NW Illinois News

City of Byron City Council met Oct. 15.

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, Jessica Nehring. Five members present.

Aldermen Absent: Doug Wilken, Christy Hanlin

Motion by Alderman Fulrath to allow Alderman Christy Hanlin to attend the meeting electronically. Motion seconded by Alderman Santiago. Roll call vote: Santiago, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Boyer, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Isaacs, AYE. Motion passed: AYE; 5, NAY, 0; ABS, 0.

PRESENT: Mayor John Rickard

City Attorney Aaron Szeto

City Clerk Caryn Huber

City Administrator Patricia Diduch

City Engineer Jason Stoll

Police Chief Jeremy Boehle

Public Works Dir. Aaron Vincer

Others Charles Van Horn, Nilden Adiloff, John Rapp, Tim Kenney, Lindsey Fish, Jeff Frakes, Jill Clarke, Dave Clarke

4. REVERENCE PERIOD – Led by Mayor Rickard. A moment of silence was held to remember Alderman Mike Gyorkos, who passed away last week.

5. APPROVAL/AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA –Motion by Alderman Boyer to approve, as presented, the October 15, 2025, agenda. Seconded by Alderman Isaacs. Roll call vote: Fulrath, AYE; Boyer, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Santiago, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.

6. MINUTES –

a. October 1, 2025 – City Council Regular Meeting Minutes –Motion by Alderman Fulrath to approve, as presented, the October 1, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting minutes. Seconded by Alderman Santigo. Roll call vote: Boyer, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Santiago, AYE; Fulrath, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.

7. PUBLIC COMMENT – Nilden Adiloff, John Rapp and Tim Kenney expressed support for the map amendment and special use permit for VCNA Prairie LLC at 8128 N Walnut St. (item 18b on agenda).

8. TREASURER’S REPORT – Treasurer Huber noted that the September Treasurer’s Report is in Dropbox. She also reviewed current interest rates on the Byron Bank Public Funds, as well as the Illinois Funds, IMET Funds, and iPRIME funds.

9. LIST OF BILLS – OCTOBER 15, 2025 – Alderman Isaacs asked about the charges from Core & Main. Director Vincer explained that the charges are for water meter radio boxes. Motion by Alderman Isaacs to approve, as presented, the October 15, 2025, List of Bills in the amount of $181,641.28. Motion seconded by Alderman Fulrath. Roll call vote: Nehring, AYE; Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Santiago, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Boyer, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.

10. MAYOR’S REPORT – Mayor Rickard announced that the city has been awarded a HSIP grant (Highway Safety Improvement Program) in the amount of $2 million for the construction of a roundabout at Mill and Tower Rds. He received a letter from Ogle County stating that when an Ogle County Public Health investigation is requested, the service is now subject to a fee schedule. The cost is $500 for an initial investigation and $350/hr. after. The city is near an agreement with Constellation to install a sewer line on the south side of the river. The agreement will be on the agenda November 5 for first read, with action on November 19. They hope to begin work before winter. The mayor appointed Todd Isaacs as chair of the Public Safety Committee and assigned Doug Wilken to the committee.

11. CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – The Administrator report is in Dropbox. Administrator Diduch has begun work on the budget and updated council on status of this year’s budget.

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

13. CITY ENGINEER’S REPORT – Engineer Stoll congratulated the city on the awarding of the HSIP grant. The grant requires that funds be obligated, and the project must be out to bid by January 2029. The streets program should be completed by the end of next week, weather permitting.

14. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS REPORT –

a. Public Works Building Update – Director Vincer stated that the department continues to move into the new building.

b. Wastewater Treatment Plant –

c. Other – Sewer cleaning will continue until the end of the month. The street sweeper has been operating regularly. Director Vincer would like to remind residents that the sweeper does not pick up raked leaves from the curbline.

15. POLICE CHIEF REPORT – No report.

16. COMMITTEE REPORTS –

a. Community Services – No report.

b. Public Safety – No report.

c. Administrative – Alderman Fulrath reported that the committee met this evening and discussed parking on 2nd St., the fee schedule for administrative hearings, and the Administrative Assistant position that will post soon.

17. CONTINUING BUSINESS –

a. 2024-2025 Audit Approval – Alderman Fulrath reported that the Administrative Committee recommends council approval of the 2024-2025 audit. Roll call vote: Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Santiago, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Boyer, AYE; Nehring, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.

b. Fehr Graham Proposal – Sanitary Sewer Collection Study – Engineer Stoll stated that this proposal will be ready for discussion at the 11-5-25 Community Services Committee meeting.

18. NEW BUSINESS –

a. Ordinance Approving a Map Amendment from R-3 Residential Multi-Family District to R-1 Single-Family Residential District and Setback Variations for 109 N. Maple Ave. to Allow an Attached Garage Addition – Administrator Diduch explained that the applicant would like to tear down an existing unattached garage and build an attached garage. As part of this process, the resident would like to rezone to R-1. There was no objection from the public, and the ZBA voted unanimously to recommend approval of the requests. This is on the agenda for first read.

b. Ordinance Approving a Map Amendment from the Industrial District to the I 2 Industrial Heavy District, Setback Variations, and a Special Use Permit to Allow Mining Activities at 8128 N. Walnut St., PINs: 05-29-376-003 and 05-29-376-004, VCNA Prairie LLC – Tim Kenney, General Manager from VCNA Prairie, gave a brief presentation of the company. They purchased Rogers Materials and Ready Mix, and operate an additional 13 sites in Illinois, and 3 in Indiana. Their core principles are safety, operational excellence, and responsible land use. There are two parcels on the property that are currently zoned industrial, and they are requesting a zoning change to I-2 Industrial Heavy, as well as a special use permit to allow mining activities to expand into the two parcels. The entrance to the plant will remain the same. The 100 ft. setback will remain on the south and north ends of the property, but they are requesting a reduced 50 ft. setback on the east side of the property. They spoke to Mr. Jackson who owns the property to the east, as well as the owners of Lake Louise campground, and neither has objections to the request. These areas are for extracting sand and gravel, and therefore, there is no blasting on these sites. There is a fence around the entire parcel. A berm was built by Rogers on the Jackson property that adds 50’ to the setback. They have also offered to build a berm on the VCNA Property as well, if desired. Alderman Isaacs motioned to amend the special use ordinance to state that VCNA will build a berm, comparable to the berm already in place, should any future adjacent landowners remove the east side berm. Motion seconded by Alderman Boyer. Roll call vote: Isaacs, AYE; Santiago, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Boyer, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Hanlin, AYE. Motion passed: AYE; 6, NAY, 0; ABS, 0. The ordinance is on the agenda for first read. Administrator Diduch added that the ZBA is recommending that the north side setback remain as is. The city receives tax revenue from the plant, and the plant is required to help maintain the road.

19. COUNCIL TALK – None

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 – Alderman Boyer motioned to go into Executive Session at 7:08 pm. Motion seconded by Alderman Isaacs. Roll call vote: Santiago, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Boyer, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE. Motion passed: AYE; 6, NAY, 0; ABS, 0.

Council returned to Open Session at 8:02 pm. Roll call: Isaacs, Santiago, Fulrath, Boyer, Nehring, Hanlin. Six present.

21. COMMUNICATION –

a. Regular City Council Meeting – Wednesday, November 5, 2025, 6:30 pm

22. ADJOURN – Alderman Boyer motioned to adjourn. Motion seconded by Alderman Isaacs. Roll call vote: Santiago, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Boyer, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.

Mayor Rickard adjourned the City Council meeting at 8:03 pm.

https://www.cityofbyron.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_10152025-50