Galesburg Reporter

City of Monmouth City Council met April 7

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), Brian Daw (remote), Jim Conard, Juan Pinedo and Kevin Ferry Absent: Alderman John VanVleet Also Present: Mayor Rod Davies, City Administrator Lew Steinbrecher, City Clerk Susan Trevor, City Attorney Marcum Spears, Woodard and Curran Public Works Director Brayden Bledsoe, Communications Director Ken Helms, MFD Chief Casey Rexroat, MPD Chief Joe Switzer and Building and Zoning Director Joe Clark

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTE

A. Approval of the February 18, 2025, March 3, 2025 and March 17, 2025 Council Meeting Minutes

It was moved by Alderman Conard and seconded by Alderman Grant to approve the Council Meeting Minutes of February 18, 2025, March 3, 2025 and March 17, 2025 as presented. AYE: Alderman Grant, Alderman Bone, Alderwoman Twomey (remote), Aldermen Conard and Pinedo NAY: none PASS: Aldermen Daw (remote) and Ferry

ABSENT: Alderman VanVleet MOTION CARRIED.

IV. A. PRESENTATIONS or CITIZEN INQUIRIES

1, Proclamation for National Child Abuse Prevention Month  Mayor Davies read and presented to representatives from WIRC Victim Services a proclamation declaring the month of April as Child Abuse Prevention in the City of Monmouth.

B. Consent Agenda

1. Approval of Bills

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

 V. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

A. Video Gaming Vendor Request on behalf of County Market for a Liquor Pour License to Allow gaming at County Market

Coleen Davis, representing Niemann Foods presented a request for a liquor pour license for a gaming parlor to be placed inside County Market. She stated that in the increasing competitive retail market companies are looking to innovative ways to increase their shrinking revenue stream. Her company is collaborating with a number of companies to open ideas for new revenue sources. A number of other County Markets in other communities have placed gaming parlors in their stores. It is a lengthy process as they have to work with the State to obtain video gaming licenses and architect to design space in store. At present, County Market has a Class IV, Package Liquor License. Coleen stated that they would just be serving beer and wine to which City Clerk Trevor responded that would be a Class III license and there are none available at this time. Mayor Davies stated that there have been two previous requests for gaming parlors in Monmouth that the Council has turned down. City Attorney Spears explained that a motion would have to be made for him to draft an ordinance to allow for an additional Class III license in Monmouth and that would come back to Council for approval at the next meeting. It was moved by Alderman Pinedo and seconded by Alderman Ferry to direct City Attorney Spears to draft an ordinance creating an additional Class III license. AYE: Aldermen Conard, Pinedo and Ferry NAY: Alderwoman Twomey (remote), Aldermen Daw (remote), Grant and Bone

ABSENT: Alderman VanVleet MOTION FAILED.

B. Approval of Generator Bid for West Harlem Water Treatment Plant

W & C Public Works Director Brayden Bledsoe explained that the City received one bid on February 20th from Quick Electric, Inc. from Fairview for a base bid of $245,200.00 for a CAT gas generator for the West Harlem Water Treatment Plant. It will be paid for from grant money.

The bid has been reviewed by W & C and they are recommending acceptance of the bid. It was moved by Alderman Bone and seconded by Alderman Pinedo to approve the bid of $245,200.00 from Quick Electric for the generator for the West Harlem Water Treatment Plant. AYE: Aldermen Daw (remote), Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, Grant, Bone and Alderwoman Twomey NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman VanVleet MOTION CARRIED.

C. TIF Commercial Rehab Application – 104 East 1st Avenue

Maple City Warehouse applied for TIF Rehabilitation Agreement for their property at 104 East 1st Avenue, which is in the Downtown TIF District. The interior work comes to a total of $12,825.00 with a 30% TIF reimbursement of $3,847.50. The exterior work comes to a total of $23,200.00 with a 30% TIF reimbursement of $10,807.50. this is a performance-based agreement with no taxpayer dollars involved. The Administration is recommending approval. It was moved by Alderman grant and seconded by Alderman Conard to approve the above-stated TIF Agreement with Maple City Warehouse for 104 East 1st Avenue. AYE: Aldermen Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, Grant, Bone, Alderwoman Twomey (remote) and Alderman Daw (remote) NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman VanVleet MOTION CARRIED.

D. Building and Zoning march Report – Director Clark

✓ The Zoning Department continues to issue permits, junk and debris, rental inspections and follow up on all open projects.

✓ OPEN PROJECTS: Beck’s Oil Company

✓ ZONING COMPLAINTS: Majority of March complaints were handled by the administrative assistant due to absence of Zoning Director.

E. Woodard and Curran February Report – Director Bledsoe

➢ On April 25th the City should be getting the results from the State letting for the West Harlem Road reconstruction Phase 1. Then depending on the paperwork, we should know who the contractor is in May. Bids for the construction work should go out after that.

➢ There were three staff anniversaries this month. Peggy Ballard has been with Woodard and Curran for 12 years; Joe McVey has been with Woodard and Curran for 12 years also and Bill Hart has been with the City for 35 years.

F. Engineering Services Agreement for USDA Grant Application for Downtown Sewer

Administrator Steinbrecher explained that there is a very large sewer that runs from Strom Center, under South Main Street and under the Rivoli theater through the back parking lot and continues on under the Armory and has been there over 100 years. This condition of this sewer has been a concern for a number of years and the City has applied for several grants that have been denied. This agreement for $45,000 is with Woodard and Curran to televise the length of this sewer to determine its condition and what need to be addressed.. It is a big concern that it is going to collapse and some of it could be under the buildings that it runs under. The Administration is asking Council to approve this agreement with Woodard and Curran to perform these services and then to apply for a USDA grant/loan to line the sewer.

