Illinois Valley Times

City of Peru City Council met June 2

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, June 2, 2025, at 7:00 P.M.

City Clerk Jamey Mertel called the roll with Aldermen Ballard, Tieman, Payton, Edgcomb, Sapienza, O’Sadnick, Land Moreno present. Mayor Kolowski present.

PUBLIC COMMENT

PRESENTATION

MINUTES/FINANCIAL REPORTS/ACTIVITY REPORTS

Mayor Kolowski presented the Regular Minutes of May 19, 2025, Treasurer’s Report for April 2025, and City Clerk’s Report of Cash Received for April 2025. Alderman Payton made a motion the minutes be received and placed on file. Alderman Edgcomb seconded the motion; motion carried.

FINANCE AND SAFETY COMMITTEE

Alderman Sapienza presented the following disbursements for payment on June 4, 2025:

FUND NAME TOTAL EXPENSES

General Fund $487,767.72

Insurance Fund 152,624.49

Garbage Fund 81,508.56

Midwest Industrial Nexus TIF 16,056.15

Utility Fund 575,896.77

Airport Fund 1,457.00

Total $1,315,310.69

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

Alderman Lukosus asked for a meeting to discuss the FY26 budget further explanation. Alderman Sapienza concurred. Corporate Counsel Scott Schweickert reported there is a budget hearing on Monday, June 9th at 3:15 p.m. and then will be presented for formal approval at the June 16th regular council meeting. Mayor Kolowski asked that the Committee of A Whole meeting scheduled for June 9th be moved to 4:30 p.m to allow for budget discussion.

PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE

Adam Thorson, Director of Parks, Recreation and Special Events, reported that the opening weekend for the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp went great with record attendance.

Mr. Thorson reported this Friday is the next Music Under the Oaks event with Youth Service Bureau serving food.

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

Alderman Moreno made motion to approve quote from Stott Contracting, LLC in the amount of $15,325.00 for the Quik Trip lift station inspection. Alderman Lukosus seconded the motion. Clerk Mertel called the roll with Aldermen Ballard, Tieman, Payton, Edgcomb, Sapienza, O’Sadnick, Lukosus and Moreno voting aye. Motion carried.

Alderman Moreno made a motion to award bid for the Well 8 Rehabilitation project to Layne-Granite Company, in the amount of $164,528.00. Alderman Sapienza seconded the motion. Eric Carls, Director of Engineering and Zoning, reported that three record low bids were received. Clerk Mertel called the roll with Aldermen Ballard, Tieman, Payton, Edgcomb, Sapienza, O’Sadnick, Lukosus and Moreno voting aye. Motion carried.

Alderman Sapienza made a motion to award the bid for the Water Treatment Plant Softener #6 Addition to Commercial Mechanical Inc., in the amount of $475,000.00. Alderman Lukosus seconded the motion. Mr. Carls reported that two bids were received for this project. Chris Perra, of TEST, Inc. reported that over the last six years, the EPA has pushed to bring the softener online for more capacity to treat drinking water.

Clerk Mertel called the roll with Aldermen Ballard, Payton, Edgcomb, Sapienza, O’Sadnick, Lukosus and Moreno voting aye. Alderman Tieman abstained. Motion carried.

Alderman Sapienza made a motion to approve the purchase of 2 - 3750 / 4500 KVA transformers from Sunbelt / Solomon for $400,000. Alderman Lukosus seconded the motion. Kevin Minnick, Electric Operations Manager, reported the purchase is for future customer expansion. Clerk Mertel called the roll with Aldermen Ballard, Tieman, Payton, Edgcomb, Sapienza, O’Sadnick, Lukosus and Moreno voting aye. Motion carried.

Alderman Ballard made a motion to approve the purchase of grant writing services from Baker Tilly for a price not to exceed $12,500. Alderman Moreno seconded the motion. Mr. Minnick reported that the state of IL has $14-$15 million in grant funding and that we have projects that could qualify. Clerk Mertel called the roll with Aldermen Ballard, Tieman, Payton, Edgcomb, Sapienza, O’Sadnick, Lukosus and Moreno voting aye. Motion carried.

Alderman Ballard made a motion to approve the purchase of up to 200 PP-1316 AMI modules from Anixter for a price not to exceed $39,000. Alderman Moreno seconded the motion. Mr. Minnick reported the need to purchase but will be ordered as needed. Clerk Mertel called the roll with Aldermen Ballard, Tieman, Payton, Edgcomb, Sapienza, O’Sadnick, Lukosus and Moreno voting aye. Motion carried.

Alderman Lukosus reported 1616 11th Street is in need of the street sweeper.

Alderman Sapienza initiated a discussion regarding trash collection on the shoreline near the boat ramp.

