Rockford Sun

City of Carlyle City Council met June 24.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The Carlyle City Council was called to order by Mayor Pro Tem Jeremy Weh, 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, Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, and Bruce Hilmes. Alderman Scott Diekemper was absent.

City employees present were City Administrator Brad Myers, Chief of Police Mark Pingsterhaus, Andy Wennerstrom, Kevin Rolfingsmeyer, and City Clerk Rita Jurgensmeyer.

Others present were Matt Wilson; Jake Zambaldi, Moran Development; and Mike Genin, Jon Wegant, and Sean McCarthy, Illinois Municipal Electric Agency.

Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to approve the minutes from June 10, 2024, regular meeting. Alderman Tammy Peters seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Aye: Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, 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 4 Police for $80,000.00, Fund 17 Parks for $35,000.00, Fund 19 Social Security for $15,000.00 Fund 20 for $20,000.00 for a total of $150,000.00. Alderman Jeff Taylor seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Aye: Jim McClaren, Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Bruce Hilmes, and Tammy Peters. Nay: none.

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

City Administrator Brad Myers reported that a moving date has been set for the new city hall. It is July 29th through the 31st. City Hall will reopen on August 1st in the new location. Furniture is being put together and the trim is being finished. The egress window has been installed.

City Administrator Brad Myers said they are getting ready to establish the TIF to help TDK get their fabrication plant going. They have been working with Moran Development and Jake Zambaldi was here to explain what needs to be done to establish the TIF 4 District. He explained the resolution and ordinances that need to be approved and signed. He said that first a resolution needs to be approved to have a feasibility study done. There is an interested parties registry and rules ordinance to be approved, and a motion to accept the redevelopment plan and approve sending out that plan to the affected tax districts. These are all statutory requirements. He explained the process and the requirements.

Alderman John Hodapp made a motion to approve the resolution providing for a feasibility study on the designation of areas as redevelopment project areas. Alderman Jeff Taylor seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Aye: John Hodapp, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, and Jeremy Weh. Nay: none.

Alderman John Hodapp made a motion to approve the ordinance authorizing the establishment of tax increment financing “interested parties” registries and adopting registration rules for these registries. Alderman Jeff Taylor seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Aye: Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Jeremy Weh, and John Hodapp. Nay: none.

Alderman John Hodapp made a motion to accept the draft of the redevelopment plan and feasibility studies and to place them on file at city hall so they will be available for anyone to inspect them. Alderman Jeff Taylor seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Aye: Mike Jansen, Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, and Jeff Taylor. Nay: none.

City Administrator Brad Myers introduced, Mike Genin, Jon Wegant, and Sean McCarthy from IMEA and stated they were there to explain the capacity purchase agreement, the power sales contract, and the ordinance authorizing the execution of a new power sales contract and a new capacity purchase agreement with IMEA.

Mike Genin spoke first giving a background of IMEA and the services they offer to the member municipalities. They are speaking to the council tonight concerning the contract that runs through 2035 and would like to extend the contract through 2055.

Jon Wegant then spoke about the three pillars of IMEA. They are affordability, reliability, and sustainability.

Affordability: They are a non-for-profit organization. They do not have shareholders. Any money that is made goes back to the municipalities. The power supply costs today are lower than they were ten years ago.

Reliability: They have a 24/7 operation center that provides support to the crews. They are alerted of any problems and call the municipalities before anyone calls about the power being off.

Sustainability: The General Assembly laid down a law that says coal fire generation has to be ended by certain dates in the future. IMEA is going to make a responsible transition by making sure everything that happens is economically feasible and studied extensively before the board decides on the next era of resources. They do the contracts in 20-year increments to make sure that everything is predictable going forward. The only thing that will change is transmission rates.

Sean McCarthy explained power supply resources. They have a diverse supply of resources. They own the projects that are the source of power coming to the municipalities. He also explained the advantages of long-term contracts. At times they have generation that they don’t need. It is sold to the volatile market and money is made from it and that is passed to the municipalities. They have two big wind contracts in the northwest part of Illinois. They also have solar. Starting next year they are starting a study on battery storage. The coal plants have to be offline by 2038. The Prairie State facility has to reduce its output of carbon emissions by 45% by 2030. Which means out of the two large generators that they have only one can be used. By 2045 they cannot emit carbon at all. He explained that the new contract is basically the same as the one they currently have except for the dates. Alderman John Hodapp asked if they are still developing solar fields. He said, yes, they are, there are three that are underway right now. There are six that are up and running and three under development. There is also a new capacity agreement. Currently IMEA leases the output of Carlyle power plant and pays Carlyle capacity credits.

Discussion was held and it was decided that this would be discussed at the next meeting.

City Administrator Brad Myers said that the Employee Concerns and Water and Sewer Committees had five candidates for the night shift operator at the water plant. Only three showed up and the committees recommended that Richard “Levi” Hays be hired for the position. He has been down to the water plant and met with Andy Wennerstrom and Andy has full faith in him.

Alderman Jim McClaren made a motion to hire Richard “Levi” Hays for the night shift operator position at the water plant. The motion was seconded by Alderman Jeff Taylor and was approved by roll call vote. Aye: Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, and Jeff Taylor. Nay: none. Alderman Mike Jansen abstained.

At 7:59 p.m. a motion to adjourn was made by Alderman John Hodapp. Alderman Jeff Taylor seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Aye: Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, and Bruce Hilmes. Nay: none.

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