Mayor Davies added that there will be re-routing around the buildings and that the agreement is necessary to apply for the grant/loan.

It was moved by Alderwoman Twomey and seconded by Alderman Grant to approve the Engineering Services Agreement with Woodard and Curran for $45,000.

AYE: Aldermen Pinedo, Ferry, Grant, Bone, Alderwoman Twomey (remote), Aldermen Daw (remote) and Conard NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman VanVleet MOTION CARRIED.

G. TIF Redevelopment Agreement with Mark Crain (Papa’s Bar)

Administrator Steinbrecher explained that this is a TIF Redevelopment Agreement with owner Mark Crain for Papa’s Bar located at 701 South Main Street. The agreement is for the maximum total of $24,000 to be reimbursed through the Main Street TIF District Special Tax. It will be for exterior work on the building and the parking lot. It is performance based and no taxpayer dollars will be involved. It is moved by Alderman Ferry and seconded by Alderman Grant to approve the above-stated TIF Agreement with Mark Crain as presented. AYE: Aldermen Ferry, Grant, Bone, Alderwoman Twomey (remote), Aldermen Daw (remote), Conard and Pinedo NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman VanVleet MOTION CARRIED.

VI. RESOLUTIONS

A. 25-001, Release of Executive Session Minutes

The Resolution was unanimously approved that there were no Executive Session minutes to be released.

VII. ORDINANCES

A. 1st Reading

1. 25-006, Reallocating Home Rule Volume Cap to WIEDA

Mayor Davies explained that this is something that the City does every year if we have no plans to use the funds. This allows the money to go back to WIEDA to use within our region and if we would need to use any of the funds, we can apply to WIEDA. If the City does not use the funds or transfer them to WIEDA then the money goes back to the State. It was moved by Alderman Conard and seconded by Alderman Pinedo to approve Ordinance 25-006 that will Reallocate our Home Rule Volume Cap to WIEDA. AYE: Aldermen Grant, Bone, Alderwoman Twomey (remote), Aldermen Daw (remote), Conard, Pinedo and Ferry NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman VanVleet MOTION CARRIED.

2. 25-007, Amendment of 2024-2025 FY Budget

In order to reflect actual revenue increases that were not included in last year’s budget and to adjust funds to carry-out a balanced budget as well as to comply with auditing standards, it is necessary to amend the 2024—2025 FY Budget according to Administrator Steinbrecher. There are three sections that are affected as follows:

1) There were increases in General Fund revenues that we had not anticipated that came in through grant funds that we have spent on capital improvements.

2) MFT fund revenues that we needed to decrease the amount being transferred into the fund balance in order to increase expenditures being spent on engineering fees.

These engineering fees were incurred on Phase 1 and 2 of the West Harlem Road Construction Project. Also, there were a number of complications from IDOT that increased our costs. There was also an increase in our local MFT fund revenue in the amount of $65,000. These adjustments where necessary to be sue that the City can go to bid on the reconstruction of West Harlem.

3) Transfer some funds from the Main Street TIF District to the Downtown TIF District to provide local matching funds to the Streetscape Project, which is currently underway. Mayor Davies added that there were increases in the Main Street TIF District which allowed the City to transfer funds to the Downtown TIF District.

It was moved by Alderman Grant and seconded by Alderman Ferry to approve Ordinance 25-007 to amend the 2024-2025 FY Budget as presented. AYE: Alderman Grant, Bone, Alderwoman Twomey (remote), Aldermen Daw (remote), Conard, Pinedo and Ferry NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman VanVleet MOTION CARRIED.

3. Adoption of 2025-2026 FY Budget

Administrator Steinbrecher stated that it is a balanced budget of $43,343,590.00. It has been in City Hall for a month for public viewing along with publication in a local newspaper.

There was a Public Hearing held prior to this Council Meeting to allow for public questions and comments. These steps satisfy the legal requirements for adopting a municipal budget. It was moved by Alderman Grant and seconded by Alderman Pinedo to adopt the 2025-2026 FY Budget as presented. AYE: Alderman Bone, Alderwoman Twomey (remote), Aldermen Daw (remote), Conard, Pinedo, Ferry and Grant NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman VanVleet MOTION CARRIED.

VIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION

A. Per Illinois Statute 5ILCS120/2 to consider with possible action to follow

1. It was moved by Alderman Ferry and seconded by Alderman Grant to go into Executive Session at 6:40 p.m. to consider Collective Bargaining and Possible Purchase of Property. AYE: Alderwoman Twomey (remote), Aldermen Daw (remote), Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, Grant and Bone NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman VanVleet MOTION CARRIED.

2. It was moved by Alderman Bone and seconded by Alderman Grant to return to Regular Session at 6:47 p.m. AYE: Aldermen Daw (remote), Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, Grant, Bone and Alderwoman Twomey (remote) NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman VanVleet MOTION CARRIED.

IX. OTHER BUSINESS

A. Approval of February 18, 2025 Executive Session Minutes

It was moved by Alderman Grant and seconded by Alderman Conard to approve the Executive Session Minutes of February 18, 2025. AYE: Aldermen Conard, Pinedo, Grant, Alderwoman Twomey (remote), Alderman Daw (remote) NAY: none PASS: Aldermen Ferry and Bone MOTION CARRIED.

 X. ADJOURNMENT

It was moved by Alderman Grant and seconded by Alderman Daw (remote) to adjourn the meeting at 6:50 p.m. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote with the exception of Alderman VanVleet who was absent.

https://www.cityofmonmouth.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif7191/f/agendas/april_7_2025_council_meeting_minutes.pdf