Illinois Valley Times

City of Peru City Council met Feb. 12.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

A regular meeting of the Peru City Council was called to order by Mayor Ken Kolowski in the Peru City Council Chambers on Monday, February 12, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. 

City Clerk Dave Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Ballard, Payton, Edgcomb, Lukosus and Moreno present. Alderman Ballard, Sapienza and O’Sadnick absent; Mayor Kolowski present. 

PUBLIC COMMENT 

PRESENTATION 

Mayor Kolowski presented Director of Parks, Recreation and Special Events Adam Thorson and the Park Board with the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association’s 2023 IPRA Promotes Play Initiative  award for improvements at Sunset Park. Mr. Thorson thanked the members of the Parks and Recreation  Advisory Board and Director of Engineering/Zoning Eric Carls for the time they spent working on the project with him. Mr. Thorson stated it’s a great honor for the city and the Park Board to be recognized  by that highly of an organization. 

Recreation Board Chairman Steve Michelini stated the board tries to upgrade a park every year and  acknowledgement of the board’s hard work is meaningful. Mr. Michelini stated that a lot of credit goes  to the community, they use the park and that’s why we keep upgrading. Mr. Michelini stated he was most proud of the improvements made to the playground, but the Park Board is looking at doing more upgrades in the future such as diamonds and lights this year. 

Mayor Kolowski stated it was nice to be recognized and the residents have enjoyed the improvements made at the park. 

Mr. Thorson and the board were recognized with the award following Sunset Park improvements completed in October, thanks in part to a $43,001 grant from GameTime through a program developed  in partnership with the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association. It supplemented the $150,0000 in upgrades. The city paid $116,110. The new upgrades included new playground equipment consisting of  a rock climber, a tube kids go through and a variety of other equipment. The project also included  engineered wood fiber safety surfacing for the ground. 

INUTES/FINANCIAL REPORTS/ACTIVITY REPORTS 

Mayor Kolowski presented the Regular Minutes of January 29, 2024 and Peru Police Department Annual Report for 2023. Alderman Payton made a motion the minutes and reports be received and placed on file. Alderman Edgcomb seconded the motion; motion carried. 

FINANCE AND SAFETY COMMITTEE 

Alderman Tieman presented the following disbursements for payment on February 14, 2024: FUND NAME TOTAL EXPENSES 

General Fund $450,995.81 

Garbage Fund 75,808.95 

TIF Funds 519,971.17

Utility Fund 375,582.43 

Total $1,421,358.36 

Alderman Tieman made a motion the disbursements be received, placed on file and the bills be paid in the usual manner. Alderman Tieman seconded the motion. Clerk Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Tieman, Payton, Edgcomb, Lukosus and Moreno voting aye; Aldermen Ballard, Sapienza and O’Sadnick  absent; motion carried. 

Alderman Payton made a motion to authorize renewal of the following Utility Fund CD’s: North Central  Bank, $500,000 @ 5.00% for 6 months; First State Bank, $500,000 @ 5.25% for 6 months. Alderman Tieman seconded the motion. Clerk Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Tieman, Payton, Edgcomb, Lukosus and Moreno voting aye; Aldermen Ballard, Sapienza and O’Sadnick absent; motion carried. 

PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE 

PSM/Fire Chief King reported he met with the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners to create a new list due to a vacancy. 

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE 

Alderman Lukosus made a motion to award the 2024 General Fund Street Program to Advanced Asphalt in the amount of $1,068,743.84. Alderman Moreno seconded the motion. Clerk Bartley called the roll  with Aldermen Tieman, Payton, Edgcomb, Lukosus and Moreno voting aye; Aldermen Ballard, Sapienza  and O’Sadnick absent; motion carried. 

Kevin Minnick, Electric Operations Manager reported on a planned visit to Altofer CAT to inspect the disassembled? 

PSM/Fire Chief Jeff King reported on the ongoing efforts to fill potholes. Mayor Kolowski complimented Mr. King’s forward thinking of purchasing blacktop. 

REPORT OF CITY ATTOREY/ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS 

Corporate Counsel Scott Schweickert presented a proposed ordinance entitled: 

ORDINANCE NO. 6834 

AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE FINAL PLAT OF SUBDIVISION FOR SUBDIVISION OF LOT 8 IN PERU MARKETPLACE COMMERCIAL SUBDIVISION FIRST ADDITION TO THE CITY OF PERU, ILLINOIS, AND GRANTING VARIANCES AS SOUGHT BY PERU ROUTE 251, LLC (5253 IL Rt. 251, Peru, IL - Kohl’s - PIN# 11-33-300-008) 

Alderman Payton made a motion the ordinance be adopted as written and read. Alderman Edgcomb seconded the motion. Clerk Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Tieman, Payton, Edgcomb, Lukosus  and Moreno voting aye; Aldermen Ballard, Sapienza and O’Sadnick absent; motion carried. 

