Illinois Valley Times

City of Oglesby City Council met Jan. 21

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The Oglesby City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Jason Curran at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

Present: Commissioners Rich Baldridge, Hilary Moyle, Gregory McDermott, Tony Stefanelli and Mayor Curran. Attorney Pat Barry and City Clerk Becky Clinard were also present.

Public Comments

There were no comments from the public on agenda items.

A MOTION WAS MADE BY Stefanelli, SECONDED BY Baldridge, to approve the minutes from the January 6, 2025, regular meeting. AYES: Baldridge, Moyle, McDermott, Stefanelli,

Curran. MOTION CARRIED.

A MOTION WAS MADE BY McDermott, SECONDED BY Baldridge, to approve the minutes from the November 4, 2024, executive session meeting. AYES: Baldridge, Moyle,

McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. MOTION CARRIED.

A MOTION WAS MADE BY Stefanelli, SECONDED BY Moyle, to approve the bills presented for payment in the amount of $279,672.40. AYES: Baldridge, Moyle, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. MOTION CARRIED.

BILLS PRESENTED FOR PAYMENT: Total $

A MOTION WAS MADE BY Stefanelli, SECONDED BY McDermott, to approve the payroll for January 17, 2025, in the amount of $68,830.63 . AYES: Baldridge, Moyle, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. MOTION CARRIED.

The council then listened to a short presentation by Mr. Patel on his group’s plan to put a liquor store on 210 N. Columbia Ave. He told the council that the store would be approximately 4,200 square feet and would include retail sales of liquor and gaming. Curran questioned whether the store would sell any type of drug paraphernalia, to which Patel answered no. Curran also inquired if the store would sell a more varied liquor inventory than what is now available at Beck’s. He told the council that there would be 6,000 to 7,000 items in the store.

Stefanelli asked if the city had a liquor license available. Curran talked about why there are no licenses available, saying that the plan was to grant additional licenses based on what the establishment brought to the city. Stefanelli then asked if the developers could provide a more detailed floor plan and asked about other stores, so he could see what the stores look like. 

The next item was to change the number of liquor licenses available for Mr. Patel’s store.

Stefanelli said he’d like to see more information on the store layout before expanding the number of licenses. Moyle asked about the process of getting a liquor license, saying that she didn’t want to deter anyone from starting a new business in Oglesby and suggested that the city add more than one to keep from having to do this again. Moyle said she didn’t want it to appear the process was based on “favoritism.”

McDermott questioned whether the gaming portion of the business would impact established business. Baldridge agreed with Stefanelli, saying that he understood that the city would agree to another license for a business such as Dave & Busters, but also noted that the 4,200 square foot store did bring something to the city and he looked forward to having more information from the developers.

Curran said his goal was to keep tax dollars in Oglesby and bringing something in that would benefit the city, calling the decision a “no brainer.” Stefanelli continued to push for more information on the layout, saying it was important to do “our due diligence.” Curran and Stefanelli disagreed on the importance of having that information before making the decision.

Mr. Patel said it was important for his group to know that they would be granted a liquor license before making any improvements or purchasing the building.

A MOTION WAS MADE By Stefanelli, SECONDED By McDermott to table amending the liquor license ordinance to change the number of A & B licenses. AYES: Baldridge, Moyle, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. MOTION CARRIED.

Curran then introduced Ross Baker of Chamlin and Associates as the new city engineer. The council then took turns welcoming Baker. A MOTION WAS MADE BY McDermott, SECONDED BY Stefanelli to appoint Ross Baker as the city engineer. AYES: Baldridge, Moyle, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. MOTION CARRIED.

A MOTION WAS MADE BY Stefanelli, SECONDED BY Baldridge, to approve raffle licenses for IVCC, Dickinson House Foundation, We Are Oglesby, and American Legion, AYES: Baldridge, Moyle, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. MOTION CARRIED.

Old Business

Stefanelli then told the council that he had met with Attorney Barry concerning the revisions to the building code. He said that the ordinance was not ready to approve, but asked that if the council had any questions he would answer them now. Curran expressed concern that the new ordinances would be “more restrictive” than surrounding cities. Stefanelli told him that he had spoken with both Peru and LaSalle building inspectors and said that while our code may be more restrictive in some parts, it was because of the differences in Oglesby, not simply to be restrictive. Stefanelli used the example of requiring sprinklers in downtown buildings, because a fire could be catastrophic to the downtown, citing examples in Granville and Ottawa. Curran  said someone had reached out to him about the requirement for a sprinkler system in homes over 3,000 sq. ft. Stefanelli pointed out that current codes require sprinklers in residential units, but that the city wasn’t enforcing it at this point. He said he looked at other municipalities, and came up with the 3,000 sq ft. threshold based on his knowledge and experience. “There is a reason for all of this,” Stefanelli said.

