City of Carlyle City Council met Feb. 9.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
Call to Order/Roll Call
The Carlyle City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Judy Smith at 7:00 p.m. at the Case Halstead Library, 550 6th Street, Carlyle, Illinois.
The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Alderman present were Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Jeremy Weh, Bailey Ellis, Jeff Taylor, and Mike Jansen. Aldermen Scott Diekemper and Bruce Hilmes were absent.
City employees present were City Administrator Brad Myers, City Clerk Rita Jurgensmeyer, City Attorney Joe Heiligenstein, City Treasurer Chad Holthaus, Kevin Rolfingsmeyer, Chief of Police Jason Herzing, and Keith Housewright.
Others present were Corey Johnson, and Bill Leith.
Approval of Minutes from the Previous Meeting January 26, 2026
Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to approve the minutes from January 26, 2026. Alderman Tammy Peters seconded the motion, and it was approved by roll call vote. Aye: Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Jeremy Weh, Bailey Ellis, Jeff Taylor, and Mike Jansen. Nay: none
Claims
Alderman Jim McClaren made a motion to approve the claims against the city. Alderman Jeff Taylor seconded the motion, and it was approved by roll call vote. Aye: Jim McClaren, Jeremy Weh, Bailey Ellis, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, and Tammy Peters. Nay: none.
Treasurer’s Report
Alderman Jim McClaren asked City Treasurer Chad Holthaus about the securities pledged on the treasurer’s report. Does the bank have to cover any dollar amount someone has in the bank? City Treasurer Chad Holthaus said that anything over $250,000.00 FDIC insurance doesn’t cover, so that is why the bank pledges investments over $250,000.00. Alderman Jim McClaren made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report. Alderman Jeff Taylor seconded the motion, and it was approved by roll call vote. Aye: Jeremy Weh, Bailey Ellis, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Tammy Peters, and Jim McClaren. Nay: none.
City Clerk Report
There was no city clerk report.
Aldermen Reports
There were no aldermen reports.
Mayor’s Report
There was no mayor’s report.
City Administrator’s Report
City Administrator Brad Myers said that on Friday the snow was melting and it was melting into the city hall. Several employees went up and shoveled it off and they will need to do an emergency fix. He said TIF money will be used for the repairs.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Library Board/Librarian Report
Keith Housewright said that on Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. some members of the historical society and members of the library board will be having a round table discussion on Abraham Lincoln and the Declaration of Independence.
Zoning/Planning
There was no report.
EDC Report
There was no report.
Corporate/Finance
Approve Farm Lease Bid
City Administrator Brad Myers said that the city went out for bid for two parcels of ground to be used as farm ground. Jondro Farms LLC submitted a bid for $291.00 per acre for a total of $17,413.44 per year. It is a two-year lease.
Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to accept the bid from Jondro Farms LLC at a price of $291.00 per acre for a total of $17,413.44 per year for a two-year lease. Alderman Jim McClaren seconded the motion, and it was approved by roll call vote. Aye: Bailey Ellis, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, and Jeremy Weh. Nay: none.
Electric
Approve RFP for Ceiling Project
City Administrator Brad Myers said that the Electric Committee met at the power plant to look at the open bay portion of the building. They would like to put an RFP out for a ceiling. He said it will be expensive to put it in, but it will save a lot of money on heating costs.
Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to go out for an RFP for a ceiling at the electric department. Alderman Tammy Peters seconded the motion, and it was approved by voice vote. Aye: Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Jeremy Weh, and Bailey Ellis. Nay: none.
Quotes for Oiler Coolers for Engines 8 & 9
Kevin Rolfingsmeyer explained that engines 8 and 9 are about 20 years old. The water as well as the oil runs through them. During the summer when they were running the engines they were so blocked up, they had to run sprinklers on the radiators to keep them cool enough to run. They are looking to replace the two oil coolers on engines 8 and 9. They received three quotes. One from Peaker Services Inc. in the amount of $37,615.40. Another from Metro East Industries in the amount of $19,987.10. The third was from National Maintenance and Repair Inc. in the amount of $39,854.55. City Attorney Joe Heiligenstein asked if the electric department is confident in Metro East Industries. Kevin Rolfingsmeyer said they are confident with them, and they have done work with them before.
Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to approve the quote for oiler coolers from Metro East Industries in the amount of $19,987.10. Alderman Jeremy Weh seconded the motion, and it was approved by roll call vote. Aye: Mike Jansen, Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Jeremy Weh, Bailey Ellis, and Jeff Taylor. Nay: none.
Employee Handbook-New Verbiage of Training Costs Recovery
City Administrator Brad Myers said they would like to amend the city handbook with new verbiage concerning training reimbursement costs. If an employee starts with the City of Carlyle and needs to attend training for the position the current handbook says it is prorated costs. The city has had two employees leave the electric department for better jobs after the city has paid for training for them. For example, for the electric department an apprentice lineman must complete the program which is four years. After completion of the four-year program, they must work for the City of Carlyle as a lineman for at least three additional years. The employee will have to work for a total of seven years. However, if this employee voluntarily resigns before completing seven years, they will owe the City of Carlyle all the costs of training they have received for their apprenticeship. They would like this verbiage to be added into the employee handbook.
Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to approve amending the verbiage in the employee handbook concerning training cost recovery to read that the employee must work an additional three years after the four years of training. If they voluntarily resign, they will owe the city the entire cost of the training. Alderman Jeremy Weh seconded the motion, and it was approved by voice vote. Aye: Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Jeremy Weh, Bailey Ellis, Jeff Taylor, and Mike Jansen. Nay: none.
Water & Wastewater
There was no report.
Street & Alley
There was no report.
Police
Approve Purchase of 2025 Ford Explorer AWD Police Interceptor with Equipment
Chief of Police Jason Herzing explained that the police department would like to purchase a 2025 Ford Explorer AWD police interceptor with equipment. They would like to go back to the SUVs because the trucks are harder to turn around in town. The quote is from Victory Lane in Litchfield, Illinois in the amount of $46,901.00. A quote from GTSI is $12,143.00 for the equipment. A quote from Axon Enterprise, Inc., for an in-car camera with a license plate reader, and a back seat camera. The cameras would capture audio and visual. They gave a price of $15,534.00 but you can purchase over 60 months. The total for the SUV and the equipment is $62,332.72. This went through the police committee, and they approved it and sent it to the city council.
Alderman Jeremy Weh made a motion to purchase a 2025 Ford Explorer AWD police interceptor and equipment in the amount of $62,332.72. Alderman Jeff Taylor seconded the motion, and it was approved by roll call vote. Aye: Jim McClaren, Jeremy Weh, Bailey Ellis, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, and Tammy Peters. Nay: none.
Approve Application Period for the Hiring of a New Patrolman
Chief of Police Jason Herzing said that at the police committee meeting last week they also discussed a lateral program for hiring a new patrolman. If someone has full-time police experience of at least two years up to eight years, they could be brought in at even pay. For example, if someone has seven years full time experience, they will come in as a seven-year patrolman for wage and vacation. For seniority they will still be at the bottom. Chief of Police Herzing said he spoke to the union, and they have no problem with it. Currently if someone is hired as a patrolman, they receive a wage at 80 percent of a patrolman and increase to full pay over two years. If this is approved, it will do away with the first two-year increases. Discussion was held concerning police departments all over doing things like this to attract officers.
Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to approve the application period for the hiring of a new patrolman. Alderman Tammy Peters seconded the motion, and it was approved by roll call vote. Aye: Jeremy Weh, Bailey Ellis, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Tammy Peters, and Jim McClaren. Nay: none.
Approve Additional Sergeant Position
Chief of Police Jason Herzing explained the need to have a sergeant on duty at night. Most of the officers working nights are the new officers. He would like to add a sergeant at night to oversee the officers that are working. There would also be some administrative duties done to relieve some of the duties from the sergeant working during the day. Chief of Police Herzing said this was also discussed at the Police Committee meeting and the committee approved it and sent it to the city council. Chief Herzing said he has canvassed the department and has someone that is interested.
Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to approve an additional sergeant position. Alderman Tammy Peters seconded the motion, and it was approved by roll call vote. Aye: Bailey Ellis, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, and Jeremy Weh. Nay: none.
Park
There was no report.
Employee Concerns
There was no report.
Unfinished Business
There was no report.
New Business
There was no report.
Executive Session
Enter Executive Session: Review Executive Session Minutes 5ILCS 120/2(c)(21) & Personnel 5ILCS 120/2(c)
At 7:20 p.m. Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to go into executive session to review executive session minutes and personnel. Alderman Tammy Peters seconded the motion, and it was approved by roll call vote. Aye: Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Jeremy Weh, and Bailey Ellis. Nay: none.
Return to Open Session
Approve/Open Executive Session Minutes
At 7:31 p.m. the council returned to regular session.
Alderman Jeremy Weh made a motion to approve executive session minutes from August 11, 2025, August 25, 2025, October 13, 2025, November 10, 2025, November 24, 2025, December 8, 2025, December 22, 2025, January 12, 2026, and January 26, 2026. Alderman Jeff Taylor seconded the motion, and it was approved by roll call vote. Aye: Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Jeremy Weh, Bailey Ellis, Jeff Taylor, and Mike Jansen. Nay: none.
Alderman Jeremy Weh made a motion to open the executive session minutes from August 11, 2025, and December 8, 2025, and to leave all the rest of the executive session minutes closed. Alderman Jeff Taylor seconded the motion, and it was approved by roll call vote. Aye: Jim McClaren, Jeremy Weh, Bailey Ellis, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, and Tammy Peters. Nay: none.
Adjournment
At 7:33 p.m. Alderman Jeremy Weh made a motion to adjourn. Alderman Jim McClaren seconded the motion, and it was approved by roll call vote. Aye: Jeremy Weh, Bailey Ellis, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Tammy Peters, and Jim McClaren. Nay: none.
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