PSM/Fire Chief Jeff King reported on issues over the weekend with garbage left on the shoreline near the boat ramp. PSM/Fire Chief King stated there is a lot of garbage piled up next to available garbage cans that were cleaned up multiple times by the public works department. PSM/Chief King stated it's a problem and he doesn't know how to fix it. PSM/Chief King also stated if they put a dumpster down near the boat ramp, they'll “end up with 30 TV's.” Alderman Payton suggested letting the public know that if they can't keep the boat ramp area clean, they'll shut it down.

REPORT OF CITY ATTOREY/ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

Corporate Counsel Scott Schweickert presented a proposed ordinance entitled:

ORDINANCE NO. 6948

AN ORDINANCE GRANTING AN ADMINISTRATIVE VARIANCE AS SOUGHT BY THE PETITION OF THOMAS ELLERBROCK, JR. CONCERNING PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1703 2ND STREET, PERU, ILLINOIS

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

Corporate Counsel Scott Schweickert presented a proposed ordinance entitled:

ORDINANCE NO. 6949

AN ORDINANCE GRANTING AN ADMINISTRATIVE VARIANCE AS SOUGHT BY THE PETITION OF WILLIAM AND AMY SOMMER CONCERNING PROPERTY LOCATED AT 920 26TH STREET, PERU, ILLINOIS

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

Corporate Counsel Scott Schweickert presented a proposed ordinance entitled:

ORDINANCE NO. 6950

AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING THE ACQUISITION OF ROAD RIGHTOF-WAY FROM DUBOIS INVESTMENT GROUP - Plank Road Reconstruction Phase II – PIN: 17-05-300-001(pt)

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

Corporate Counsel Scott Schweickert presented a proposed ordinance entitled:

ORDINANCE NO. 6951

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 30-1 OF THE CITY OF PERU CODE OF ORDINANCES AS IT RELATES TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CEMETERIES IN THE TOWN, NOW CITY, OF PERU

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

PROCLAMATIONS

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Alderman Moreno inquired on cuts to the annual street program. Eric Carls, Director of Engineering and Zoning, reported there will not be a street program this year. Mr. Carls noted that he is following directive to cut 13% of his budget and recommended that cutting or delaying various projects are necessary.

NEW BUSINESS

Alderman Sapienza presented disclosure of TIF District Property Interest-Peru Downtown TIF.

PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

Clerk Mertel presented a communication from Zion United Church of Christ requesting permission to place a 3'x 4' event sign for their Ice Cream Social at the southeast corner of Shooting Park Road & Peoria Street from June 2, 2025, to June 20, 2025. Alderman Sapienza made a motion the communication be received, placed on file. Alderman Tieman seconded the motion. Clerk Mertel called the roll with Aldermen Ballard, Tieman, Payton, Edgcomb, Sapienza, O’Sadnick, Lukosus and Moreno voting aye. Motion carried.

Clerk Mertel presented a communication from Chris Ellberg of Illinois Valley Animal Rescue requesting permission to hold the annual Pet Fest Dog Walk at Baker Lake on September 6, 2025. Alderman Tieman made a motion the communication be received, placed on file and permission granted. Alderman Edgcomb seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Clerk Mertel presented a communication from Peru Police Chief Sarah Raymond and Assistant Superintendent Lissa Olson of the LaSalle County Veterans Assistance Commission requesting permission to hold the 2nd annual Warriors & Guardians 5K event at Centennial Park on July 12, 2025.

Alderman Edgcomb made a motion the communication be received, placed on file and permission granted. Alderman Payton seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Clerk Mertel presented a communication from Horizon House expressing their gratitude for the flowers sent for their grand opening of the United Future Building Project.

Clerk Mertel presented a communication from Illinois Valley Animal Rescue expressing their gratitude for donation.

Clerk Mertel presented a petition Communication from Tom Etzenbach seeking variances for the property located at 1815 Calhoun St. Alderman Lukosus made a motion the petition be received, placed on file and referred to the Planning/Zoning Commission for review and recommendation. Alderman Moreno seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Clerk Mertel presented a petition from Elizabeth Ann Watson seeking a variance for property located at 2623 Market Street. Alderman Tieman made a motion the petition be received, placed on file and permission granted. Alderman Ballard seconded the motion. Motion carried.

MAYOR’S NOTES

Mayor Kolowski reported that the Veteran’s Park playground looks beautiful.

Eric Carls, Director of Engineering and Zoning, reported that the Rte. 6 project is down to punch list and should be completed by July 1st.

Mayor Kolowski reported that Pulaski Park needs some attention

Mayor Kolowski congratulated Fourth Street Bakery celebrated 30 years.

PUBLIC COMMENT

CLOSED SESSION

ADJOURNMENT

Alderman Edgcomb made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Alderman Payton seconded the motionand motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 7:32 p.m.

https://www.peru.il.us/government/agendas-and-minutes/minutes/regular-council-meeting/regular-meeting-minutes-2025/6941-regular-meeting-minutes-06-02-25/file