperson Boonstra seconded.

Community Service Officer Wherry stated that the City does not allow them for a permanent purpose. The ordinance was written so that you can get permission from the City to have temporary ones for a period of 30 days, after that 30 days, if necessary. After that, the request has to go before the Council to grant an additional 60 days.

Wherry stated that it’s more or less how the school feels about going with that or is it something we want to appease them and allow that to be or do we want to come up with other solutions for them.

Alderperson Mask asked if the Council could be refreshed on what the time frame was that the school was asking for the extension.

Kelly Parsons, Assistant Superintendent of River Bend Schools, stated they would be happy with the one year versus the month to month option.

Alderperson Boonstra asked if the Council extends this for one year now, are you going to have a storage facility up or are you going to ask for another year?

Parsons replied that potentially they would have to ask for more than one year, depending on the construction progress.

Alderperson Burggraaf mentioned that from a viewing standpoint, the storage containers do not look nice. There are concerns about the maintenance around it. She would feel more comfortable with agreeing for a one-year agreement.

Mayor Malone visited the facility. There is a need for more wrestling space.

Alderperson Boonstra asked what are in the storage container now? Parsons said they are empty now because the school district is waiting to see what the City Council is going to decide about leaving them where they are currently located.

Alderperson Mask stated that she is o.k. with it as long as they’ve got the year only. It is unsightly for people who live around it. Alderperson Boonstra is concerned about them popping up elsewhere in town. He would like to ask for an update six months from now if this does go through. Parsons agreed.

Alderperson Mask made a motion to approve it for a year with a six-month review. Alderperson Boonstra seconded.

On roll call, all yes. (Alderpersons Suehl and VanKampen were absent)

Motion carried.

Mayor Malone informed Parsons that the City will provide a letter to the school district regarding this decision for their files.

Mayor Malone asked for a motion to Approve and Vote to replace sidewalk miss on the downtown plans.

No motions were made.

Motion not carried.

Mayor Malone asked for a motion to Approve and Vote on the fall bulky waste pickup.

Alderperson King made the motion. Alderperson Boonstra seconded.

Discussion was held on the date of the fall pickup. CA Sikkema stated that would be determined by Republic Services. He also stated that the City get one free bulky pickup a year, we used that one in the Spring. If we want a Fall pickup, the City would have to pay for it at a cost of approximately $9,980.00.

It is up to the Council if they would like to negotiate for two bulk waste pickup for the new contract.

Discussion was held on how the City would fund this extra pickup charge.

Sikkema stated that our current contract is not up until 2027.

Alderperson Wilkin asked why this was on the agenda for a vote, when the Council hasn’t discussed in at a prior meeting. CA stated that Republic wants an answer soon because they are trying to get it scheduled before bad weather arrives. There is a small amount of time to get this publicized.

City Attorney Huizenga stated that since this was not been on a prior agenda for discussion item, the Council can’t take any action on it anyway.

Mayor Malone asked for motion to table this.

Alderperson King made the motion. Alderperson Burggraaf seconded.

On roll call, all yes. (Alderpersons Suehl and VanKampen were absent).

Motion tabled.

Alderpersons Comments – Alderperson Wilkin thanked everyone for coming out to Fall Fest. It was a great turnout. She especially thanked the City for their help with hauling things around with the skid loader. The police did a wonderful job in helping with the festival as well.

Committee and Department Head Reports -

Chief of Police, Hermes, gave details of his report for the police department. They have 400 plus calls for service, training continues for officers, there were a lot of community events this month.

Chief Hermes informed the Council that his department was approached by the Fulton Fire Department to help with implementing the Roth ID program. The Roth ID tag goes on a child’s car seat. In the event of a traffic crash or the parents or occupants are incapacitated, the sticker can be removed (which has been already filled out with the child’s information). This sticker is placed on the child’s wrist.

Community Service Officer, Wherry, gave his report dealing with building permits, ordinances, property maintenance codes. The property at 517 12th Avenue is, hopefully, going to sold on October 24. Discussion was held on how are residents notified of violations.

The Economic Development Committee report was reviewed by Alderperson Mask. She stated that the committee had met with Larry Russell and Bill Wilkin from the Fulton Retail Development Group to share with us their mission and history. Alderperson Mask said the committee would like to invite them to a Council meeting and give a presentation.

Alderperson Mask reported that Jason Marcus attended the Economic Development meeting. They had a long discussion on how the City could help him with his renovation of the former Harbor Crest nursing home. The property is zoned Industrial, the committee would like to get that changed to residential.

The Commons apartment complex is now going back to be managed by the original builder, Bear Development Company.

The Tourism Team meeting minutes will be reviewed at the Economic Development committee meetings.

The Martin House Museum will have a program on the last Sunday of October on the history of the six bridges in the area. In November, there will be a program with an architect to speak about the Italianate style of the Martin House itself. It is on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Mayor Malone asked for a motion to entertain going into closed session at 6:18 p.m.

Alderperson Mask made the motion. Alderperson Wilkin seconded.

On roll call, all yes. (Alderperson Suehl and VanKampen were absent.)

Motion carried.

Mayor Malone asked for a motion and a second to exit the closed session and re-enter the open meeting at 6:36 p.m.

Alderperson Mask made the motion. Alderperson Wilkin seconded.

A quorum was present.

On roll call: all yes. (Alderpersons Suehl and VanKampen were absent)

Mayor Malone asked for a motion and a second to adjourn this meeting.

Alderperson King made the motion. Alderperson Burggraaf seconded.

All in favor, all yes.

Meeting adjourned at 6:19 p.m.

https://cityoffulton.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Council-Minutes-10-13-25-1.docx