Rockford Sun

City of Carlyle City Council met Aug. 11.

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, Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, and Bruce Hilmes.

City employees present were City Administrator Brad Myers, Chief of Police Mark Pingsterhaus, School Resource Officer Mark Taylor, City Attorney Joe Heiligenstein, Kevin Rolfingsmeyer, Keith Housewright, and City Clerk Rita Jurgensmeyer.

Others present were Matt Wilson and Corey Johnson.

Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to approve the July 28, 2025, minutes. Alderman Tammy Peters seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Aye: Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Scott Diekemper, 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, Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Bruce Hilmes, and Tammy Peters. Nay: none.

Mayor Judy Smith reminded everyone that the street fair is coming up. It is on September 5th and 6th. If anyone is interested in having a vendor spot, they should call Kayla at city hall. If anyone would like to make a donation to cover the expenses of the street fair should call Kayla at city hall.

Mayor Judy Smith also thanked everyone for carrying through with the heat we have had.

City Administrator Brad Myers said that the oil and chipping went well on August 1st. They put down 12,000 gallons of oil and they were all done with just one hour overtime. The next day for oil and chipping is August 25th. They have been out and picked up the excess of rocks already.

Keith Housewright reported for the library saying that the Lego club is on September 9th at 6:00 p.m. Elissa Cameron is running this and has been putting together neat things for the kids to do. He also told the council that he wrote a technology grant through the state library and he received $13,000.00 that will be used for new computers in the library.

City Administrator Brad Myers said the city has a continuous problem with apartment complexes with the trash cans being left out on the street. The ordinance says they have to be removed from the street within 24 hours of the trash being picked up. He said what they would like to do is get an ordinance in place that would require apartment complexes with three or more rental units to be required to have dumpsters instead of trash cans. The ordinance should be ready for the next meeting.

City Administrator Brad Myers said that a couple of meetings ago Kerrick Rahm from the school was here about the school putting signs on the electric poles. He said that he met with Kerrick Rahm and Alderman Mike Jansen also attended the meeting. They discussed two options. One would be the Electric Department could put poles on the school property for the school to put the signs on. Kerrick Rahm didn’t think they would go for that. Currently they have eight poles that they are putting signs on from Bond Street to Dollar General. They put so many signs on the poles that they interfere with the flags and the line of sight on some of the corners. Kerrick Rahm proposed that they go from the railroad tracks up to Bond Street only on the east side and only on wood poles. They would put two signs on each pole. The school will determine who will be on each pole.

Alderman Jeremy Weh made a motion to approve the school putting only two signs on wood poles on the east side of Highway 127 from the railroad tracks to Bond Street. Alderman Tammy Peters seconded the motion and it was unanimously by roll call vote. Alderman John Hodapp asked Kevin Rolfingsmeyer if he had a problem with this. Kevin Rolfingsmeyer said he didn’t if they stayed off the metal poles. Aye: Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, and Jim McClaren. Nay: none.

Kevin Rolfingsmeyer said that last Thursday they ran the Fairbanks generator. It is an exercise that is done every other month. At about 2.5 hours in they went out to do the readings and there were flames coming out of both sides of the generator. They hit the emergency stop and got the fire extinguishers and got the fire out. Steve Payne was out so they had him look at it and he suggested they get someone to come out and check it. Someone will be coming out on Monday to see what all will need to be replaced. They had a camera on it and you can see it was burning for about three minutes. City Administrator Brad Myers said that it was turned into insurance and currently there is a claim with Cincinnati and ICRMT. They are trying to determine if the damage is because of the fire or the damage to the equipment is what caused the fire. Kevin Rolfingsmeyer said that it is a non-dedicated engine so they are not receiving any penalties for not having it in service.

City Administrator Brad Myers said they received a bid from Wessel Tree Service to remove four trees and some limbs out of another tree. One tree is at Billy Ross’s chicken coop. The tree has grown into the fence so they are only taking the tree down about 16” above the fence. There are two trees on the corner of Mullikin and 16th Street by the alley, and Dave Martin’s tree, and limbs off one at 17th Street and Ridge Street. The total cost is $11,500.00.

Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to approve the bid from Wessel Tree Service in the amount of $11,500.00. Alderman Tammy Peters 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, Jim McClaren, and Scott Diekemper. Nay: none.

