Illinois Valley Times

City of Oglesby City Council met Feb. 3

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The February 3, 2025, regular meeting of the Oglesby City Council was called to order at 6 p.m. by Mayor Jason Curran.

PRESENT: Commissioners Rich Baldridge, Greg McDermott, Hilary Moyle, Tony Stefanelli and Mayor Jason Curran. City 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 21, 2025, regular meeting. AYES: Baldridge, Moyle, McDermott, Stefanelli,

Curran. MOTION CARRIED.

A MOTION WAS MADE BY Stefanelli, SECONDED BY McDermott, to approve the bills presented for payment in the amount of $543,285.12. AYES: Baldridge, Moyle, McDermott, Stefanelli, ABSTAIN: Curran. MOTION CARRIED.

BILLS PRESENTED FOR PAYMENT: A&K Decking And Fencing, $450.41; Ameren Illinois-7419559858, $39.04; Ameren Illinois-8218382099, $188.72; Aplington, Kaufman, Mcclintock, Steele, $10,265.00; Apple Press, $175.80; Bergagna, Brian, $74.75; Bound Tree Medical Llc, $168.80; Cit Trucks - Peru 2650, $488.07; Clegg-Perkins Electric, $999.70; Comcast Business, $669.56; Comcast Business, $838.93; De Lage Landen Financial Services, $183.64; De'vine Floral Designs & Gifts, $65.00; Dresbach Distributing, $99.85; Feece Oil Co, $2,241.05; Fletcher-Reinhardt Co, $1,231.54; Gebhardt, Diane, $50.00; Grainger, $599.99; Hawkins, Inc, $822.40; Holloway's Portable Restrooms, $1,000.00; Huffstodt, Jackson, $154.85; Illinois Municipal Electric Agency, $378,447.90; Impact Networking Llc, $53.16; Koenig, Michael, ($97.40); Koenig, Michael, $97.40; Mautino Distributing Co Inc, $32.08; Menards, $3,015.40; Motorola, $7,268.00; Oglesby Library District, $15,629.57; Ottawa Office Supply, $19.99; Payment Service Network, $137.75; Peerless Network, Inc., $1,457.88; Ray O'herron Co. Inc., $314.71; Reelcreative Llc, $550.00; Republic Services -- Allied Waste, $65,561.51; Smart Source Llc, $3,470.72; Solitude Lake Management, $2,741.97; Springfield Electric Supply, $831.65; Standard Insurance-Life, $781.88; Surf Internet, $85.00; T.E.S.T Inc., $296.00; United Healthcare Insurance, $34,694.19; United Rentals, $426.06; United States Postal Service, $958.96; Verizon, $1,543.81; Wex Bank, $4,159.83; Total, $543,285.12 Total $

A MOTION WAS MADE BY Stefanelli, SECONDED BY Moyle, to approve the payroll for January 31, 2025, in the amount of $65,910.40. AYES: Baldridge, Moyle, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. MOTION CARRIED.

Commissioner Baldridge asked the council to approve the bids for cable, conduit and some remaining items for the Mallick Substation Project. Baldridge told the council these were items  that were not bid on originally, so the engineer sought bids from a couple of distributors who are supplying other materials for the project.

A MOTION WAS MADE BY Baldridge, SECONDED BY McDermott to award bids in the amounts of $55,635.53 and $44,610.00 for cable, conduit and remaining materials. AYES: Baldridge, Moyle, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. MOTION CARRIED.

Talk then turned to the proposal to change the ordinance that sets the number of liquor licenses. The person hoping to put a liquor store and gaming room in the property at 210 N. Columbia had supplied a copy of the current layout of the building, showing room sizes and exterior doors in response to Commissioner Stefanelli’s request at the last meeting. Stefanelli said that he had hoped to see more of what the layout of the store would be, noting that he felt a responsibility to do “due diligence” before voting to increase the licenses available. Commissioners Baldridge and McDermott agreed that they’d like to see more detail, with Moyle and Curran saying that they felt those details were best addressed later in the building permit process and shouldn’t hold up a business looking to locate in Oglesby. Curran conceded, noting that it was a “fair ask.”

A MOTION WAS MADE BY McDermott, SECONDED BY Baldridge, to table the request to amend the ordinance which sets the number of liquor licenses until further information is provided. AYES: Baldridge, Moyle, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. MOTION CARRIED.

