Illinois Valley Times

City of Marseilles City Council met March 19

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Official proceedings of the City of Marseilles of the meeting of March 19, 2025.

The City Council of the City of Marseilles met in the City Chamber of City Hall at the hour of 6:00 P.M. on March 19, 2025.

Pledge of Allegiance was said.

Roll call showed the following present: Mayor Hollenbeck, Commissioner Kaminski, Small, Scheib, Buckingham. Absent: None.

Moved by Commissioner Kaminski seconded by Commissioner Small that the minutes from the council meeting on March 5, 2025 be approved as displayed and placed on file and waive a reading of the minutes. Ayes: Commissioner Kaminski, Small, Scheib, Buckingham and Mayor

Hollenbeck. Nays: None.

No public comments.

Moved by Commissioner Kaminski seconded by Commissioner Buckingham that the accounts payable for the first half of March in the amount of $212,788.75 be approved and a warrant be drawn on the city treasury for the said amounts. Ayes: Commissioner Kaminski, Small, Buckingham, and Mayor Hollenbeck. Nays: Commissioner Schieb. Commissioner Schieb asked who runs the social media page for the city. Scheib asked if the City has plans for Bratton and Rutland property purchased in 2019. Resident James Lockwood asked what the Constellation charge on accounts payable was for.

Moved by Commissioner Kaminski seconded by Commissioner Buckingham that the payroll for the first half of March in the amount of $86,196.44 be approved and a warrant be drawn on the city treasury for the said amounts. Ayes: Commissioner Kaminski, Small, Buckingham, and Mayor Hollenbeck. Nays: Commissioner Scheib. Commissioner Buckingham asked Commissioner Scheib why he votes nay on payroll. Commissioner Scheib said he is not the deciding vote, and he does not agree with the administration expense.

Moved by Commissioner Kaminski seconded by Commissioner Small that the lease agreement with Marseilles Nursing Service be approved. Ayes: Commissioner Kaminski, Small, Buckingham, and Mayor Hollenbeck. Nays: Commissioner Schieb. Commissioner Schieb asked why the city is taking on additional services when the power bill is already high at $800 with no one in the building.

Moved by Commissioner Small seconded by Commissioner Scheib that the special event permit application for Marseilles Fun Days to be held June 23-29, 2025 be approved and the permit fee be waived. Ayes: Commissioner Kaminski, Small, Scheib, Buckingham and Mayor Hollenbeck.

Nays: None.

Commissioner Small is working on the dispatch renewal agreement with the City of Ottawa. The city may stay will Ottawa or go another avenue. Ottawa proposed 2% increase annually for 3 years. Commissioner Small said Facebook is not the place to report crimes. She said to please call the police department if needed, no officers field Facebook for complaints. Small, reminded residents Broadway Park is not open yet. Commissioner Small also said the police department is working on ticketing homeowners that are not maintaining their property.

Commissioner Scheib said Here and Again, Inc. will be deciding about music in the park based on their funding. Commissioner Scheib asked people on Facebook if they’d like a stop sign or a blinking yellow sign, the people picked a stop sign. Commissioner Scheib would like to change the form of government to a City Manager form. He said less than 1% have commission form of government, which can create confusion. The city should want to do the most for the littlest cost.

He said a lot of work is not being done whereas, a lot of planning is. Schied said MFT alone has a 4-year imbalance. City Engineer Mike Etscheid said in the last two years $3 million work has been completed. Scheib thinks the city should complete needs over wants. He stated Rutland sidewalk, commercial street realignment, and Broadway Park are very nice however, a want, not a need like Illinois Street.

Moved by Mayor Hollenbeck seconded by Commissioner Kaminski that 220 and 272 Street variance be referred back to the Plan Commission. Ayes: Commissioner Kaminski, Small, Scheib, Buckingham and Mayor Hollenbeck. Nays: None.

Moved by Commissioner Scheib that adjourn to executive session under section 2 (C) 1 Personnel of the Open Meetings Act and to approve closed session minutes. Motion died for a lack of a second.

Moved by Commissioner Small seconded by Commissioner Buckingham that the city council adjourn. Ayes: Commissioner Kaminski, Small, Buckingham, and Mayor Hollenbeck. Nays: Commissioner Scheib.

https://www.cityofmarseilles.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/minutes-3-19-2025.docx.pdf