Rockford Sun

City of Loves Park City Council met March 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

In the absence of Mayor Greg Jury, City Clerk Bob Burden called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

Alderman John Jacobson moved to appoint Alderman John Pruitt as Temporary Chairman. Second by Alderman Owens. Motion carried. 9 Ayes (Aldermen Dan Jacobson, Thompson, Peterson, Holmes, Schlensker, Allton, Owens, John Jacobson, Little) 1 Present (Alderman Pruitt)

Temporary Chairman Pruitt was seated.

Alderman Schlensker opened the meeting with an invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Present: Aldermen Dan Jacobson, John Pruitt, Jim Thompson, Mark Peterson, A. Marie Holmes, Robert Schlensker, Doug Allton, Mike Owens, John Jacobson, Clint Little

Also Present: City Clerk Bob Burden

City Attorney Gino Galluzzo

1. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

The Journal of Proceedings for the regular meeting of March 3, 2025, was approved as submitted by the City Clerk on a motion by Alderman Schlensker. Second by Alderman Allton. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Dan Jacobson, Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson, Holmes, Schlensker, Allton, Owens, John Jacobson, Little)

2. COMMUNICATIONS, MAYOR’S REPORT & ANNOUNCEMENTS

3. SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING

Temporary Chairman Pruitt announced that there will be a special City Council meeting to be held on Monday, March 24, 2025, to hold a public hearing concerning the proposed amendment to the McFarland Road Business District and to discuss and vote on the ordinances that expand the boundaries of the McFarland Road Business District, amend its plan, and impose a Business District Retailers’ Occupation Tax, a Business District Service Occupation Tax, and a Hotel Operators’ Occupation Tax within the expanded boundary.

4. YARD WASTE PICK-UP

Temporary Chairman Pruitt announced that yard waste pick-up will begin on April 4, 2025.

5. SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT FOR WINDOW WORLD OPEN HOUSE

Received a Special Event Permit application for Window World, 6010 Forest Hills Road, to hold an open house in their parking lot on Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Referred to Alderman Thompson of the Codes and Regulations Committee.

Alderman Thompson of the Codes and Regulations Committee moved to approve a Special Event Permit application for Window World, 6010 Forest Hills Road, to hold an open house in their parking lot on Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Second by Alderman Owens. Motion carried by voice vote.

6. SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT FOR SKI BRONCS POLAR PLUNGE

Received a Special Event Permit for the Loves Park Ski Broncs to hold a Polar Plunge fundraiser at Shorewood Park, on Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. Referred to Alderman Thompson of the Codes and Regulations Committee.

Alderman Thompson moved to approve a Special Event Permit for the Loves Park Ski Broncs to hold a Polar Plunge fundraiser at Shorewood Park, on Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. Second by Alderman Owens. Motion carried by voice vote.

7. APPROVE PAYMENT OF BILLS

8. GENERAL FUND BILLS

Alderman John Jacobson presented the General Fund and all other bills dated March 17, 2025, in the amount of $874,533.20 and moved that they be paid. Second by Alderman Peterson. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Dan Jacobson, Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson, Holmes, Schlensker, Allton, Owens, John Jacobson, Little)

9. WATER FUND BILLS

Alderman John Jacobson presented the Water Department bills dated March 17, 2025, in the amount of $900,771.50, and moved that they be paid. Second by Alderman Peterson. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Dan Jacobson, Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson, Holmes, Schlensker, Allton, Owens, John Jacobson, Little)

10. OFFICER’S REPORT

11. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT

Alderman Allton presented the Police Department Report for March 17, 2025; presented the Fire Department Report for March 17, 2025, to be placed on file.

12. PUBLIC WORKS REPORT

Alderman Schlensker presented the Street Department Report for March 17, 2025; presented the Water Department Report for March 17, 2025, to be placed on file.

13. COMMITTEE REPORTS

14. FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

Alderman John Jacobson of the Finance and Administration Committee presented the minutes from the committee meeting held on March 3, 2025, to be placed on file. He also announced that a committee meeting will be held on Monday, March 24, 2025 at 4:50 p.m. to discuss and vote on amendments to the McFarland Road Business District.

15. CODES & REGULATIONS COMMITTEE

Alderman Thompson of the Codes and Regulations Committee presented the minutes from the committee meeting held on March 3, 2025, to be placed on file. He also announced that Ordinance No. 15 has been removed from this evening’s Agenda.

16. RESOLUTIONS & MOTIONS

17. PURCHASE OF KIA SPORTAGES FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

Alderman John Jacobson presented the following Resolution and moved for its approval, RESOLVED, that the Economic Development/Planning Manager is authorized to purchase four (4) 2025 Kia Sportages, as replacement vehicles for the Community Development Department, from Anderson Rock River Ford, 224 N. Alpine Road, Rockford, IL 61107. The cost of each vehicle shall be $30,585.70, as specified by the attached quote. The total cost for the four (4) vehicles will not exceed $122,342.80. Payment for this purchase shall be drawn from the FY2026 budget from Account No. 01-05-6223. Second by Alderman Peterson. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Dan Jacobson, Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson, Holmes, Schlensker, Allton, Owens, John Jacobson, Little) RESOLUTION NO. 25-015

18. HELM SERVICES TO INSTALL AIR CONDITIONING UNIT AT CITY HALL

Alderman John Jacobson presented the following Resolution and moved for its approval, RESOLVED, that the Mayor is authorized to hire Helm Service, 2279 Yellow Creek Road, Freeport, IL 61032 to purchase and install 1 air conditioning and heating unit at City Hall, for a cost not to exceed twenty-six thousand seven hundred four dollars ($26,704.00). Funds shall be taken from Account No. 01-07-6530 (Building and Ground Improvements). Second by Alderman Peterson. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Dan Jacobson, Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson, Holmes, Schlensker, Allton, Owens, John Jacobson, Little)