Chief of Police Mark Pingsterhaus thanked everyone for all the nice comments during his brief absence. He said it is good to be up and moving around and he is glad to be back at the city council meeting.

Chief of Police also said that the addition to the police department should be done soon.

City Administrator Brad Myers said that the pool is currently non-compliant with ADA. It is not by law but highly suggested that the pool has a chair lift for the handicapped and elderly. There was a Park Committee meeting this evening and they were presented with bids for one for $14,685.00, another for $11,737.00, and one for $14,049.00. It was determined to get the one for $14,685.00 from i-swim 2 but before they approve this purchase, he needs to check if they are following the Buy America Law with this manufacturer. If everything checks out, he will ask for approval at the next meeting.

City Administrator Brad Myers said it was brought to the council from the Park Committee to approve $4,994.00 to buy new furniture for around the pool. It is for 10 loungers and 10 chairs.

Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to approve the purchase of new pool furniture at a cost of $4,994.00. Alderman Tammy Peters 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, Scott Diekemper, and Jeremy Weh. Nay: none.

City Administrator Brad Myers said it was requested by the Park Committee for the council to approve the park department to go out for bids to repair or replace the concrete pool deck. He said it is pitting causing potholes around the pool.

Alderman John Hodapp made a motion to approve going out for RFPs for repairing or replacing the pool deck. 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, Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, and John Hodapp. Nay: none.

City Administrator Brad Myers said that when school starts the attendance at the pool declines. They are spending thousands of dollars on employees and chemicals. What they would like to do next year is change the policy to close the pool when school starts. Currently the pool is open on weekends after school starts through Labor Day.

Alderman John Hodapp asked if the motion could be to continue this item. The park committee voted to continue it due to the decision to replace or repair the pool deck.

Alderman John Hodapp made a motion to continue the decision to close the pool when school starts. Alderman Jeff Taylor seconded he motion and it was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Aye: Mike Jansen, Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, and Jeff Taylor. Nay: none

City Administrator Brad Myers said that the Park Committee also discussed a heat index policy and the committee decided to give the park director authority to cancel games if the heat index is 105 degrees or higher.

City Administrator Brad Myers said that they are currently using the tennis courts for the pickleball courts. Pickleball is becoming more and more popular. There is someone playing every day. The problem is the tennis courts need to be resurfaced or replaced. The concrete is coming apart and it is unsafe. The Park Committee reviewed an example proposal from Holland. They estimated it would be around $350,000.00 to build a pickleball facility. City Administrator Brad Myers asked for permission to send out RFPs for a pickleball facility.

Alderman John Hodapp made a motion allowing City Administrator Brad Myers to send out RFPs for a pickleball facility. Alderman Jeremy Weh seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Aye: Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, Jeff Taylor, and Mike Jansen. Nay: none.

Alderman Jeff Taylor asked where the $325,000.00 would be coming from. City Administrator Brad Myers said that the park fund has the money for a pickleball facility.

City Administrator Brad Myers said that the Employee Concerns Committee sent to the city council a proposal to give a $1.00 per hour raise to the four park employees.

Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to approve a $1.00 per hour raise to the four park employees. Alderman Jim McClaren seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Aye: Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, and Bruce Hilmes. Nay: none.

At 7:28 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, 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, 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21) Discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under this Act, whether for purposes of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated by Section 2.06. The motion was seconded by Alderman Tammy Peters and it was unanimously approved by roll call vote. Aye: Jim McClaren, Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, John Hodapp, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Bruce Hilmes, and Tammy Peters. Nay: none.

At 7:42 p.m. the council returned to open session.

Alderman Bruce Hilmes made a motion to approve the executive session minutes from February 10, 2025, February 24, 2025, March 24, 2025, May 12, 2025, and July 15, 2025. 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, Jim McClaren, and Scott Diekemper. Nay: none.

Alderman Jeremy Weh made a motion to open executive session minutes from February 10, 2025, September 25, 2017, October 8, 2018, December 23, 2019, and June 26, 2023. Alderman John Hodapp 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, Scott Diekemper, and Jeremy Weh. Nay: none.

The remaining executive session minutes will stay closed.

At 7:43 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: Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, and John Hodapp. Voting nay none.

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