Galesburg Reporter

City of Monmouth City Council met April 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, Brian Daw, Jim Conard, Juan Pinedo, Kevin Ferry and John VanVleet Absent: Alderman Brad Bone and Alderwoman Susan Twomey Also Present: Mayor Rod Davies, City Administrator Lew Steinbrecher, City Clerk Susan Trevor, City Attorney Marcum Spears (remote), 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 MINUTES

A. Approval of the April 7, 2025 Council Meeting Minutes

It was moved by Alderman VanVleet and seconded by Alderman Grant to approve the Council Meeting Minutes of April 7, 2025 as presented. AYE: Aldermen Grant, Daw, Conard, Pinedo and Ferry NAY: none PASS: Alderman VanVleet ABSENT: Alderman Brad Bone and Alderwoman Twomey MOTION CARRIED.

IV. 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 Alderman Conard to approve the bills as presented. AYE: Aldermen Daw, Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, VanVleet and Grant NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman Bone and Alderwoman Twomey MOTION CARRIED.

V. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

A. Maple City Centerpiece Project – Sarah Walters

Mayor Davies stated that Mrs. Walters was unable to attend this evening, therefore the item will be placed on a future meeting agenda.

B. Krzysztof Socha’s Request to Address Current Traffic Control Measures

According to Mayor Davies, Mr. Socha was unable to attend this evening and his request will be placed on the May 5th Agenda.

C. MFD March Report – Chief Rexroat

The Department responded to 143 calls in the month of March.

The Department hosted an Instructor 1 training class taught by the Illinois Fire Institute. This class provided firefighters with training to teach other firefighters. Six MFD firefighters along with several from other area departments attended. The class is grant funded.

The Department received Engine 23 back with an overhauled motor and turbo engine replaced. There were also minor issues with Engine 21, but those have been resolved.

The training prop containers are close to being done. Duct work was attached in the last month to allow the department to direct smoke into the containers. Hand rails were arranged around the top of the containers to allow for training above and in the containers.

MFD is currently accepting applications for testing that will be in June. On last Saturday, April 19th, the department held a training session to help candidates prepare for the June testing. There were a number of prospective candidates who attended the training class.

D. MPD March Report – Chief Switzer

• 60 MPD arrests; 1,250 MPD Calls and 2,652 Dispatch Calls were in the month of March.

• ALICE training was provided to Warren County HeadStart.

• Administrator Steinbrecher and Chief Switzer took part in contract negotiations with the FOP.

• Several squad cars were taken in for maintenance issues.

• MPD officers completed mandated state training and took part in Active Threat training.

• Chief Switzer attended Hostage/Crisis Negotiations Certification Phase 1 and 2

• The Department has begun planning for the Monmouth College Commencement on April 18th as well as the Car Show in August and the WCPBF in September.

• Christopher Salemi has been hired as the newest MPD officer and will be attending Sauk Valley Police Academy in Dixon on May 5th.

E. Approval of Sale of 925 South D Street Property

Administrator Steinbrecher explained that the City received a letter from Egar Velazquez of 923 South D Street, expressing interest in purchasing the lot next to his property. A price was negotiated and agreed upon and the Administration is recommending approval of his offer of $1,200. The lot is 50 feet by 137 feet and Mr. Velazquez has been mowing and maintaining the lot the last several years. It was moved by Alderman VanVleet and seconded by Alderman Pinedo to approve the sale of 925 South D Street to Mr. Velazquez. AYE: Aldermen Daw, Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, VanVleet and Grant NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman Bone and Alderwoman Twomey MOTION CARRIED.

F. Approval of Engineering Agreement for Preliminary Investigation of CSO Long Term Control Plan, Phase 3

Director Bledsoe explained that years ago many sewers were designed to carry sewage and storm water in the same pipe. The City has been working to separate these combined sewers as mandated by the EPA and also because in the case of heavy rains, the combined sewer overflows overwork the WWTP. There is an old transporting pipe out of the old WWTP on East Jackson. It is not known if the pipe would allow maximum flow through the pipe to handle our CSO events. This agreement would allow the engineers to do a full survey with camera and flow study to determine if the pipe will be able to allow maximum flow during CSO events.

Administrator Steinbrecher added that the original proposal was for $45,000 and the administration was able to reduce it to $40,000.

