Galesburg Reporter

City of Monmouth City Council met Nov. 18

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: Aldermen Jay Grant, Brad Bone, Alderwoman Susan Twomey, Aldermen Brian Daw, Jim Conard, Juan Pinedo, Ferry and John VanVleet Also Present: Mayor Rod Davies, City Administrator Lew Steinbrecher, City Clerk Susan S. Trevor, City Attorney Marcum Spears, Building and Zoning Director Joe Clark, Brayden Bledsoe, Woodard and Curran Public Works Director, Communications Director Ken Helms, MFD Chief Casey Rexroat, MPD Chief Joe Switzer

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A. Approval of November 4, 2024 Council Meeting Minutes

It was moved by Alderman Grant and seconded by Alderman Pinedo to approve the November 4, 2024 Council Meeting Minutes as presented. AYE: Aldermen Grant, Bone, Alderwoman Twomey, Aldermen Daw, Conard, Pinedo and VanVleet NAY: none PASS: Alderman Ferry MOTION CARRIED.

IV. PRESENTATION TO THE COUNCIL

A. Presentations or Citizen Inquiries (All inquiries are limited to 3 minutes per City Ordinance)

1. Howard Moffet, 910 E. Euclid, wanted to clarify two mistakes in the Council minutes. First, his name is spelled with only one “t” not two and he did not ask to have the ordinance changed. He would just like the signs to conform to the ordinance. Mayor Davies said that the Administration along with the Public Works Department is looking into the matter and that it was intended for residential parking.

B. Consent Agenda (Items on Consent Agenda will not be discussed unless a request is made to remove an item for discussion).

1. Approval of Bills

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

V. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

A. Request for Package Liquor Store and gaming café – Basheer Arradi

Mr. Arradi requested to be able to open a Video Gaming Parlor as well as a package liquor store. After discussion, the Council was not in favor of allowing a video gaming parlor.

As the current liquor license ordinance allows for only 11 package liquor stores and that is the number of current license holders, an ordinance would have to be drafted to allow for the addition of another package liquor store. It was moved by Alderman VanVleet and seconded by Alderman Conard to have the City Attorney draft an ordinance to allow another package liquor license in the City, which would raise the number to 12. AYE: Alderman Daw, Conard, Pinedo, VanVleet, Grand and Bone NAY: Alderwoman Twomey and Alderman Ferry MOTION CARRIED.

B. Christmas on the Square Street Closures Request – MACC

Andrea Monroe, Executive Director of MACC, requested road closures shown on the map she submitted for Christmas on the Square. These closures are the 100 blocks of South Main to East and West 1st Avenue, the 100 Block of West Broadway and the 100 and 200 block of East Broadway. The Chamber is also requesting to have barricades placed at strategic corners by 3:00 p.m. in order to have them in place by the time of the event on Friday, December 6th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. It was moved by Alderman VanVleet and seconded by Alderman Grant to approve the above requests by the Monmouth Chamber for the Christmas on the Square Event. AYE: Aldermen Daw, Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, VanVleet, Grant, Bone and Alderwoman Twomey NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.

C. MFD October Report -- Chief Rexroat

The department responded to 145 calls in the month of October

Firefighter Connor Talbott graduated from the Illinois Fire Service Institute sevenweek Academy. He then was able to attend two more classes offered during the week following his graduation. These classes are to give more training on dealing with hazardous materials and vehicular extrication.

During Fire Prevention Week, the department visited a number of schools to educate students on proper procedures when dealing with fires.

The Department again hosted their annual Trick or Treat event at the North Fire Station. The Evening Lions Club served hot dogs again this year. It was a big success.

Engine 21 had an issue with its oil gauge indicating low oil pressure, but when taken to Alexis Fire Equipment, it was determined that it was just the sender system sending a wrong message.

Chief Pat Spears is celebrating his 25th year with the department.

D. MPD October Report – Chief Switzer

• MPD arrests – 61; Citations – 113; Calls to dispatch – 13, 873; MPD calls – 1,212; Dispatch Calls – 2,567; MPD Accidents – 21; Grant hours – 18; and Hours spent in Court – 30

• Active shooter drills were held at M-R High School, Lincoln Elementary, Central Intermediate and Illinois Public Health Department

• The Department assisted with traffic control at the Monmouth College Homecoming Parade

• As Chief, I attended the Mobile Training Unit meeting in Silvis.

