Rockford Sun

City of Carlyle City Council met March 25.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The Carlyle City Council was called to order by Mayor Judy Smith, at 7:00 p.m. at the Case Halstead Library, 550 6th Street, Carlyle, IL.

The meeting opened with the pledge of allegiance.

Aldermen present were Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, and Bruce Hilmes.

City employees present were Chief Mark Pingsterhaus, City Administrator Brad Myers, Brandon Pieron, and City Clerk Rita Jurgensmeyer.

Others present were Kelly Ross, Matt Wilson, and Kevin Schlautman.

Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to approve the minutes from March 11, 2024. Alderman Bruce Hilmes seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Aye: Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, and Bruce Hilmes. Nay: none.

Alderman Jeremy Weh made a motion to approve the transfers from Fund 1 General Fund to Fund 3 Street and Alley for $150,000.00, Fund 4 Police for $95,000.00, Fund 17 Parks for $15,000.00, Fund 20 for $15,000.00 for a total of $275,000.00. Alderman Jeff Taylor seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Aye: Jim McClaren, Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Bruce Hilmes, and Tammy Peters. Nay: none.

Alderman Jeremy Weh made a motion to approve the payment of the claims against the city. The motion was seconded by Alderman John Hodapp and was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Aye: Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, and Jim McClaren. Nay: none.

Mayor Judy Smith reported that they are picking up leaves this week. They have run one circuit today and will probably make it through town two more times. Residents will have until Friday to put their leaves out.

Mayor Judy Smith reported that on Good Friday, March 29th Carlyle Police Department will hold a fish fry at Pinball Palace to benefit the K-9 program. It will be from 3:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. It is a drive-through and the cost is $10.00.

City Administrator Brad Myers reported that progress is being made at the new city hall. The drywall was delivered today, and it should be installed this week. On April 1st, mudding and taping will be done. Hopefully, they will be in by the end of May. Mayor Smith said they will be receiving one more flooring bid.

Old 50 Café. Currently the sign is 2’ x 2’. He would like to make it 4’ x 8’. The zoning code does not allow any sign larger than 3’ x 3’. Lulei Usseini changed his request to a 4’ x 6’ sign. It will be at the same location as the sign right now. It will not extend out past the end of the sidewalk. It will say the same thing, only in red.

Alderman John Hodapp made a motion to approve the variance request from Lulei Usseine for a 4’ x 6’ sign. Alderman Jeremy Weh seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Aye: Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, and Scott Diekemper. Nay: none.

Mayor Judy Smith said that they received three quotes for the vinyl wrap for the south welcome sign. They did receive a design today that will be on the billboard by the veterinarian’s office on the south side. It is a wrap, not a permanent structure.

The quotes received were from Metro East Signs in the amount of $1,050.00, Signs by Ronnie in the amount of $650.00, Print Crazee in the amount of $824.99, Peak Sign Company in the amount of $816.49.

Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to go with Peak Sign Company for the vinyl wrap in the amount of $816.49. The motion was seconded by Alderman Scott Diekemper and it was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Aye: John Hodapp, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Scott Diekemper, and Jeremy Weh. Nay: none.

Mayor Judy Smith said she is working with Kayla Heimann on the parameters for a sign design contest. She said she stopped in Lebanon and took a picture of their sign. They would like to nail down how big the sign should be and the different places it will go. She is also going to talk to the art teacher at the high school and see if they can come up with anything. The contest will be open to the general public and as soon as they get the details lined out and the city attorney is ok with it, it will be on the city website and hopefully someone can come up with something.

City Administrator Brad Myers said that last summer the Class G Liquor License ordinance was approved but the ordinance listed former Alderman Don Perez’s name on it so a new ordinance will need to be signed. The ordinance creates a Class G Liquor License that is $500.00 and five licenses can be issued.

City Administrator Brad Myers presented the release for Travis Huels that lists the cost incurred from the fourth flood of his residence. The release was negotiated by City Attorney Joe Heiligenstein and Travis Huels for the cost associated for rehabilitation and fixing the pipe. The cost is $44,191.95.

Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to approve the release for Travis Huels in the amount of $44,191.95. Alderman Tammy Peters seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Aye: Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, and John Hodapp. Nay: none.

City Administrator Brad Myers said they have a business that wants to build in Carlyle. He introduced Kevin Schlautman from TDK Consultants, and he wants to build a new facility in Carlyle at a cost of $5,000,000.00. City Administrator Brad Myers and Kevin Schlautman have been talking to Moran Development about establishing a new TIF district. Currently he is in TIF District 3, which is expiring in 2029. It can be extended for 12 years but that limits him in receiving eligible TIF payments. If a new TIF District 4 is established, it will give 23 years of reimbursement costs back to him. This will require changing the boundaries of TIF 3.