Corporate Counsel Scott Schweickert presented a proposed ordinance entitled: 

ORDINANCE NO. 6835

AN ORDINANCE DECLARING SURPLUS REVENUE IN THE PERU DOWNTOWN TIF  DISTRICT SPECIAL TAX ALLOCATION FUND AND AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF THAT SURPLUS REVENUE TO THE LASALLE COUNTY TREASURER FOR DISTRIBUTION TO AFFECTED TAXING DISTRICTS ON A PRO-RATA BASIS FOR TAX YEAR 2022 PAYABLE  2023 

Alderman Payton made a motion the ordinance be adopted as written and read. Alderman Lukosus seconded the motion. Clerk Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Tieman, Payton, Edgcomb, Lukosus  and Moreno voting aye; Aldermen Ballard, Sapienza and O’Sadnick absent; motion carried. 

PROCLAMATIONS 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS 

Alderman Lukosus made a motion to promote internal candidate to the position of Working Foreman of Maintenance and Generation. Alderman Moreno seconded the motion. Clerk Bartley called the roll with  Aldermen Tieman, Payton, Edgcomb, Lukosus and Moreno voting aye; Aldermen Ballard, Sapienza and  O’Sadnick absent; motion carried. 

Alderman Moreno made a motion to hire selected candidate for the position of Public Works Laborer. Alderman Lukosus seconded the motion. Clerk Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Tieman, Payton, Edgcomb, Lukosus and Moreno voting aye; Aldermen Ballard, Sapienza and O’Sadnick absent; motion  carried. 

Alderman Tieman made a motion to hire an additional candidate for the position of Public Works  Laborer. Alderman Edgcomb seconded the motion. Clerk Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Tieman,  Payton, Edgcomb, Lukosus and Moreno voting aye; Aldermen Ballard, Sapienza and O’Sadnick absent;  motion carried. 

NEW BUSINESS 

Alderman Payton made a motion to approve a Software as a Service agreement with Tyler Technologies to move to Incode 9 Cloud based in the amount of $83,368.00. Alderman Tieman seconded the motion. Clerk Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Tieman, Payton, Edgcomb, Lukosus and Moreno voting aye; Aldermen Ballard, Sapienza and O’Sadnick absent; motion carried. 

Alderman Edgcomb made a motion to authorize Board of Fire and Police Commissioners to Hire Candidate from Firefighter Eligibility List. Alderman Tieman seconded the motion. Clerk Bartley called  the roll with Aldermen Tieman, Payton, Edgcomb, Lukosus and Moreno voting aye; Aldermen Ballard,  Sapienza and O’Sadnick absent; motion carried. 

Alderman Tieman made a motion to approve IAFF Local 4751 Memo of Agreement Modifying  Scheduled Shifts. Alderman Edgcomb seconded the motion. Clerk Bartley called the roll with Aldermen  Tieman, Payton, Edgcomb, Lukosus and Moreno voting aye; Aldermen Ballard, Sapienza and O’Sadnick  absent; motion carried. 

PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 

Clerk Bartley presented a communication Jeanette Maurice requesting permission to reserve the east  shelter at Baker Lake on Sunday, July 14th and to have live music. Tentative hours would be 1pm to 4pm or 2pm to 5pm. Alderman Tieman made a motion to receive the communication, place it on file and concur with the recommendation. Alderman Edgcomb seconded the motion; motion carried. 

Clerk Bartley presented a request from Sherry Mayszak to place an insert in the utility bills explaining a referendum for funding of a new pool. Clerk Bartley stated he wasn't sure if it would be proper to include  politically driven information in utility bills. Clerk Bartley further commented that inserts are customarily informational about City programs or solicitations from local non-profit organizations. The Council  requested a copy of the request and the proposed insert for review. 

“Hi Dave, 

I have updated the flyer I sent you last fall about the swimming pool and it is attached. I'd like to know if  you've made a decision about allowing it to be mailed to all City of Peru electric bill payers. I'd like it to  go in with the April 2024 bills. 

I sent Stephanie an email asking for the correct hotel/motel tax rates just to verify that I have the right numbers. I'm willing to edit the flyer if you think there is something that should not be included.” 

Thank you, 

Sherry Mayszak 

MAYOR’S NOTES 

Economic Development Director Bob Vickery announced there will be an introduction day/luncheon for area not-for-profit organizations at city hall on March 7th. 

PUBLIC COMMENT 

CLOSED SESSION 

Alderman Tieman made motion to go into closed session to discuss the purchase or lease of real property  for the use of the public body is considered, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired and to discuss the operation by a municipality of a municipal utility or the operation of a municipal power agency or a municipal natural gas agency when  the discussion involves (i) contracts relating to the purchase, sale or delivery of electricity or natural gas or (ii) the results or conclusions of load forecast studies. Alderman Payton seconded the motion. Clerk Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Tieman, Payton, Edgcomb, Lukosus and Moreno voting aye; 

Aldermen Ballard, Sapienza and O’Sadnick absent; motion carried. 

Closed session began at 7:35 p.m. and ended 7:57 p.m. 

Alderman Lukosus made a motion to re-open the meeting. Alderman Edgcomb seconded the motion. Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Ballard, Payton, Edgcomb, Lukosus and Moreno present. Alderman Ballard, Sapienza and O’Sadnick absent; Mayor Kolowski present. 

ADJOURNMENT

Alderman Tieman made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Alderman Edgcomb seconded the motion and motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 7:57.

https://www.peru.il.us/