Rockford Sun

City of Carlyle Finance Committee met April 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Call to Order/ Roll Call

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Jeremy Weh on Monday, April 14, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at Case Halstead Library located at 550 6th Street, Carlyle, IL 62231. Committee members present included Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, and Jeff Taylor. Others present were Mayor Judy Smith, City Administrator Brad Myers, Aldermen Jim McClaren, Scott Diekemper, Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, Mike Jansen, City Clerk Rita Jurgensmeyer, Bo Thomas, City Attorney Joe Heiligenstein arrived at 6:48 p.m., Chief of Police Mark Pingsterhaus arrived at 6:32 p.m., Matt Wilson arrived at 6:48, Corey Johnson arrived at 6:52 p.m. Bo Thomas left at 6:35 p.m.

Approval of Minutes

Alderman John Hodapp made a motion to approve the minutes from March 24, 2025. The motion was seconded by Alderman Jeff Taylor, and it was approved by voice vote.

Approval of Claims

Alderman Jeremy Weh made a motion to approve the claims. Alderman John Hodapp seconded the motion, and it was approved by voice vote.

Review/Approve Updated Water Rates

Bo Thomas from Glass and Shuffett presented the water rate contract for 2023. He explained that it was behind schedule due to delays in 2022. He explained the procedure to get the total cost of producing water. He said they take the pumping data to get to the total gallons pumped and to get the rate, the cost divided by the gallons pumped. He explained the total costs and what it all consists of. He said he will be starting on the 2024 rates soon.

Alderman John Hodapp made a motion to forward the water rate contract to the city council. Alderman Jeff Taylor seconded the motion, and it was approved by voice vote.

First Review of Draft FY26 Budget

City Administrator Brad Myers explained to the committee the revenue and expenses for FY25. He said the revenue is $12.18 million with two more months in the fiscal year. The expenses are $11.3 million. He discussed several of the projects that were done this last fiscal year. He then explained the FY26 budget. City Administrator Brad Myers told the committee that they have combined Funds 17 Parks and 18 Playground and the Dog Park Fund into one fund, Parks. City Administrator said he spoke with Mayor Smith, City Treasurer Chad Holthaus, and the auditors and no one had a problem with combining the funds. He explained some of the future purchases and projects. The committee discussed the project on 17th Street. A culvert needs to be moved that currently runs east/west and change it to run north/south. City Administrator Brad Myers said the work that they have already done has moved a lot of water. Mayor Smith said that there are two families on 17th Street that have asked for a Street and Alley Committee meeting to discuss the problems on 17th Street. There will be a meeting on April 28th at 5:30 p.m. They feel that the work done on 17th Street didn’t help them. They took pictures of the last rain. Mayor Smith said the problem is that there is a low lot between two higher lots. They both had water in their basement worse than it had ever been. Alderman John Hodapp asked about money being put in the budget for a new building and if it is still in there. If it is he feels that something needs to be done with the old Bittle building. City Administrator Brad Myers said that he will be putting it in the new budget because he found out today that the city will be receiving approximately $100,000.00 more than he thought they were on the local government distribution fund. He added that there is TIF money that can be used also. City Administrator Brad Myers asked the committee to turn to the back page. He said the projected revenue is $16.6 million and the projected expenditure is $16.5 million.

City Administrator Brad Myers said that there will be a public hearing before the next city council meeting at 6:45 p.m. Alderman Jeremy Weh asked about Fund 21 Sports Complex. City Administrator Brad Myers said he can take it out of the budget and put it in the Parks Fund. Alderman John Hodapp asked if anything had been spent out of Fund 21 last year. City Administrator Brad Myers said that they did not. Alderman John Hodapp was concerned that if Fund 21 was taken out the citizens would think that the city has decided not to do anything with the sports complex. Mayor Smith felt that it should be left in the budget. City Administrator Brad Myers said he can put the line items in the Park budget.

City Administrator Brad Myers brought up that when Bo Thomas was discussing increasing the water rates it isn’t in ordinance form, and it needs to be. He added that earlier this year he found a flaw in the formula figuring the rate. The ordinance said it was to increase 5 percent each year and the formula that was put in was only increasing $.05. He will have it ready at the next meeting. He asked that it be continued until the next Finance meeting.

Alderman Jeremy Weh went back to action item 2.2, approve updated water rates, and made a motion to continue it until the next meeting. Alderman Jeff Taylor seconded the motion, and it was approved by voice vote.

Unfinished Business

There was no unfinished business.

New Business

There was no new business.

Any Other Comments

There were no any other comments.

Public Comments

There were no public comments.

Executive Session

The committee did not enter executive session.

Adjournment

At 6:56 p.m. Alderman John Hodapp made a motion to adjourn. Alderman Jeff Taylor seconded the motion, and it was approved by voice vote.

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