Galesburg Reporter

City of Monmouth City Council met Jan. 16.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

I. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

Mayor Rod Davies called the meeting to order in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 East Broadway at 6:00 p.m. and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

II. ROLL CALL 

City Clerk Susan S. Trevor called the roll and those answering Present were: Alderwoman Susan Twomey (remote), Aldermen Brian Daw, Jim Conard, Juan Pinedo, Aldermen Kevin Ferry and John VanVleet Absent: Alderman Brad Bone Also Present:  Mayor Rod Davies, City Clerk Susan S. Trevor, City Attorney Marcum Spears, Building and  Zoning Director Joe Clark, Andy Jackson, Woodard and Curran Public Works Director, Communications Director Ken Helms, MFD Chief Casey Rexroat, MPD Chief Joe Switzer Also Absent: City Administrator Lew Steinbrecher 

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  

A. Approval of January 2, 2024 Council Meeting Minutes  

It was moved by Alderman Conard and seconded by Alderman Pinedo to approve  the January 2, 2024 Council Meeting Minutes as presented. AYE: Alderwoman Twomey (remote), Aldermen Daw, Conard and Pinedo NAY: none PASS: Aldermen Ferry and VanVleet ABSENT: Alderman Brad Bone MOTION CARRIED. 

IV. PRESENTATION TO THE COUNCIL 

A. Presentations or Citizen Inquiries  

There were none to be considered. 

B. Consent Agenda

1. Approval of Bills 

It was moved by Alderman Daw and seconded by Alderwoman Twomey  (remote) to approve the bills as presented. AYE: Alderwoman Twomey (remote), Aldermen Daw, Conard, Pinedo, Ferry and VanVleet NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman Bone MOTION CARRIED. 

V. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE 

A. Swearing-in of 1st Ward Alderman Jay Grant 

City Clerk Susan S. Trevor swore in Jay Grant as appointed 1st Ward Alderman to complete 1st Ward Alderman Justin Thomas’s term.  

B. MFD December Report – Chief Rexroat

There were 136 calls for service in the month of December 

There were no structure fires during December. Therefore, all the lights on the outdoor wreath were able to remain red and would have only been changed to white if there was a fire. 

Members of the department rang the bell at County Market to benefit Jamieson Center and raised over $1,000.00

C. MPD December Report – Chief Switzer 

• Year end total numbers for the department were: 572 arrests, 917 ordinance violations, 16,824 MPD calls and 30,899 Dispatch calls, which is a 14.4% increase over Dispatch calls for the previous year.  

• The department was present for Christmas on the Square and there were no incidents. 

• The department conducted Active Shooter training for Junior High Teachers.

D. Request for Class I Liquor License for Taqueria San Jose – Gilberto Vasquez Mayor Davies explained that currently there are no Class I licenses available and Taqueria San Jose would like to relinquish their Class II license which only permits on-premise sale of liquor and apply for a Class I license which permits on and off premise sale of liquor. A Class I license would allow them to sell Margaritas to go. As Liquor Commissioner, he said that he did not have an issue with allowing Taqueria San Jose to relinquish their Class II license and obtaining a Class I license. City Attorney Spears will have to draft an ordinance raising the  number of Class I licenses to 15 and the Council would vote on that at the next meeting. It was moved by Alderman Daw and seconded by Alderman Pinedo to have City Attorney Spears  draft an ordinance to allow for another Class I Liquor License for Taqueria San Jose. AYE: Alderwoman Twomey (remote), Aldermen Daw, Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, VanVleet and Grant NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman Bone MOTION CARRIED. 

E. Request for Reserved Parking on East 2nd Avenue 

Mayor Davies explained that the owner/developer of the Sanctuary on 2nd located at 201 East 2nd Avenue has requested that the City of Monmouth officially designate seventeen (17)  public parking stalls located diagonally along the south side of East 2nd Avenue and beginning at  the intersection of South 1st Street as well as the two (2) parallel stalls on South 1st Street just south of East 2nd Avenue, as reserved parking Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and  on Sunday mornings. There is a proposed 17 stall parking lot to the west of the building. These  reserved spaces are to be for the 17 proposed apartments at this location. These parking spaces  on East 2nd are not currently striped. When striped, they would be 9 feet wide, which is the average size of a parking space. During discussion there was concern about setting a precedent. City Attorney Spears stated that he could not draft an ordinance until the spaces were striped. The Council decided that they would table the issue for now. 

F. Approval of Demolition Bids for 122 W. 8th Avenue and 416 South 4th Street These projects are going to be re-bid and this item was removed from the agenda.

VI. OTHER BUSINESS 

There was none to consider. 

VII. ADJOURNMENT 

It was moved by Alderman Daw and seconded by Alderwoman Twomey (remote) to adjourn the January 16th meeting at 6:20 p.m. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote with the exception of Alderman Bone, who was absent. 

https://www.cityofmonmouth.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif7191/f/agendas/january_16_2024_council_meeting_minutes_4.pdf