Kevin Schlautman said the reason they are leaning toward a new TIF district is because Moran Development said that when it comes time to extend TIF 3 for 12 years it is not a guarantee that the council will approve the extension.

Alderman John Hodapp asked what exactly they were going to build. Kevin Schlautman explained that they are a steel fabrication company. They focus primarily on mining and do commercial work for Poettker Construction and other general contractors. They build bridges and pedestrian bridges. He said 30 percent of their business is commercial and 70 percent is mining. Currently they are working out of a 15,000 square foot shop and they need a lot more room. The plan for now is a 30,000 square foot building.

Alderman Jeremy Weh asked if they would be expanding their work force. Kevin Schlautman said they have 16 employees, but they are maxed out on what they can produce out of that shop. When they get into a new facility, they are projecting two or three new employees each year plus office help.

Alderman Bruce Hilmes made a motion to allow City Administrator Brad Myers to proceed with Moran Development to establish a TIF 4. Alderman John Hodapp seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Aye: Mike Jansen, Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, and Jeff Taylor. Nay: none.

City Administrator Brad Myers explained the TIF payment options for Dorothy Lane/Peter Neumann. Dorothy Lane is where Moon’s Suds and Slots are located. Prior to taking ownership of the building from Peter Neumann, he had a TIF agreement where he would get TIF reimbursement for all the work he did on the entrance off Route 127. He sold the property two years ago. The TIF agreement says he would get reimbursed through April 2021. In the same agreement it also says he will get paid for any extension that may happen. City Attorney Joe Heiligenstein went through it, and he said that if the city fights it, they will go to court and probably lose. Peter Neumann did do the work and he signed the agreement to be reimbursed. There are options to pay him, and the Finance Committee wants him to look at the option to pay him forward. City Administrator Brad Myers will explore options to pay him and will report back to the council.

City Administrator Brad Myers said that a while back a monthly facility charge was approved. On April 1, 2024, the monthly facility charge for the E1 rate will increase from $15.00 to $20.00, and E2 rate will increase from $8.00 to $13.00, and E8 will increase from $150.00 to $155.00. On April 1, 2025, they will all go up $2.00 more. This has already been approved but it is now in ordinance form.

Alderman Jeremey Weh made a motion to approve the monthly facility charge ordinance. Alderman Jeff Taylor seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Aye: Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, Jeff Taylor, and Mike Jansen. Nay: none.

Brandon Pieron reported for the Water and Sewer Department saying that they are starting their fire hydrant flushing program the first week of April. This means that the water may have a slight chlorine smell. This is normal throughout the flushing process.

City Administrator Brad Myers said that to participate in the salt purchase contract through the state bid they must have authorization from the council for someone to sign for it and put in the bid. He would be the person who does this. It has gone through the Finance Committee, and they recommend approving the resolution to allow City Administrator Brad Myers to get salt on the state bid.

Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to approve the resolution authorizing City Administrator Brad Myers to enter the contract to get salt on the state bid. Alderman Jim McClaren seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Aye: Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, and Bruce Hilmes. Nay: none.

City Administrator Brad Myers presented the pay request from KRB Excavating Inc. for the Lake Vista project. This was approved in the Finance Committee meeting. The pay request is in the amount of $102,611.40.

Alderman John Hodapp made a motion to approve the pay request from KRB Excavating Inc. for the Lake Vista project in the amount of $103,611.40. The motion was seconded by Alderman Jeff Taylor and it was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Aye: Jim McClaren, Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Bruce Hilmes, and Tammy Peters. Nay: none.

City Administrator Brad Myers told the council that there was a street sweeper for sale from Christ Brothers in Lebanon, IL. An alderman approached Brad Myers and asked if the Street Department could use it. Brad Myers talked to the Street Department foreman and he said, yes, he could use it. It was originally priced at $10,800.00 and he was able to negotiate it down to a price of $8,000.00. City Administrator Brad Myers took the Street Department foreman and one of the Street employees to look at it. He said everything works and the motor sounds terrific and they have all the maintenance records.

Alderman John Hodapp made a motion to purchase the street sweeper from Christ Brothers at a price of $8,000.00. Alderman Jim McClaren seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Aye: Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, and Jim McClaren. Nay: none.

Chief of Police Mark Pingsterhaus reported for the Police Department saying that the new hires are working out well. Ben Useini has rode three times with the field training officer and she said he is doing very well. Landon Smith is going to Belleville tomorrow for his power test.

At 7:32 p.m. a motion to adjourn was made by Alderman Jeremy Weh. Alderman John Hodapp seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Aye: Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, and Scott Diekemper. Nay: none.

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/carlyle/Board.nsf/Public#