Rockford Sun

City of Carlyle City Council met July 15.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The Carlyle City Council was called to order by Mayor Judy Smith 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, School Resource Officer Mark Taylor, City Attorney Joe Heiligenstein, Kevin Rolfingsmeyer, Kyle Berry, Stacy Dannaman, and City Clerk Rita Jurgensmeyer.

Others present were Matt Wilson, Corey Johnson, and Kerrick Rahm.

Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to approve the June 23, 2025, minutes. 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 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 Clerk Rita Jurgensmeyer reported that next month it will be time to approve and review the executive session minutes. She has also put together the executive session minutes from the committees to be approved and reviewed and City Attorney Joe Heiligenstein is reviewing them now.

Mayor Judy Smith said that the city has a lot of work being done in the streets. The Street and Alley Department is getting ready for oil and chipping; the Water Department is putting in the new water line on Ridge Street. She asks that people pay attention to the work being done and avoid the area. There have been a few instances this week where people drove through the work zone. She added that she is going to tell the foreman that if they have anyone driving through the work zone, they should get a picture of the license plate, and a description of the car and call the police department.

Mayor Smith also announced that it is Clinton County fair week.

Mayor Judy Smith said that the Ford Explorer at the Water Department needs to be replaced.

Alderman John Hodapp made a motion to check on any options to replace the Ford Explorer at the water plant. Alderman Jeremy Weh 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.

Mayor Judy Smith said that she has received a couple of phone calls from other municipalities asking if the city’s digital sign is available to put an event on the sign in their municipality. She told the callers that up until now the sign has only been used for Carlyle events and any non-profit organizations events. Alderman Jeff Taylor said he didn’t see a problem advertising church events. Mayor Smith said the calls received were not from churches, but municipalities. The council then discussed different scenarios. City Attorney Joe Heiligenstein commented that the city doesn’t want to do it because it is a slippery slope and the city will be advertising for other municipalities. City Administrator Brad Myers said that Kayla Heimann has enough to put on the sign and he doesn’t want to add to it. City Attorney Joe Heiligenstein said that it isn’t required to have a vote on this item.

Kerrick Rahm called Mayor Smith and asked if he could speak to the council concerning the school putting high school banners on the city electric poles. Kerrick Rahm said this has been a thing that has been going on for quite a while, putting the different sports players names on signs and attaching them to the electric poles. Since he is now the athletic director, he has received questions from coaches asking if they can or can’t put the signs up. He said he has talked to Mayor Smith about this and she said a big issue is the American flags get tangled up in the signs. He said he has been told to put them in front of the school and that is why there are so many signs on the poles. He said if it is allowed, he needs guidance. He said the parents put up the signs and the coaches are in charge of it, but if there is a problem it comes back to him. Mayor Smith read the ordinance concerning putting things on city poles. The council discussed what they felt could be done. Mayor Smith explained what the city has done in the past. It was decided to have an Electric Committee meeting to discuss this further.

Mayor Judy Smith reported on the Water Department saying that there have been some complaints about the new water line on Ridge Street. People are saying that they have not seen an increase in water pressure and the new line is a waste of money. Mayor Smith said that the line is not complete and so there will not be an increase in water pressure until it is completed. After the line is completed, they will have to pressure check it for leaks and then after that they will have to go back and unhook the old service and connect the new service. Then the line has to be tested again. Mayor Smith said that after the water line is in and all the services are connected to the new line, they should see an increase in water pressure.

Kyle Berry explained an upcoming IDOT project. It is resurfacing from .6 miles from Pipeline Road to 13th Street in Carlyle. They are also going to change the sidewalks at 13th Street, 15th Street, 16th Street, and 17th Street. It has to be made ADA compliant. They will also paint crosswalks on the highway. They sent over a local agency agreement. Kyle Berry said before the agreement was signed, he wanted to make sure what they wanted from the city. He said he doesn’t see anything in the contract to be concerned about.

City Administrator Brad Myers said there is a resolution with this to be passed. At the next meeting they will need to approve the resolution.

Mayor Judy Smith presented the School Resource Officer contract. She asked Officer Taylor to speak to the council about the school resource officer program. He said he felt it went very well last school year. He said he spoke with a lot of the students and the faculty and that he built a great relationship with the students and faculty. He feels this program is something the school needs. Mayor Smith also feels like it went very well and needs to be continued.

Alderman Mike Jansen made a motion to approve the school resource officer contract. 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.

Mayor Judy Smith updated everyone on the Bruemmer Park pavilion. She said it is now in Kurt Sheathelm’s hands. He is going to work on the post support for the pavilion. They have had meetings and had Luebbers Welding out to discuss the need and how it should be done. It will have a different kind of post under it. The posts they had were not able to hold the roof up.

Mayor Judy Smith said that Levi Hays has completed his first year of employment and Andy Wennerstrom sent a letter to recommend him for permanent hire.

Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to put Levi Hays on permanent hire. Alderman Jim McClaren 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 that the water and sewer contract has been tentatively approved. The union wants the longevity raises spelled out in the contract. Staci Dannaman produced a spreadsheet showing the raises, the license raises, and the longevity raises. She explained the spreadsheet to the council. Alderman Bruce Hilmes would like the union to accept the contract before it is approved by the city council.

Alderman Bruce Hilmes made a motion to continue the approval of the water and sewer contract. Alderman Jeff Taylor seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Aye: Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, Jeff Taylor, and Mike Jansen. Nay: none.

At 7:48 p.m. Alderman John Hodapp made a motion to go into executive session to discuss 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11) Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting. The motion was seconded by Alderman Jim McClaren 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 8:00 p.m. the council returned to open session.

At 8:00 p.m. Alderman Jeremy Weh made a motion to adjourn. Alderman Bruce Hilmes 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. Voting nay none.

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