Galesburg Reporter

City of Monmouth City Council met Jan. 21

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, Susan Twomey (remote), Jim Conard and Juan Pinedo Absent: Aldermen Brian Daw, Kevin Ferry and John VanVleet Also Present: Mayor Rod Davies, City Clerk Susan S. Trevor, City Attorney Marcum Spears, Building and Zoning Director Joe Clark, Woodard and Curran Public Works Director Brayden Bledsoe, 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 6, 2025 Council Meeting Minutes

It was moved by Alderman Grant and seconded by Alderman Conard to approve the January 6, 2025 Council Meeting Minutes as presented. AYE: Aldermen Grant, Bone, Conard and Pinedo NAY: none PASS: Alderwoman Twomey ABSENT: Aldermen Daw, Ferry and VanVleet MOTION CARRIED.

IV. PRESENTATION TO THE COUNCIL

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

1. There were none to be considered.

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

MOTION CARRIED.

V. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

A. MFD December Report – Chief Rexroat

The Department responded to 442 calls in the month of December, but there were no fires for the month.

Firefighters participated in the Freezing for Food drive.

The Department assisted with the Christmas on the Square event.

On December 12th, Assistant Chief Brian Morefield officially retired after 26 years of service to the department.

An application was submitted to FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Program for funding to purchase a new fire engine.

B. MPD December Report – Chief Switzer

• In December there were: 68 arrests; 997 MPD calls; 2,265 dispatch calls; 15 accidents; 18 grant hours worked and 16 court hours’

• Year end totals are: 705 arrests; 15,158 MPD calls; 32,370 dispatch calls; 238 MPD accidents and 519 grant hours worked.

• ALICE training was conducted at Warren Achievement.

• The Flock Safety ALPR Cameras went on-line on the 4th of December.

• Mandated State training was completed.

C. Approval of Equipment bids for West Harlem Water Treatment Plant

Samantha Weidenbenner, P.E. from Woodard and Curran, explained that Bids were opened on November 27, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. here in City Hall for the pre-procurement of equipment for the construction of the West Harlem Water Treatment Plant. Woodard and Curran reviewed the three lowest bids for compliance to all the bid requirements and is recommending approval of the three lowest bids as follows:

1. Tonka Water (Kurita America, Inc.) for the Ion Exchange and Brine System with a low bid of $876,506.00

2. Brotcke Well & Pump, Inc. for well pump (with motor) with a low bid of $249,534.

3. LAI, Ltd. for the VFD’s, Switchboard, Impellor Centrifugal Pumps (with motors) for a low bid of $257,525.00.

These bids totaled around 1.3 million dollars out of the 2 million-dollar DCEO grant the City received for the construction of a new Waste Water Treatment Plant. Mayor Davies added that DCEO amended the grant to allow the City to purchase the equipment ahead of the actual construction, which is saving the City money.

It was moved by Alderman Grant and seconded by Alderman Conard to accept the recommendation of Woodard and Curran and approve the above-stated bids for the preprocurement of equipment for the construction of the new West Harlem WTP.

AYE: Alderwoman Twomey (remote), Aldermen Conard, Pinedo, Grant and Bone NAY: none

ABSENT: Aldermen Daw, Ferry and VanVleet MOTION CARRIED.

D. Approval of Change Order 2 for W. Harlem Water Main Replacement Phase 2

Ms. Weidenbenner reviewed the phases of the West Harlem water main and street construction for the Council as follows:

1. The water main has been replaced on West Harlem from North Main Street to the Bypass.

2. Woodard and Curran is currently working on the design of the new West Harlem WTP.

3. Construction of the resurfacing of the West Harlem road from North Main to the Bypass is scheduled for this coming Spring; therefore, it would be prudent to connect the water main to the new WTP prior to resurfacing West Harlem. The cost of connecting the WTP to the water main is $35,000. It was moved by Alderman Pinedo and seconded by Alderwoman Twomey (remote) to approve change Order 2 for the West Harlem Water Main Replacement Phase 2. AYE: Aldermen Conard, Pinedo, Grant, Bone and Alderwoman Twomey (remote) NAY: none ABSENT: Aldermen Daw, Ferry and VanVleet MOTION CARRIED.

E. Approval of Lead Service Line Replacement Phase 1 Bids

Ms. Weidenbenner explained that Woodard and Curran worked with the City to secure funding through the IEPA. The City applied for a 3 million-dollar grant, but only received 2.8 million-dollars in grant funds, which is a 100% forgivable principal loan, Mayor Davies added that the Southeast and Southwest sections of town will be Phase 1 of the lead service line replacement project. It is estimated that there will be approximately 275 locations addressed in Phase 1 and any daycare centers or nursing homes will be given priority.

Ms. Weidenbenner further explained that not all of those locations will be found to have lead service lines so that will reduce the estimated total cost of replacing lead service lines; however, the City will keep going until all of the free money is used.

Mayor Davies added that the City still has Congressman Sorenson’s money to use for this project and Woodard and Curran continues to apply for other sources of funding. Brochures and letters have been sent to residents to explain the process and asking individuals to look at their piping in their home to determine if it is lead. They are encouraged to call City Hall to speak with Director Bledsoe if they have questions or concerns about their water service lines

It was moved by Alderman Grant and seconded by Alderman Bone to approve the Notice of Intent to Award the City of Monmouth Lead Service Line Replacement Phase 1 to Advanced Plumbing and Mechanical for an amount not to exceed $2,700,000. AYE: Aldermen Conard, Pinedo, Grant, Bone and Alderwoman Twomey (remote) NAY: none ABSENT: Aldermen Daw, Ferry and VanVleet MOTION CARRIED.

F. Approval of bids for Demolition of 924 S. 1st Street and 223-225 S. 6th Street

Director Clark informed the Council that a bid opening was held in City Hall on January 17th at 10:00 a.m. for the demolition of 924 South 1st Street and 223-225 South 6th Street.

Three bids were received for 924 South 1st Street with Brown Excavating and Demolition submitting the low bid of $15,900. Three bids were also received for 223-225 South 6th Street with Brown Excavating and Demolition submitting the low bid of $11,385. The Administration is recommending approval of the above-stated bids. It was moved by Alderman Conard and seconded by Alderman Pinedo to approve the low bid of $15,900 by Brown Excavating and Demolition for the demolition of 924 S. 1st Street and the low bid of $11,385 by Brown Excavating and Demolition for the demolition of 223-225 South 6th Street. AYE: Aldermen Pinedo, Grant, Bone, Alderwoman Twomey (remote) and Alderman Conard NAY: none ABSENT: Aldermen Daw, Ferry and VanVleet MOTION CARRIED.

VI. OTHER BUSINESS

There was none to consider

VII. ADJOURNMENT

It was moved by Alderman Grant and seconded by Alderman Bone to adjourn the January 21st meeting at 6:25 p.m. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote with the exception of Aldermen Daw, Ferry and VanVleet, who were absent.

https://www.cityofmonmouth.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif7191/f/agendas/january_21_2025_council_meeting_minutes.pdf