Rockford Sun

City of Carlyle Carlyle City met Dec. 9.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Due to the absence of Mayor Judy Smith the Carlyle City Council was called to order by Mayor Pro Tem John Hodapp, 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, City Attorney Joe Heiligenstein, City Treasurer Chad Holthaus, Keith Housewright, and City Clerk Rita Jurgensmeyer.

Others present were Matt Wilson, Rob Doorman, Rhonda Breslin from Republic Trash Service, Dalton, Bryan, and Cole Deming from DC Waste & Recycle, Austin Russo from AAA Disposal, Todd Hinderliter, from Waste Management, Dolores Fauke, Cheryl Brinkman, Jerome Diekemper, Tom Frerker, Mary Frerker, Shirley Norrenberns, Bonnie Huels, Darlene Linton, Dawn Stedelin, Dale Fritz, Jelene Rickhoff, Peggy and Bob Hilmes.

Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to approve the minutes from November 25, 2024, regular meeting. Alderman Jim McClaren 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 pay the claims against the city. The motion was seconded by Alderman Jeff Taylor 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 Jeremy Weh made a motion to approve the treasurer’s report as presented. Alderman Jeff Taylor 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, and Jim McClaren. Nay: none.

City Administrator Brad Myers reported for Mayor Judy Smith saying that she is very appreciative of K & J and their service last Friday night at the park. They passed out hot chocolate and cookies. They gave out 700 cookies and 13 jugs of hot chocolate.

Keith Housewright reported for the library saying that they have a White Christmas sing a long this Saturday at 6:30 p.m. with free popcorn and hot chocolate. At 1:00 p.m. at the Clinton County Historical Museum they will have the Prairie Travelers performing.

City Administrator Brad Myers introduced Dale Fritz and said that he will be presenting a tree planting plan to give back to the city to honor his parents. Dale Fritz explained that he is asking for council approval to plant trees along Highway 127 at the intersection of Route 50. He is pledging $10,000.00 for the installation of trees and some kind of irrigation system to water the trees. He explained that his family moved to Carlyle in 1966, when the lake was built. His father was the first fishery biologist at the lake. He told the council about the things his father did in the community. The vision of this project is to improve the northern entrance to the city. He complimented the Carlyle in Bloom group that has the planters along Route 127. He would like to add trees to this area. He had a meeting with IDOT today and received preliminary approval to plant the trees on the IDOT right of way. He said he also met with Jamie Nordike today. Dale Fritz said he would install gator bags, 20-pound bags, on each of the trees. Jamie Nordike said he has 15 bags. Dale Fritz asked if any of the council had any questions. Alderman John Hodapp said he likes the idea and thinks it would look fantastic. Alderman Jim McClaren asked when the trees would be planted. Dale Fritz said he is hoping to plant them in early spring next year. City Administrator Brad Myers said IDOT said they should get him the initial permit in six months and it is no problem extending it another six months if the project doesn’t get done as soon as they like. City Administrator Brad Myers said he is not allocating any city money for this project; it will be funded by Dale Fritz.

Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to approve starting the tree project. It was seconded by Alderman Jeremy Weh and 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 Jeff Taylor made a motion to close city hall on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Alderman Jeremy Weh 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.

City Administrator Brad Myers said that the Jondros contacted him concerning the farmland lease that they have with the city. They would like to renew it for another year. City Attorney Joe Heiligenstein said they could extend it for another year but next year it will have to be put out for bid.

Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to extend the farmland lease with the Jondros for another year. Alderman Bruce Hilmes 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 said they went out for bids for the residential solid waste. He sent out an RFP in October. The bids were turned into him on November 22nd. They have four companies that submitted bids. This is for a three-year contract with years four and five being optional. The companies that submitted bids were DC Waste and Recycling, AAA Disposal, Republic Services, and Waste Management. There were requirements that had to be submitted. AAA Disposal and Republic Service did not turn in the required attachments. City Attorney Joe Heiligenstein said he received emails from City Administrator Brad Myers last week and he pointed out the instructions and the instructions say they must submit a bid for all required services in order to be considered. Since AAA Disposal and Republic Services did not submit a bid for all required services, they were both disqualified. The bids were reviewed earlier this evening and it was recommended to go with Waste Management. Currently everyone in town who uses Waste Management has once per week curb service trash pick-up and recycling every other week. City Administrator Brad Myers said that since the city does our own limb pick-up and leaf pick-up, they aren’t even sure if anyone will sign up for yard waste pick-up. DC Waste would need a minimum of 300 homes to pick up yard waste and Waste Management would need a minimum of 375 homes. If everyone goes with what they have now DC Waste has the low bid for all five years of the contract. DC Waste would start at $20.13 per month the first year and go up to $24.01 per month for the fifth year. Waste Management starts with $21.33 per month the first year and goes up to $25.93per month the fifth year. Rhonda Breslin from Republic said that it was put in their bid that they would negotiate with the city for the yard waste clean up twice a year, April 1st – December 31st. City Administrator Brad Myers went through all the options. City Administrator Brad Myers said the reason they are doing this is because this year in the garbage fund they have lost $30,000.00 in what is collected and what the city must pay. The city has lost money in the garbage fund for the last several years. Next year the residents will have to pay more since the city will not be billing for it. City Administrator Brad Myers asked DC Waste if they would do alleys. They said the only alleys they would service are the homes along Route 50 and 127 and everything else will be curbside. Alderman John Hodapp brought up that currently some of the trash is picked up in the alley because of the grade in the front yard. DC Waste said if there is a safety concern they would be fine picking up in the alley. Conversation was held between Austin Russo from AAA Disposal and Rhonda Breslin from Republic and the council.

Alderman John Hodapp asked what the council would like to do. He said it will be a raise of approximately $8.00 per month from Waste Management and DC Waste is about $7.00 per month. The problem with DC Waste is the alley pick-up. The city is getting out of the garbage business and the residents need to know that the city is losing money billing for garbage pick-up.

Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to go with DC Waste. The motion died from lack of a second.

Alderman Jeremy Weh made a motion to go with Waste Management. Alderman Mike Jansen seconded the motion, and it was approved by roll call vote. Aye; Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, and Mike Jansen. Nay:  Alderman Jeff Taylor.

City Administrator Brad Myers said that the RFP for tree removal was sent to the council for approval. The RFP will be to take down 42 trees from 10 – 75 feet tall. Addresses and locations will be provided to the bidders.

Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to allow City Administrator Brad Myers to put out an RFP for tree removal. Alderman Jim McClaren 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.

At 7:50 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 and 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5) The purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired and 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(6) The setting of a price for sale or lease of property owned by the public body. 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. 

At 8:29 p.m. the council returned to regular session. 

At 8:29 p.m. a motion to adjourn was made by Alderman Mike Jansen. 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.

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