Rockford Sun

City of Carlyle City Council met Oct. 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Call to Order/Roll Call

The Carlyle City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Judy Smith at 7:00 p.m. at the Case Halstead Library, 550 6th Street, Carlyle, Illinois. 

The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Alderman present were Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, and Bruce Hilmes. Alderman John Hodapp was absent. 

City employees present were City Administrator Brad Myers, Police Officer Ben Useini, City Clerk Rita Jurgensmeyer, City Treasurer Chad Holthaus, and City Attorney Joe Heiligenstein, and Ryan Meyer. 

Others present were Matt Wilson and Corey Johnson. 

Approval of Minutes

Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to approve the minutes from September 22, 2025. Alderman Scott Diekemper seconded the motion, and it was approved by roll call vote. Aye: Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, and Bruce Hilmes. Nay: none. 

Claims

Alderman Jeremy Weh made a motion to approve the claims against the city. Alderman Jeff Taylor seconded the motion, and it was approved by roll call vote. Aye: Jim McClaren, Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Bruce Hilmes, and Tammy Peters. Nay: none. 

Treasurer’s Report

Alderman Jeremy Weh made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report. Alderman Jeff Taylor seconded the motion, and it was approved by roll call vote. Aye: Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, and Jim McClaren. Nay: none. 

City Clerk Report

There was no city clerk report. 

Aldermen Reports

There were no aldermen reports. 

Mayor’s Report

Mayor Judy Smith reported that Halloween Trick or Treat will be on October 31st from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Business Trick or Treat will be on October 31st from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Mayor Smith said that this year during the business trick or treat 9th Street between Franklin and Fairfax Streets will be closed for any business that is not in the downtown area to come up and set up a table to participate in the business trick or treat. Mayor Smith said she talked to Brad Knolhoff, the county board chairman, this afternoon, and there shouldn’t be any issues with doing this unless something came up in court and they need to use the sallyport. 

City Administrator’s Report

City Administrator Brad Myers reported that the Treasurer’s Report is pretty healthy. We are up to $12,000,000.00, which the city has not been there for a while. This is the total of all the accounts. The revenue and expense report shows that the revenues are above the expenses at the end of September by about $700,000.00. Alderman Jeff Taylor asked if we are spending less or is there more coming in. City Administrator Brad Myers said it is a combination of both.

City Administrator Brad Myers reported that the audit report was done but it was sent in too late for this council meeting. It will be on the agenda for the next meeting. 

Public Comments

There were no public comments. 

Library Board/Librarian Report

There was no report. 

Zoning/Planning

There was no report. 

EDC Report

There was no report. 

Corporate/Finance

• Board Docs Migration to Diligent - City Administrator Brad Myers said that the Board Docs software is expiring in November, but the same company has a new and improved version that is called Diligent Community. We will be getting the basic package which does what is done now at a price of $5,500.00. This has gone through the Finance Committee. Alderman Jeremy Weh made a motion to approve the purchase from Diligent Community at a cost of $5,500.00. Alderman Jeff Taylor seconded the motion, and it was approved by roll call vote. Aye: Jeremy Weh, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, and Scott Diekemper. Nay: none.
• Approve $8,000.00 Concrete Saw Repair - City Administrator Brad Myers said that another thing that passed through the Finance Committee was the repair of the concrete saw. Dale Lurkins came out last Friday and gave an estimate of $7,370.00 plus tax and shipping. The city does not pay tax, and they don’t know what the shipping will be. The Finance Committee recommended approving this with a cost of no more than $8,200.00. Alderman Jeremy Weh made a motion to approve repairs to the concrete saw with no more than a cost of $8,200.00. Alderman Jeff Taylor seconded the motion, and it was approved by roll call vote. Aye: Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Scott Diekemper, and Jeremy Weh. Nay: none.
• Accept Alderman Resignation - Mayor Judy Smith said that she is sad to report that Alderman John Hodapp has submitted a letter of resignation for personal reasons effective October 6, 2025. He thanked Mayor Judy Smith and the citizens of Carlyle. She said the seat will be vacant for a while and hopefully in the next month or so we will have someone to take the position. City Attorney Joe Heiligenstein said that if the mayor accepts the letter of resignation no vote needs to be taken, and it should be filled within the next 60 days. 

Electric

There was no report. 

Water & Wastewater

There was no report. 

Street & Alley

There was no report. 

Police

• Road Closure – CHS Homecoming Parade Route - City Administrator Brad Myers said that the homecoming parade will be held on October 15th. He explained the route and the streets that will need to be closed. Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to approve the CHS homecoming road closure for the parade route. Alderman Jeremy Weh seconded the motion, and it was approved by roll call vote. Aye: Mike Jansen, Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, and Jeff Taylor. Nay: none. 
• Approve Purchase & Installation of HVAC System for Sally Port - Mayor Judy Smith said that Mideastern Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning, Inc. submitted a bid for the HVAC system in the sallyport. She said that another business was sought to submit a bid, but the proprietor of that business said that he chose not to submit a bid. Mayor Smith said that there are two bids from Mideastern. One is for a gas furnace bid and the other is for an electric furnace bid. Chief of Police Mark Pingsterhaus would like to go with the gas furnace bid at a cost of $13,995.00. Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to approve the bid from Mideastern Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning, Inc. at a cost of $13,995.00. Alderman Tammy Peters seconded the motion, and it was approved by roll call vote. Aye: Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, Jeff Taylor, and Mike Jansen. Nay: none.

 Park

There was no report. 

Employee Concerns

There was no report.

Unfinished Business

There was no report. 

New Business

Mayor Judy Smith said that there is a resident in town that the city took two trees down that were in the alley easement behind her home. The trees were a threat to the electric lines. The resident asked if the city would take down two trees in her yard, on private property, so she could install a swimming pool for her adult son. Mayor Smith said that last year they looked at installing a lift at the city pool. This was brought up because currently there is no way to help a handicapped person get in and out of the pool. Mayor Smith said that her response to the resident is that the city is not going to cut down trees on private property, but we would look at a lift for the pool. They have already looked at a portable lift that can be taken out and stored away. She would like this in place by the time the pool opens next year. She said this is for information only. Ryan Meyer said that he has looked at several different options. He said there are some lifts that are fixed in the concrete, and he would like to stay away from that because it would be in the way for the swim team. He said that a portable lift would be anywhere from $8,000.00 to $12,000.00. Mayor Smith said that our pool is under 300 linear feet and if you are under 300 linear feet you only have to have one access point. 

Executive Session

Council entered executive session to discuss the following:

• Sale of Surplus Property 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(6)
• Litigation 5 ILCS 120/2/(c)(11)
• The Purchase or Lease of Real Property 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5)
• Personnel 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) 

At 7:18 p.m. Alderman Jeff Taylor made a motion to go into executive session for the reasons listed above. Alderman Jim McClaren seconded the motion, and it was approved by roll call vote. Aye: Tammy Peters, Jim McClaren, Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, and Bruce Hilmes. Nay: none. 

Return to Open Session - Approve the Sale of Surplus Property

At 7:32 p.m. the council returned to regular session. No action was taken to approve the sale of surplus property. There will be an ordinance drafted to go out for bid for the sale of surplus property at the next council meeting. 

Adjournment

At 7:32 p.m. Alderman Bruce Hilmes made a motion to adjourn. Alderman Jeremy Weh seconded the motion, and it was approved by roll call vote. Aye: Scott Diekemper, Jeremy Weh, Jeff Taylor, Mike Jansen, Bruce Hilmes, Tammy Peters, and Jim McClaren. Nay: none.

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