Galesburg Reporter

City of Monmouth City Council met May 19

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 Melissa Teel called the roll and those answering Present were: Aldermen Roger Teel, Brad Bone, Brian Daw, Jim Conard, Juan Pinedo, Kevin Ferry, John VanVleet. Absent: None Also Present: Mayor Rod Davies, City Administrator Lew Steinbrecher, City Clerk Melissa Teel, 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 MINUTES

A. Approval of the May 5, 2025 Council Meeting Minutes

It was moved by Alderman Pinedo and seconded by Alderman Conard to approve the Council Meeting Minutes of May 5, 2025 as presented. AYE: Aldermen Teel, Bone, Daw, Conard, Pinedo and VanVleet NAY: None PASS: Alderman Ferry ABSENT: None

MOTION CARRIED.

IV. PRESENTATIONS OR CITIZEN INQUIRIES

Andrea Monroe, executive director for MCAP for economic development, presented to update what MCAP has been doing. She states their new mission is to be Monmouth and Warren County’s hub for economic development, empowering entrepreneurs, strengthening our local businesses and building workforce capacity. Andrea states that they have just completed their new strategic plan that focuses on attracting new businesses, supporting existing ones, expanding workforce development, and elevating branding and awareness of our city and region to a place that you should come invest, build, and grow. She also states they have appointed new board members as well with fresh perspectives, valuable expertise and shared commitment to our community.

V. CONSENT AGENDA

It was moved by Alderman Daw and seconded by Alderman VanVleet to approve the bills as presented. AYE: Aldermen Bone, Daw, Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, VanVleet, and Teel. NAY: None

MOTION CARRIED.

VI. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

A. Vicki Livingston presented what the Prairie Hills Land Bank was and what it could do for the City of Monmouth. Vicki explains what the Land Bank is and how it relates to the Brownfield work that Monmouth has been working with them on. She explains that the Land Bank helps with the tools needed to get houses rehabbed or empty properties developed. The land bank works as a repair station. The idea is to get the properties rehabbed or demoed and back out into private ownership. Mayor Davies asks were they starting to work on some grants for building and also working with an attorney for legal services. Vicki confirms they are. Vicki explains they are working with Illinois House Development who has offered them an environmental attorney to draft all the language and coordinate education for local attorneys, etc. Mayor Davies asks how many counties are involved and Vicki replies they are actively pursuing 5 counties including Knox, Warren, Fulton, Hancock and McDonough. Henderson County has been sent an invitation but has not responded. Alderman VanVleet asks has anyone accepted. Vicki responds none of the Counties have accepted yet so they are focusing on municipalities that have accepted. There is one that has signed a resolution and a few that will be voting soon. VanVleet asks what can they do that we aren’t already doing and Vicki explains that it allows staff sharing and split time and costs of staff. Property code enforcement and building inspections add to what the city is already doing. Discussion ensues around what can be done. No action was taken at this time.

B. City Clerk Melissa Teel presented recodification of the municipal code to bring it current as it has not been codified since 2009. It was moved by Alderman Conard and seconded by Alderman Pinedo to approve the recodification of the municipal code. AYE: Aldermen Daw, Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, VanVleet, Teel, and Bone.

NAY: None ABSENT: None

MOTION CARRIED.

C. City Administrator Lew Steinbrecher discussed the Main Street Reconstruction/Streetscaping project need for and Engineering Service Agreement due to a new grant the City received to extend our streetscaping into the 200 block of North Main and South Main. Lew explains that he would like to engage the services of Hutchison Engineering at a cost of $240,000 which is part of the $2,000,000 project and would recommend council’s approval on the request. Alderman Daw moved to approve the engineering services agreement and VanVleet seconded. AYE: Aldermen Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, VanVleet, Teel, Bone, and Daw. NAY: None ABSENT: None

MOTION CARRIED.

D. Administrator Steinbrecher explains there has been some previous information sent out about an intergovernmental agreement between Monmouth-Roseville School District and the City for a School Resource Officer at the high school. The school district board did approve the agreement last Tuesday. The agreement creates a position for a school resource office that will be appointed by Chief Switzer to serve certain functions within the school. The school district would pay 75% of the total compensation of the officer for 9 out of 12 months including salary, health insurance, and retirement. The percentage will adjust each year based on the hours worked the prior year. The officer would still be an employee of the city and supervised by the Chief. Lew also states he would recommend approval of the agreement. It was moved by Alderman Ferry and seconded by Alderman VanVleet to approve the agreement for a school resource officer. AYE: Aldermen Pinedo, Fery, VanVleet, Teel, Bone, Daw, and Conard. NAY: None ABSENT: None

MOTION CARRIED.

E. Fire Chief Casey Rexroat presents the bids for the electrical contractor to power the new LED sign outside station I. Grant funds will pay for the contractor as well with 5% match by the City. The low bidder was C&D electric. It was moved by Alderman Conard and seconded by Alderman VanVleet to approve the low bid to power the LED sign. AYE: Aldermen Ferry, VanVleet, Teel, Bone, Daw, Conard, and Pinedo. NAY: None ABSENT: None

MOTION CARRIED.

F. Chief Rexroad presented the MFD monthly report as follows: 139 calls of service for the month of April and 543 calls so far this year. MFD was invited to visit Americold as their annual visit as well as Smithfield and point out hazardous areas. Paul Mangieri completed the confined space operations training and Captain Tyler Osborn also completed the company Fire Officer Training. The MFD held an informational meeting for people applying to the fire department. The LED sign has been ordered and the fire safety trailer contractor reached out about the graphics for the side so they are almost done completing that.

G. Chief Switzer present the monthly MPD report as follows: For the month of April there were 80 arrests, issued 86 citations, 3546 calls into the dispatch center, MPD handed 1457 calls, the dispatch center handled 2803 calls, MPD handled 18  accidents and the officer worked 18 Grant hours. Officers spent approximately 14 hours in court for various cases.

H. Public Works Director Brayden Bledsoe presented bids for the purchase of some new law mowers for the public works department. There were two bids that came in under budget. One was a local vendor and one of the bids was out of the Quad Cities. The low bid was lower by 12%. Brayden stated that he would like to leave it up to council whether they go with the low bid or the local bid. It was moved by Alderman Bone and seconded by Alderman Daw to accept the low bid on the mowers. AYE: Aldermen VanVleet, Teel, Bone, Daw, Conard, Pinedo, and Ferry NAY: None ABSENT: None MOTION CARRIED.

I. Public Works Director Brayden Bledsoe presented bids for the West Harlem Roadway Phase I project and the low bid came out at 2.8 million dollars and was submitted by Brandt Construction. Lavadiere came in just above at 3.54 million. Director Bledsoe stated that the recommendation from him as well as IMEG would be to accept the low bid. It was moved by Alderman Daw and seconded by Alderman Ferry to accept the low bid. AYE: Aldermen Teel, Bone, Daw, Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, and VanVleet NAY: None ABSENT: None

MOTION CARRIED.

VII. EXECUTIVE SESSION

A. It was moved by Alderman Bone and seconded by Alderman Pinedo to go into Executive Session at 6:40 p.m. to consider Collective Bargaining. AYE: Aldermen Bone, Dae, Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, VanVleet, and Teel. NAY: None

ABSENT: None

MOTION CARRIED.

VIII. ADJOURNMENT

It was moved by Alderman Daw and seconded by Alderman VanVleet to adjourn the meeting at 7:10 p.m. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote.

https://www.cityofmonmouth.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif7191/f/agendas/may_19_2025_council_meeting_minutes.pdf