It was moved by Alderman Conard and seconded by Alderman Grant to approve the Engineering Agreement with Woodard and Curran for the Preliminary Investigation of CSO Long Term Control Plan, Phase 3. AYE: Aldermen Daw, Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, VanVleet and Grant NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman Bone and Alderwoman Twomey MOTION CARRIED.

G. Approval of MFD LED Sign for the North Station

Chief Rexroat explained that MFD received a grant last year to purchase a fire safety trailer, but the cost came out lower than the grant amount with excess funds of $33,676.77; therefore, the department asked for an amendment to utilize the extra grant money for other purposes and the amendment was approved by FEMA. The decision was made to purchase a new LED screen with a digital message board to be placed in front of Station 1 near Industrial park road to be used to display fire prevention messages. Three proposals were received and Chief Rexroat is recommending to approve the proposal submitted by Zendavor Signs and Graphics in the amount of $26,666.80. The cost of the sign including the electrical requirements will be covered by the grant with the exception of a 5% match that is required by FEMA. It was moved by Alderman Pinedo and seconded by Alderman VanVleet to approve the proposal submitted by Zendavor Signs and Graphics in the amount of $26,666.80 for the LED Sign to be placed in front of the North Fire Station. AYE: Aldermen Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, VanVleet, Grant and Daw NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman Bone and Alderwoman Twomey MOTION CARRIED.

H. Approval of Agreement for Replacement of “Dead” Water Meters- Phase 1

W & C Public Works Director Bledsoe explained to the Council that the City has a unique opportunity because of the Lead Service Replacement Phase 1 Project. All the meters connected to the replacement of the lead service lines will have to be replaced and Advanced Plumbing, who is the contractor replacing the lead service lines, has agreed to replace the water meters at no labor cost if the City purchases the new meters.

We are working internally to identify which homes would best be suited to receiving a new meter, prioritizing ones in the LSLR project.

Replacing aging meters helps improve billing accuracy as the older meters tend to read lower usage as they age. The new meters will also enhance our ability to monitor usage through modern radio-read technology. Any older meters that are not working properly can be replaced inhouse.

Midwest Meters submitted a quote of $60,930 for 225 Badger Meters, which I am recommending for approval. It was moved by Alderman Grant and seconded by Alderman Conard to approve the quote of $60,930 from Midwest Meters for 225 Badger Meters.

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

I. Approval of HVAC Replacement at City Hall

Director Clark explained that this past winter one of the furnaces at City Hall went down and had to be replaced. The City has been spending around $1,000 to keep our old furnaces running, therefore the decision was made to put out for bid for replacement of these older furnaces.

The City received three bids to replace two furnaces above the entryway to City Hall with one furnace and one condenser on the roof. The Administration is recommending acceptance of the low bid of $13,525 from IHC. It was moved by Alderman Grant and seconded by Alderman Daw to accept the bid of $13,525 from IHC to replace the two furnaces above the entryway to City Hall. AYE: Aldermen Ferry, VanVleet, Grant, Daw, Conard and Pinedo NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman Bone and Alderwoman Twomey MOTION CARRIED.

J. Architectural Engineering Agreement with Hanson Engineering for Runway Rehabilitation Phase 1 and Runway Safety Area

According to background information from Hanson Engineering, the Airport Runway has not received a major rehabilitation since 1990 and is past due for rehabilitation. For the last 4 years, requests for rehabilitation have not been approved, but this year the FAA indicated they could help with the rehabilitation if the project was done in phases; therefore, the current programmed project is the first of two phases and will focus on regrading the ends off each runway. Alderman Daw commented that the North end of the runway is too steep of a grade if a plane overruns the runway. The current terrain is non-compliant with the FAA criteria and will require 5-7,000 cubic yards of dirt to be brought in to build it back up. The runway end conditions being brought into compliance are required before the second phase, the runway pavement rehabilitation, can occur.

The engineering fees are all project eligible at 97.5% federal/state and 2.5% local share, which would make the City’s match less than $3,400.

It was moved by Alderman Conard and seconded by Alderman Daw to approve the Architectural Engineering Agreement with Hanson Engineering as referenced above. AYE: Aldermen VanVleet, Grant, Daw, Conard, Pinedo and Ferry NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman Bone and Alderwoman Twomey MOTION CARRIED.