Stefanelli then told the council that the next ordinance was coming before the council for the third time. He thanked Barry for working with him to make the changes and asked if anyone had any questions. Curran reiterated his concern that the codes would be more restrictive than those in surrounding communities. Stefanelli repeated his opinion that they reflected the specific needs of the community.

Stefanelli then told the council that he had talked with Republic Services and the contract for garbage removal was set to expire and to expect a new contract to come before them soon.

Curran asked if he had details, such as a new price. Stefanelli said that he had been told the increase would be “very minimal,” but had not seen a copy of the agreement yet. Stefanelli said that Republic Services does a good job, they’re very easy to work with and are responsive to the residents’ concerns.

Curran then addressed the need for an assistant event coordinator. Curran said the council had looked at an assistant event coordinator nearly 90 weeks ago, but decided not to go that direction.

However, he said, as time has gone by, it’s become clear how much of a drain it has on the clerk’s office staff. Events are larger, more involved and require more planning, so he felt it was time to revisit the position. Stefanelli asked for clarification on who the event coordinator was and said that the issue was “very near and dear” to him because it was the employees he oversees that stepped away from the duties. 

Moyle said most people didn’t realize how much time is spent on event planning and staffing and she thought it would be good to bring in someone who could help out. McDermott also asked who the event coordinator is. Baldridge asked what the role would entail and what would the cost to be to the city and who the assistant would report to. Curran said the City Clerk would continue to be the event coordinator, the salary would be in the $20 to $25/hour range, and the assistant would report to the Clerk. Stefanelli asked Clinard how she felt about it, to which she replied, “it’s in my contract.”

A MOTION WAS MADE BY Moyle, SECONDED BY McDermott to have the attorney draft an ordinance establishing an assistant event coordinator. AYES: Baldridge, Moyle, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. MOTION CARRIED.

Public Comment

There were no comments from the public.

Commissioners Reports:

❖ Commissioner Greg McDermott, Public Safety

• Said that they city had received a bid for the dry bridge project and was addressing a “hiccup.”

• Told the council he and Commissioner Stefanelli had traveled to Springfield and met with Senator Sue Rezin, Majority Leader Senator John Curran and Senator Neal Henderson to seek funding for the $40 million waste water treatment plant. He said the senators told him that they share the city’s concerns. McDermott said he was told to come back in April.

❖ Commissioner Richard Baldridge, Public Property and Electric

• Congratulated the Oglesby 8th grade basketball team on an undefeated season

• Applications for summer help are now available at city hall or the website

• Baseball and softball signups underway

• IMUA scholarship applications are on the city’s website

❖ Commissioner Stefanelli, Accounts and Finance

• Commended McDermott for his perseverance and work on the waste water treatment plant and thanked the legislators for their guidance on how to move forward. Stefanelli said he was confident that the lawmakers would help the city get the relief it needs for the high cost of the waste water treatment plant.

• Thanked Connecting Point for their assistance in setting up a system to archive executive session minutes.

• Told the council that he was stepping down as commissioner to spend more time with his family. Stefanelli said he would be moving to be closer to his wife’s family. “My family comes before everything,” he said. His last meeting will be March 3. Stefanelli provided a resignation letter.

❖ Commissioner Hilary Moyle, Public Safety

• Congratulated McDermott and Stefanelli on what she said appeared to be a successful trip to Springfield.

Mayor’s Report:

• Congratulated the 8th grade Oglesby Boys Basketball team and wished them luck as they begin regional play.

• Thanked the Ken Ficek and the Plan Commission for hosting the informational meeting on the referendum to change the form of government. Curran praised Ficek and Kyle Videgar, who chaired the meeting in Ficek’s absence. Curran said he was impressed with the questions asked by both the Plan Commission members and public. He urged residents to watch the video and to attend the next meeting

A MOTION WAS MADE BY Stefanelli, SECONDED BY McDermott to enter into executive session at 6:31 p.m. to discuss and “the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees….” 5 ILCS 120/(2c)1 and “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 7:34 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 Moyle, SECONDED BY Baldridge to direct the attorney to draft a wage ordinance for the Deputy Chief of Police. AYES: Baldridge, Moyle, McDermott, Stefanelli, Curran. MOTION CARRIED

Before adjourning, Curran asked that anyone interested in applying for the commissioner seat send it a letter and resume to city hall.

A MOTION WAS MADE BY Stefanelli, SECONDED BY Baldridge to adjourn at 7:35 p.m.

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

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