Public Comment

Jay Baxter handed out information he had prepared to the commissioners and some audience members on the cost of a city manager and petition. Baxter said he wished to discuss the $250,000 to $350,000 figure Stefanelli has “thrown out there several times.” His computations, which included a $125,000 base salary (gathered from an average of several communities and professional recruiting websites) and benefits including social security and medicare, health insurance and IMRF pension costs, and a health reimbursement account. The total was just over $192,000. He also addressed Stefanelli’s comments about how signatures for the referendum were gathered by him. Baxter also provided a breakdown of the number of contacts (56), the number of signatures (44); those who wanted more information (5); afraid of negative repercussion (5) and did not want to sign (2).

Commissioners Reports:

❖ Commissioner Stefanelli, Accounts and Finance

• Welcomed new Commissioner Moyle

• Rebutted comments made by Curran at the last meeting, and said that the problem from Day 1 with this council has been a lack of leadership. Stefanelli read off a list of examples he said proved his point.

• Again asked Curran and Baxter to answer

• x

❖ Commissioner Hilary Moyle, Public Safety

• Thanked the community, commissioners, mayor and city employees for the “overwhelming support” she has received and said she was excited to be able to serve the community.

❖ Commissioner Greg McDermott, Public Safety

• Welcomed Commissioner Moyle

• Reminded residents of the Plan Commission meeting on the change of government, and encouraged the public the attend. Thanked Ken Ficek and the Elks.

• Thanked the individual who reported the flag at the waste water treatment plant.

• Said that the commissioners all get along with each other and that all the commissioners “sorta all get along” with the Mayor.

❖ Commissioner Richard Baldridge, Public Property and Electric

• Thanked Don Finley for once again stepping up

• Welcomed Moyle and thanked her

• Thanked JP Rose for replacing the flag at the waste water treatment plant

• Reminded residents that they should contact him with any concerns over electric, parks public property and assured him that the concerns would be addressed ASAP

• Said that there would be additional costs associated with a city manager such as transportation and assistants.

Mayor’s Report:

• Noted that Moyle is the first “young mother” to serve as a commissioner in Oglesby.

• Announced the IMUA scholarship and encouraged local seniors to apply

• Said that he and Ken Ficek met with one of the presenters of Wednesday’s Plan Commission Meeting on the form of government and mentioned that Scot Wrighton would be willing to come to other meetings if needed. Said he was nervous that the meeting might not be streamed alive, but noted that it would be taped and available after the meeting.

• Read a prepared statement about the Plan Commission meeting tomorrow, “where facts will finally have their day.” Curran addressed “misinformation and untruths” that he said are being shared about the manager form of government. Curran also addressed a rumor that he would become the city manager. He said that was not the true.

Curran then asked for a motion to go into executive session, when Stefanelli asked that Item #3 on the executive session list be addressed separately or a set of minutes prepared for just that matter. Barry advised him that it would be necessary to enter into executive session for exclusion #3, re-enter regular session, then enter executive session for exclusions 1 and 2.

A MOTION WAS MADE BY Stefanelli, SECONDED BY Moyle to enter into executive session to discuss “the operation by a municipality of a municipal utility or the operation of a municipal power agency or municipal natural gas agency when the discussion involves (i) contracts relating to the purchase, sale, or delivery of electricity or natural gas … 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(23). AYES: Baldridge, Moyle, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. MOTION CARRIED

The council reentered into executive session at 7:37 p.m.

Rollcall: Commissioners Rich Baldridge, Hilary Moyle, Gregory McDermott, Tony Stefanelli and Mayor Curran. Attorney Pat Barry and City Clerk Becky Clinard were also present.

A MOTION WAS MADE BY Stefanelli, SECONDED BY Moyle to enter into executive session at 7:04 to discuss “the operation by a municipality of a municipal utility or the operation of a municipal power agency or municipal natural gas agency when the discussion involves (i) contracts relating to the purchase, sale, or delivery of electricity or natural gas … 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(23). AYES: Moyle, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. Nays: Baldridge. MOTION CARRIED.

The council reentered into executive session at 7:37 p.m.

Rollcall: Commissioners Rich Baldridge, Hilary Moyle, Gregory McDermott, Tony Stefanelli and Mayor Curran. Attorney Pat Barry and City Clerk Becky Clinard were also present.

A MOTION WAS MADE BY Stefanelli, SECONDED BY Baldridge, to enter into executive sessions at 7:38 p.m. to discuss “the minutes of meetings lawfully closed under the OMA, whether for purposes of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated in Section 2.06. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21).” and “the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees. AYES: Baldridge, Moyle, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. MEETING ADJOURNED.

The council reentered into executive session at 9 p.m.

Rollcall: Commissioners Rich Baldridge, Hilary Moyle, Gregory McDermott, Tony Stefanelli and Mayor Curran. Attorney Pat Barry and City Clerk Becky Clinard were also present.

A MOTION WAS MADE BY Stefanelli, SECONDED BY Baldridge, to release the minutes from the October 2, 2023; May 20, 2024; June 3, 2024; July 1, 2024; and August 5, 2024.

AYES: Baldridge, Moyle, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. MOTION CARRIED.

A MOTION WAS MADE BY Stefanelli, SECONDED BY McDermott to adjourn at 9:03 p.m.

AYES: Baldridge, Moyle, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. MEETING ADJOURNED.

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