City of Carlyle Employee Concerns Committee met Feb. 9.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
Call to Order/Roll Call
The Employee Concerns Committee meeting was called to order by Alderman Jim McClaren at 6:30 p.m. at the Case Halstead Library, 550 6th Street, Carlyle, Illinois.
Present were Aldermen Jeremy Weh, Jim McClaren, Bailey Ellis, and Mike Jansen. Also present were City Administrator Brad Myers, Mayor Judy Smith, Kevin Rolfingsmeyer, and City Clerk Rita Jurgensmeyer. Aldermen Tammy Peters and Jeff Taylor arrived at 6:42 p.m. Bill Leith arrived at 6:35 p.m. Committee member Scott Diekemper was absent.
Approval of Minutes
Alderman Jeremy Weh made a motion to approve the minutes from January 26, 2026. Alderman Jim McClaren seconded the motion, and it was approved by voice vote.
Employee Handbook – New Verbiage of Training Costs Recovery
City Administrator Brad Myers said that the city has lost two or three employees from the electric department after they have gone through the apprenticeship program. They have to pay back some of the expenses, but it is a pro-rated amount. City Administrator Brad Myers said they have proposed changing the verbiage of training cost recovery. They have to stay for three years currently, and they would like to add to the employee handbook a statement that says if you leave in the first three years you must pay for everything that the city has paid for. The proposed change is if an employee is hired as an apprentice lineman, they must complete the lineman training which takes four years. After the completion of the four-year program, the employee must work as a lineman for the City of Carlyle for at least three years. Therefore, the employee would need to work at least seven years total as an apprentice/lineman without having to repay any training costs if they left the position. However, if the employee voluntarily resigned at any time during the seven years, they would owe the City of Carlyle all costs of any training they received for the apprenticeship. They would have to sign an agreement acknowledging that if they leave, they will have to pay it all back. Kevin Rolfingsmeyer said that the new hire Nolan Toennies was aware of this.
Alderman Jeremy Weh made a motion to send to the city council the change in the verbiage in the employee handbook for training cost recovery. Alderman Jim McClaren seconded the motion, and it was approved by voice vote.
Personnel – 5ILCS 120/2(c)(1)
See Executive Session
Unfinished Business
There was none.
New Business
There was none.
Any Other Comments
There was none.
Public Comments
There was none.
Executive Session
Personnel 5ILCS 120/2(c)(1)
At 6:36 p.m. Alderman Jeremy Weh made a motion to go into executive session to discuss 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. Alderman Jim McClaren seconded the motion, and it was approved by voice vote.
Vote on Executive Session Item(s)
At 6:46 p.m. the committee returned to regular session.
Adjournment
At 6:46 p.m. Alderman Jeremy Weh made a motion to adjourn. Alderman Jim McClaren seconded the motion, and it was approved by voice vote.
https://go.boarddocs.com/il/carlyle/Board.nsf/Public#