• Lt. Bratcher and myself took part in an initial training on the Flock Safety Camera System that will be installed in Monmouth. Unfortunately, due to the length of time that it took to receive permits from the State of Illinois, which were received this week, it will be another four to seven weeks until the cameras will be up and running.

E. Redevelopment and Recapture Agreement for 113,115,117,123 and 125 W. 1st Ave.

Administrator Steinbrecher explained that with financial assistance from the Pattee Foundation, the City has negotiated a TIF Redevelopment agreement with Tina Huston for the purchase and major rehabilitation of the old Banker’s Life Building consisting of several addresses in the 100 block of West 1st Avenue. The building requires a roof replacement, brick tuck-pointing, new windows, reconfiguration of all utility meters, significant interior renovations, a fire sprinkler system and replacement of all HVAC systems. The total project is estimated to be $1 million and the City agrees to pay individual vendors and/or contractors directly from either Escrow or TIF funds up to a maximum of $700,000 which includes the $350,000 contributed to this project from the Pattee Foundation. The Developer also agrees to enter into a Recapture Agreement with the City to repay the City the full amount of the $700,000 should the property be sold by the Developer within seven (7) years. This agreement does not involve any taxpayer dollars as the City’s portion comes from TIF dollars. Tina informed the Council that this project will be done in stages as to not displace long-term tenants. It was moved by Alderwoman Twomey and seconded by Alderman Conard to approve the Redevelopment and Recapture Agreement with Tina Huston as presented. AYE: Aldermen Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, VanVleet, Grant, Bone, Alderwoman Twomey and Alderman Daw NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.

F. 2024 Tax levy Presentation

Administrator Steinbrecher presented the 2024 Tax Levy as follows:

➢ City Property Tax Revenue Allocation 2024 Tax Levy -- $2,849,000

1) 73.7% of the City’s Property Tax levy is used to make mandatory contributions to the Police and Fire Pension funds. This remains a financial challenge for the City. Last year the City had to take $20,000 from the General Fund to meet their contribution to the Police Pension Fund. The Administration is proposing a 4.9% increase in our tax levy, which will be proposed after this presentation.

➢ There is continued growth in our Assessed Valuation as shown from the 2016 EAV OF $87,539,533, which included a mistake in including a tax abatement for Cloverleaf, to a 2024 EAV estimate of $92,968,400. In two years, Cold Storage (formerly Cloverleaf) will come off its tax abatement.

➢ Change in Property Tax Rate from 2018 ($2.7131) to an estimated increase to $3.0644 in 2025. The projected increase in the property tax rate is entirely caused by the City’s constantly disproportionate State mandated increases in public safety pension contributions.

➢ Annual increases in the Police and Fire Pension contributions have gone from $373,116 (fire) and $358,606 (police) to a projected $1,050,000 (fire) and $1,050,000 (police) in 2025. Over the last 15 years, local taxes have contributed a total of $20,731,300 to the Police and Fire Pension Funds. Even with these significant increases in contributions, the City’s unfunded liability has grown during this same time period. Pension contributions by the City are 287% higher than in 2012. The City is contributing in excess of the State’s statuary requirements. If the City used the State’s required contribution percentage, the City would fall further behind their required amount. Mayor Davies explained that if the City looks ahead that in five years it is entirely probable that we would see a significant jump in our mandated required contributions if it went by the State’s statuary requirements.

➢ Mayor Davies also explained that the General Fund only covers a small portion of our debt service, which is around 2.3 or 2.4 million per year with Smithfield and Water Service paying the remainder. He also responded to Alderman Bone’s question as to whether the City is going to be able to re-instate Capital Project funds by saying the City continues to work on securing funding for future projects.

