Illinois Valley Times

City of Oglesby City Council met Feb. 5.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

A regular meeting of the Oglesby City Council was held on Monday, February 5, 2024. The meeting was called to order at 7 pm by Mayor Jason Curran.

PRESENT: Mayor Jason Curran, Commissioners Richard Baldridge, Terry Eutis, Gregory McDermott, Tony Stefanelli, City Clerk Becky Clinard and Attorney Pat Barry.

PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS:

• There were no comments from the public.

Curran noted his concern about minutes from the January 15, 2024, council meeting, saying he felt that an important part of a public comment was excluded. He asked that a recommendation be made to add it. Baldridge reminded the council of what they were told about minutes and council approval recently.

McDermott asked if the missing information was important to city business. 

A MOTION WAS MADE BY Baldridge, SECONDED BY McDermott to approve the minutes from the January 15, and January 24, 2024, city council meeting. AYES: Baldridge, McDermott, Stefanelli. NAYS: Curran. ABSTAIN: Eutis. MOTION CARRIED.

Curran then asked Attorney Barry about his concerns with the January 23, 2024, executive session minutes and how his concerns should be addressed. It was agreed that that would be discussed in executive session. A MOTION WAS MADE BY McDermott, SECONDED BY Stefanelli to approve the executive session minutes from the January 15, 2024, city council meeting. AYES: Baldridge, Eutis, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

A MOTION WAS MADE BY Stefanelli, SECONDED BY Eutis to approve the invoices presented for payment in the amount of $369,649.20. AYES: Baldridge, Eutis, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

BILLS PRESENTED FOR PAYMENT

TOTAL: $369,649.20.

Al Stoudt, who serves as the plumbing inspector for both Ottawa and Oglesby, then gave a brief presentation on ejector pits. He told the council he believe that the ejector pits were a better solution for backups, noting that while a little more expensive, they were easier to maintain and less costly to replace. He also said the city could consider making them mandatory for new construction. Stefanelli said he felt it was worthwhile to send to the Plan Commission for their input. McDermott added that it would increase property values and lower insurance rates.

Kevin Gaden, Mike Genin and Sean McCarthy then gave a presentation of the proposed solar farm and its benefits to the city and to the IMEA. The men answered questions from the council and audience.

A MOTION WAS MADE BY Stefanelli, SECONDED BY McDermott to send Oglesby Storage, LLC, special use and variance requests to the Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. AYES: Baldridge, Eutis, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Baldridge then told the council of the need for a $31,000 Cost of Service (Electric) Study by the city’s electrical engineers, BHMG. Baldridge explained that a previous study done in 2021 was only a partial study and did not include final load numbers from GTI. He said that the engineers felt the study was necessary and would provide valuable information. Curran questioned whether the study was needed, citing the previous study and his understanding that future studies could be done on a smaller scale and at a lesser price.

A MOTION WAS MADE BY Baldridge, SECONDED BY Stefanelli to approve entering into a contract with BHMG for a COSS at a cost of $31,000. AYES: Baldridge, Eutis, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Baldridge then asked the council to approve the equipment purchase for Mallick Substation at a cost of $77,900. This purchase is part of a recent bid letting. Baldridge explained that long lead times necessitated approving the purchase now. 

A MOTION WAS MADE BY Baldridge SECONDED BY McDermott to approve the purchase of $77,900 in equipment for Mallick Substation. AYES: Baldridge, Eutis, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. MOTION CARRIED.

A MOTION WAS MADE BY McDermott, SECONDED BY Baldridge to approve a contract with Illinois Valley excavating for a sum not to exceed $32,000 to mark water lines. McDermott explained that the contract was necessary as a part of the grant agreement for the lead line survey. AYES: Baldridge, Eutis, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

A MOTION WAS MADE BY McDermott, SECONDED BY Baldridge to approve raffle licenses for Holy Family School, Starved Rock Runners and We Are Oglesby. AYES: Baldridge, Eutis, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

In respect to the earlier presentation by Al Stoudt, A MOTION WAS MADE BY Stefanelli, SECONDED BY McDermott to send language to the Plan Commission regarding the sewer check value/ejector pit requirement. AYES: Baldridge, Eutis, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

A MOTION WAS MADE BY Stefanelli, SECONDED BY Baldridge, to approve Curran’s appointment of Don Finley to the Plan Commission and Gary Moyle to the Police Pension Board. AYES: Baldridge, Eutis, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

A vacancy on the Ambulance Board still exists.

Curran then announced the first meeting for the proposed First Amendment to Oglesby TIF VI. It will be held on Monday, March 4, 2024, at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

Eutis then led a general discussion on how the city should handle migrant drop offs. Curran said that he had talked with County EMA, who urged the city to develop a general plan, that could relate to multiple scenarios. Stefanelli said he felt a plan specific to the migrant issue was warranted, noting that in his profession as a firefighter, how a single-family residence fire is handled with very different than a nursing home fire. Eutis said he would put a general plan together for future council review.

Public Comments on any Topic:

There were no comments from the audience.

COMMISSIONER REPORTS:

❖ Stefanelli, Commissioner of Accounts and Finance

• Thanked Commissioner Baldridge for his work on the new conference room

• Thanked Mayor Curran for working with the council to fill board positions

• Announced that the IRS waived more than $19,000 in penalties stemming from the late filing of employee W2s in 2021. He thanked Treasurer Paul Danekas for his assistance in this matter.

❖ Eutis Commissioner of Health and Public Safety

• Told the council that the tender truck had finally arrived.

❖ McDermott, Commissioner of Streets, Water and Sewers

• Asked residents to let him know if signs were needed on streets, etc.

• Commented on the renovation and the new ADA compliant conference room

• Thanked the clerk’s office for cataloging the surveys. More than 900 surveys were received.

• Announced the winners of the drawing for 3 $10 prizes: Gary Biolchini, Jamie Bond and Richard Snell.

❖ Baldridge, Commissioner of Parks and Public Property

• Congratulated the Oglesby Washington 7th grade team on their victory and wished them luck when they play for the state championship on Thursday.

• Said that he was working with Matt Klein on possibly setting up a showing of his “ice Climbers” short movie in Oglesby.

• Announced that parttime summer help applications will be available soon.

• Thanked the city electric department and Commissioner Stefanelli for their help in wiring the new conference room.

MAYOR’S REPORT

• Called Matt Klein & Kyle Petersen’s “Ice Climbers” “absolutely stellar,” and mentioned that Wes Black, an Oglesby resident and designer of the city’s disc golf course, was one of the climbers featured.

• Congratulated the Oglesby Bulldogs, noting that the 7th graders were undefeated 3 years in a row, and wished them luck at Thursday’s game.

• Said that the March newsletter would focus on opportunities to volunteer and spoke about the importance of community involvement.

A MOTION WAS MADE BY Stefanelli, SECONDED BY McDermott to enter into closed session AT 8:26 p.m. to discuss “The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees,” 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1). AYES: Baldridge, Eutis, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. NAYS: None MOTION CARRIED.

A MOTION WAS MADE BY Eutis, SECONDED BY Stefanelli to reenter into regular session at 8:40 p.m. AYES: Baldridge, Eutis, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

A MOTION WAS MADE BY Baldridge, SECONDED BY McDermott, to adjourn at 8:41 p.m. AYES: Baldridge, Eutis, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. NAYS: None. 

MEETING ADJOURNED.

https://oglesby.il.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/5.-020524MINUTES.pdf