Galesburg Reporter

City of Monmouth City Council met Aug. 4

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, Scott Weber, Juan Pinedo, John VanVleet, Kevin Ferry and Jim Conard Absent: Alderman Daw Also Present: Mayor Rod Davies, City Clerk Melissa Teel, City Administrator Lew Steinbrecher, Communications Director Ken Helms, MFD Chief Casey Rexroat, MPD Chief Joe Switzer, Public Works Director Brayden Bledsoe and Building and Zoning Director Joe Clark Absent: City Attorney Marcum Spears

III. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

A. Approval of the July 21, 2025 Council Meeting Minutes as presented

It was moved by Alderman Ferry and seconded by Alderman Pinedo to approve the minutes. AYE: Alderman Teel, Bone, Weber, Conard, Pinedo, Ferry and VanVleet

NAY: None

MOTION CARRIED.

IV. PRESENTATIONS

A. MCAP Director Andrea Monroe was present to update the council on what they have been doing at MCAP. Andrea explained that on the investor side of things, they have had a really strong month and acquired 3 new investors including F&M Bank, Warren Achievement Center, and entrepreneur Jason Robbins. Total combined invested is almost $7,000 so momentum is still building. There have been multiple business retention calls and they are trying to get around to as many businesses as possible to find out what their needs are in the workforce and what challenges there are. The businesses have provided some really good feedback. On the branding side of things, they are working with Clear Profits to update the website and make it a little more user friendly. They launched new emails so there will be new business cards and are working to get signage outside of the Chamber of Commerce to reflect that MCAP is located there as well. Regarding regional collaboration, Andrea participated in the KCAP’s annual meeting and also went to a workforce development roundtable in Macomb with Knox, McDonough and Hancock counties economic developers. On the economic development side, Andrea states she had a really good lead on a data center to come to Monmouth. She stated she connected them with Ameren because power is a bigger problem. They needed at least 100 acres and were going to do 200-300 megawatt data center. Ameren stated it is hard with us being so far away from Galesburg. The expense of bringing that power here would be very costly.  They said about 1.5 million a mile to get it here and 3-5 years to get it here. It wasn’t a no so still in talks with them. The three strategic committees that they now have are starting to meet and come up with game plans.

B. Alderman VanVleet stated he got a letter sent to him that he will get with Kenny to get it to everyone later but wanted to touch on it really quick. He stated the letter was from Dennis Shumacher and he is aware we haven’t gotten a lot of positive feedback on the square, but he wanted to share the positive things that Mr. Shumacher stated in his letter. Mr. Shumacher stated that he liked the design and the way the downtown is coming together and especially liked that it was pedestrian friendly with the crosswalks and wide sidewalks. He stated that Mr. Shumacher only had one concern and that was the entrance and exits of the new parking areas on the square and Alderman VanVleet said he would like to discuss it later possibly with Brayden Bledsoe, Director of Public Works.

V. CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of the Bills

It was moved by Alderman Conard and seconded by Alderman Pinedo to approve the bills as presented. AYE: Aldermen Bone, Weber, Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, VanVleet, and Teel.

MOTION CARRIED.

VI. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

A. Zoning Director Joe Clark presented the July monthly zoning report. There were 7 Junk and Debris notices issued, 9 Mow notices, and 4 Citations. The completed project included Monmouth College house demolition at 925 E Broadway following all the state and local guidelines for asbestos and lead abatement. Open projects include Monmouth College house renovation at 815 E Broadway, OSF Holy Family project 2502, a renovation from an old surgery room to a CT scan room and they have also started a renovation to convert a rehab room to a sleep lab, and the renovations on the old Banker’s Life building continues as well, Trojan Storage LLC, construction has been completed and the electrical was inspected so that can be brought online, the Whisker Wash building construction has been completed and final plumbing and hook up has been started. Last month the SCP grant program was utilized to put out to bid demo 3 houses including 120 E 9th Ave, 416 E Franklin, and 1001 S 2nd St.

B. Director Brayden Bledsoe presented the June update for the Public Works Department. Brayden explained that construction on West Harlem has started and that Brandt Construction is out there doing storm sewer work and will continue while weather allows. Lead line service replacement phase I started July 31st. For training, this past month they completed blood borne pathogen training. Brayden would like to congratulate Richard Nelson who has announced his retirement for the end of August. Brayden also congratulated Jane Berg for 5 years at the billing counter and explained that she had been with the City of Monmouth for several years prior to her moving to the billing counter.