➢ Administrator Steinbrecher explained that Monmouth was mandated to install a disinfection system as a final treatment process before discharging effluent from the City’s sewage plant. The City was able to obtain a $2.4 million loan from IEPA with one-third ($800,000) of the loan being forgiven. However, the City is still required to repay $1.6 million of this loan to the State. In order to apply for the City’s $1 million CDBG grant to replace the failing North 5th Street sewer system, the State determined the City’s sewer rate needed to be increased from $44.89 per 5,000 gallons to $49.16 per 5,000 gallons. This sewer replacement project is a high priority as it is located under existing homes. It will be re-aligned into the public right-of-way. Converting this sewer rate into the City’s utility billing system would result in a rate increase of only 0.007 cents (7 tenths of a cent) per cubic foot. This increase is needed to meet the debt service payment on the $1.6 million loan from the Illinois EPA loan for the mandated disinfection project and to satisfy the requirements for the $1 million CDBG grant sewer rate threshold.

It was moved Alderman Ferry and seconded by Alderman Grant to direct the City Attorney to draft an ordinance establishing a 49.16% increase in the 2024 tax levy. AYE: Aldermen Pinedo, Ferry, VanVleet, Grant, Bone, Alderwoman Twomey, Aldermen Daw and Conard NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.

VI. RESOLUTIONS

A. 24-008, 2025 Joint Animal Control Contract

Mayor Davies explained that this an annual renewal of the joint contract with the County to operate the dog pound off of South 11th Street. It was moved by Alderman VanVleet and seconded by Alderman Bone to approve the 2025 Joint animal Control Contract as presented. AYE: Aldermen Ferry, VanVleet, Grant, Bone, Alderwoman Twomey, Aldermen Daw, Conard and Pinedo NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.

B. 24-009, Resolution of Support and Commitment of Local Funds for CDBG Grant

Administrator Steinbrecher explained that this resolution for the commitment of $1million dollars from the City’s Capital Reserve Fund is to be used in conjunction with the CDBG grant and is required in order to submit the application for the CDBG grant to use for the 5th Street sewer replacement project. It was moved by Alderman Conard and seconded by Alderwoman Twomey to approve Resolution 24-009 as presented. AYE: Aldermen VanVleet, Grant, Bone, Alderwoman Twomey, Aldermen Daw, Conard, Pinedo and Ferry NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.

VII. ORDINANCES

A. 1st Reading

1. 24-030, Amendment to Chapter 52, Section 52.1517, Entitled “Sewer Rates”

According to Administrator Steinbrecher, the proposed sewer rate is a requirement to submit the application for the CDBG grant to fund the 5th Street Sewer project. The City received a $2.4 million dollar loan from the IEPA to help fund the mandated disinfection project at the WWTP. $800,000 was forgiven by the State, which left the City with a new debt of $1.6 million dollars. In order to repay this loan, the sewer rate needs to be raised from 6.7 cents per cubic foot to 7.4 cents per cubic foot, which is .7 of a cent in our rate. In order to meet the CDBG grant application deadline of December 4th, it is necessary to pass this ordinance tonight.

It was moved by Alderman Grant and seconded by Alderman VanVleet to approve Ordinance 24-030 as presented. AYE: Aldermen Grant, Bone, Alderwoman Twomey, Aldermen Daw, Conard, Pinedo, Ferry and VanVleet NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.

2. Ordinance 24-031, Setback Variance for Two Brothers Property – 617 S. D Street

Mayor Davies explained that Two Brothers Property is Midwest Pet Foods. Zoning Director Clark added that the ZBA met on November 13th to consider Midwest Pet Foods request for a setback variance in order to expand their existing warehouse with an addition on the Southeast corner of B Street towards 6th Avenue. They are also adjusting the parking of their semis from the back of the warehouse to create a parking lot where they demolished the old Western Stoneware building. The ZBA is recommending approval of granting a setback variance to Midwest Pet Foods. Administrator Steinbrecher said that this is part of an overall development project by Midwest Pet Foods and that they are investing a lot of money in their Monmouth facility. It was moved by Alderman Daw and seconded by Alderman VanVleet to approve Ordinance 24-031 as presented. AYE: Alderman Bone, Alderwoman Twomey, Aldermen Daw, Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, VanVleet and Grant NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.

VIII. OTHER BUSINESS

There was none to consider

IX. ADJOURNMENT

It was moved by Alderman Daw and seconded by Alderman VanVleet to adjourn the November 4th meeting at 6:50 p.m. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote.

https://www.cityofmonmouth.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif7191/f/agendas/november_18_2024_council_meeting_minutes.pdf