RESOLUTION NO. 25-016

19. AL CARUANA TO BE APPOINTED TO THE GREATER ROCKFORD AIRPORT BOARD

Alderman John Jacobson presented the following Resolution making an appointment to the Greater Rockford Airport Board of Commissioners. WHEREAS, pursuant to 70 ILCS 5/3.1, the City of Loves Park, an Illinois municipal corporation (the “City”), has the right to appoint one member to the Greater Rockford Airport Authority (the “Authority”) Board of Commissioners; and WHEREAS, Tom Myers is a member of the Authority’s Board of Commissioners who had been appointed by the City; and WHEREAS, Tom Myers has tendered his resignation, effective 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2025, relinquishing his position as a member of the Authority’s Board of Commissioners; and WHEREAS, the City and Authority have accepted his resignation, and the City is grateful for Tom Myers’ years of service as a Board Commissioner of the Authority; and WHEREAS, the City desires to appoint Al Caruana as an Authority Board Commissioner to fill the vacancy created by Tom Myers’ resignation. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that by the Mayor and the City Council of the City of Loves Park, County of Winnebago and County of Boone, Illinois, that by the adoption of this resolution, that the Mayor and the City Council hereby agree as follows:

1. The foregoing recitals are incorporated herein and made a part hereof.

2. Al Caruana is hereby appointed by the City to serve as its member on the Board of Commissioners of the Authority, with a term commencing on April 1, 2025.

3. This Resolution will be in full force and effect from and after its passage, approval, and publication in pamphlet form in the manner provided by law.

Second by Alderman Peterson. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Dan Jacobson, Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson, Holmes, Schlensker, Allton, Owens, John Jacobson, Little)

RESOLUTION NO. 25-017

20. SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH A TO Z TOWING, Inc.

Alderman John Jacobson presented the following Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a Service Agreement between the City of Loves Park, Illinois and A to Z Towing, Inc. WHEREAS, the City of Loves Park, Boone and Winnebago Counties, Illinois (“City”), is a duly constituted, organized and validly existing municipality within the meaning of Section 1 of Article VII of the 1970 Constitution of the State of Illinois, and is operating under the Illinois Municipal Code, 65 ILCS 5/1- 1-1 et seq., as amended; and WHEREAS, A to Z Towing, Inc. an Illinois corporation, having its principal place of business at 6905 Elm Avenue, Loves Park, IL 61111 (A to Z”) provides towing and vehicle storage services; and WHEREAS, the City desires to update the agreement with A to Z Towing to allow for increased fees to reflect the added costs that have been incurred since the agreement first went into effect; and WHEREAS, the City has determined that the terms of the Service Agreement are acceptable and are in the best interest of the City and its citizens. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Loves Park, Illinois, that by the adoption of this resolution, that the City hereby agrees:

1. The above recitals are hereby incorporated into this Resolution as if fully stated herein.

2. The City Council hereby approves the Service Agreement and authorizes the Mayor or his designee to execute the Service Agreement, in substantially the same form as attached hereto as Exhibit “A”.

3. This Resolution will be in full force and effect from and after its passage, approval, and publication in pamphlet form in the manner provided by law.

Second by Alderman Peterson. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Dan Jacobson, Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson, Holmes, Schlensker, Allton, Owens, John Jacobson, Little) RESOLUTION NO. 25-018

21. ORDINANCES

22. OMNIBUS VOTE

Alderman John Jacobson moved to bring Ordinance No. 16, 17, and 18 on the Agenda to be acted upon through a single omnibus vote. Second by Alderman Peterson. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Dan Jacobson, Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson, Holmes, Schlensker, Allton, Owens, John Jacobson, Little)

23. REDEVELOPMENT PLAN AND PROJECT (A) FOR CENTRAL MANUFACTURING TIF

Alderman John Jacobson presented an ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan and Project (A) for the Central Manufacturing TIF Redevelopment Project Area in the City of Loves Park, and moved to approve. Second by Alderman Peterson. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Dan Jacobson, Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson, Holmes, Schlensker, Allton, Owens, John Jacobson, Little) ORDINANCE NO. 4696-25

24. DESIGNATING CENTRAL MANUFACTURING TIF (B) REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA

Alderman John Jacobson presented an ordinance approving designating the Central Manufacturing TIF (B) Redevelopment Project Area in the City of Loves Park, and moved for approval. Second by Alderman Peterson. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Dan Jacobson, Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson, Holmes, Schlensker, Allton, Owens, John Jacobson, Little) ORDINANCE NO. 4697-25

25. ADOPTING TAX INCREMENT ALLOCATION FINANCING (C) CENTRAL MANUFACTURING

Alderman John Jacobson presented an ordinance adopting Tax Increment Allocation Financing (C) within the Central Manufacturing TIF Redevelopment Project Area, and moved for approval. Second by Alderman Peterson. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Dan Jacobson, Pruitt, Thompson, Peterson, Holmes, Schlensker, Allton, Owens, John Jacobson, Little) ORDINANCE NO. 4698-25

26. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Jamie from Marshmallow’s Hope spoke to City Council about the youth mental health services that they provide.

27. ADJOURNMENT

Alderman Allton moved that the meeting be adjourned. Second by Alderman Pruitt. Motion carried by voice vote. The meeting was adjourned at 6:17 p.m.

https://cityoflovespark.com/minutes-agendas/city-council/