VI. RESOLUTIONS

A. 25-002, Join Prairie Hills Land Bank Authority, approve Intergovernmental Contract and Appoint a Local Government Director

Administrator Steinbrecher explained that if the City joined the Prairie Hills Land Bank Authority it would be involved with other entities to combine our resources to obtain financial grants to help the city clean up properties and be able to market them. There are properties that the City has not been able to address, such as ones that have liens or significant outstanding tax bills, due to not having the funds to purchase or demolish unsafe structures and not being able to obtain grants to accomplish this. Joining the Prairie Hills Land Bank would be an additional tool to assist the City to market City owned properties by bringing in developers and contractors to market and develop these properties. Four other municipalities have joined and four other communities have expressed interest. Membership in the Prairie Hills Land Bank would create a regional financial tool with a legal team to assist the member communities facing these issues. The City is not looking to donate our City owned properties, but seeking developers and contractors to develop and market these properties. Membership in the Prairie Hills Land Bank would cost $25,000 per year, but the Administration feels this would be a good investment.

Administrator Steinbrecher further explained that the City is currently spending staff time to take care of the properties that need to be addressed due to unsafe conditions, lack of mowing and instances where the property is in a state of neglect due to the owner being deceased. All of this time spent is costing the City money. Also, due to the lack of funds available to address these issues, the City has to depend on receiving grants. 

Aldermen VanVleet and Grant expressed concerns over spending $25,000 to join the Prairie Hills Land Bank and would like to have a representative from the Land Bank Authority available to give more information and answer questions. Mayor Davies said that he would contact Prairie Hills Land Bank Authority and ask to have a representative present at a future Council meeting.

No vote was taken and the Resolution was tabled.

VII. ORDINANCES

A. 1st Reading

1. 25-009, Declaration of MFD and City Hall Surplus Property

Chief Rexroat explained that the MFD surplus property is a fill station that is old and the department has a newer fill station currently in use and does not need the old fill station. The fill station is used to refill self-contained breathing apparatus bottles with air for structural firefighting.

City Clerk Trevor said that the City Hall surplus property is a 6-foot-high wooden bookcase without shelves and is not usable.

It was moved by Alderman Ferry and seconded by Alderman VanVleet to approve ordinance 25-009 as presented. AYE: Aldermen Daw, Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, VanVleet and Grant NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman Bone and Alderwoman Twomey MOTION CARRIED.

VIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION

A. Per Illinois Statute 5ILCS120/2 to consider Collective Bargaining and also Appointment, Employment and Compensation of Specific Individual with possible action to follow upon return to Regular Session.

1. It was moved by Alderman Grant and seconded by Alderman VanVleet to go into Executive Session at 6:46 p.m. to consider Collective Bargaining and also Appointment, Employment and Compensation of Specific Individual with possible action to follow. AYE: Aldermen Daw, Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, VanVleet and Grant NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman Bone and Alderwoman Twomey MOTION CARRIED.

2. It was moved by Alderman Pinedo and seconded by Alderman Conard to return to Regular Session at 6:58 p.m. AYE: Aldermen Daw, Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, VanVleet and Grant NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman Bone and Alderwoman Twomey MOTION CARRIED.

 IX. OTHER BUSINESS

A. Approval of MFD Chief Rexroat’s Contract

It was moved by Alderman Pinedo and seconded by Alderman VanVleet to approve the renewal of Chief Rexroat’s contract as presented. AYE: Aldermen Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, VanVleet, Grant and Daw NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman Bone and Alderwoman Twomey MOTION CARRIED.

B. Approval of April 7, 2025 Executive Session Minutes

It was moved by Alderman Grant and seconded by Alderman Pinedo to approve the Executive Session Minutes of April 7, 2025. AYE: Aldermen Pinedo, Ferry, Grant, Daw and Conard NAY: none PASS: Alderman VanVleet ABSENT: Alderman Bone and Alderwoman Twomey MOTION CARRIED.

X. ADJOURNMENT

It was moved by Alderman VanVleet and seconded by Alderman Ferry to adjourn the meeting at 7:00 p.m. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote with the exception of Alderman Bone and Alderwoman Twomey who were absent.

https://www.cityofmonmouth.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif7191/f/agendas/april_21_2025_council_meeting_minutes.pdf