C. IT Director Ken Helms gave a presentation about the need for an arbor committee. Ken explained that about 2 months ago there was a meeting with one of the citizens that was expressing interest and questions about trees being planted around Monmouth. There were a couple meetings with the citizen who mentioned there  were other individuals that would like to be involved with the arbor committee as well. Ken explained that through research and meetings, it was discovered that there are some serious grants to help the City of Monmouth plant trees and help with surveys on boulevard trees. Ken explained that one of the requirements to get the grant is to form a committee which they have chosen to call the Arbor Committee. He explained that they are thinking 5-6 people and have a biologist, a conservationist from Montana that recently moved in and a lot of other potential talent for the committee. Ken explained that if the council feels that it is a positive move for the City of Monmouth, he was thinking of having Marcum draft an ordinance granting the City the ability to create the committee. It was moved by Alderman Teel and seconded by Alderman Bone to approve Marcum drafting an ordinance to form an arbor committee to bring back to council for approval later.

AYE: Aldermen Weber, Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, VanVleet, Teel, and Bone NAY: None

MOTION CARRIED.

D. IT Director Ken Helms gave a presentation about a possible OSLAD grant. He stated that we did have one OSLAD grant in the past that helped with expanding the campground, some higher electrical service, and put in an ADA fishing dock. Ken explained that there is an opportunity to apply for another grant that would provide trails for walking at Citizens Lake on the west side of the bridge that would go around the frog pond. He explained that it would be a 1500 foot ADA walking path so it would probably be asphalt or some sort of mixed surface that would loop around and come back on itself. Ken explained it would include several signs that talk about native grasses and native wildlife as well as a couple of lights and benches. Ken stated the hope is that this would be stage one of the project and that later on we could apply for another OSLAD grant that would allow us to loop up to the North as well up towards the parking lot. He explains that the grant is a 50% match and it’s for awards up to $250,000 and with the 50% match there is a way to do in kind trade so it would not all have to be monetary. He explained that through using some City staff to minimize our monetary portion to as little as $25,000 and with the hope of raising that money through a local foundation or some other means. There was no action taken on this.

E. Building and Zoning Director Joe Clark explained that there were three properties that went out for bid for demolition in July and the bid opening was on August 1st at 10:30 AM. The three properties are located at 120 E 9th Ave, 416 E Franklin Ave, and 1001 S 2nd St. He stated that the low bid on all three were with the same contractor, Maple City Excavating, and that it would be his recommendation to accept the low bids. It was moved by Alderman Conard and seconded by Alderman Pinedo to accept the low bid on all three properties. AYE: Aldermen Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, VanVleet, Teel Bone, and Weber NAY: None

MOTION CARRIED.

F. Administrator Steinbrecher explained that there was a Redevelopment Agreement for the acqusition and renovation at 413 S Main Street with EKS Futures, LLC which is Quality Roofing Pro. He explained that they will want to renovate the building to provide warehousing as well as some office space. He explained that they are looking at about $100,000 investment into the property. Based on the  increase on the EAV, those incremental increases would be captured by the City to provide reimbursement to the developer until they are able to recover the TIF eligible costs. Administrator Steinbrecher recommended that Council approve the agreement and explained that it is very similar to many other redevelopment agreements that we have entered into for the past two years. It was moved by Alderman Pinedo and seconded by Alderman Ferry to approve the redevelopment agreement. AYE: Aldermen VanVleet, Teel, Bone, Weber, Conard, Pinedo, and Ferry. NAY: None

MOTION CARRIED.

G. Administrator Steinbrecher explained that there was a second Redevelopment Agreement located at 409 S 1st Street which is the old Lighthouse Baptist Church property. Again, it is being acquired by EKS Futures, LLC; Quality Roofing Pro. The total investment into this property is $140,000 which includes acquisition and renovation of the existing building. Their primary professional office building as well as a conference room would be located here. He explained that this is again a performance-based reimbursement and it is going to be based on the growth of the EAV and the incremental increase of the property taxes. Those would be captured by the City and used to reimburse the TIF eligible expenses. This one is also very similar to other redevelopment agreements. Administrator Steinbrecher stated that he would also recommend approval of this one as well. It was moved by Alderman VanVleet and seconded by Alderman Ferry to approve the redevelopment agreement. AYE: Aldermen Teel, Bone, Weber, Conard, Pinedo, Ferry, and VanVleet NAY: None

MOTION CARRIED.

VII. OTHER BUSINESS

VIII. ADJOURNMENT

A. Alderman VanVleet moved to adjourn the August 4th meeting at 6:27 p.m. and Alderman Weber seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote with the exception of Alderman Daw who was absent.

https://www.cityofmonmouth.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif7191/f/agendas/august_4_2025_council_meeting_minutes.pdf