Illinois Valley Times

City of Peru Committee of a Whole met Aug. 4

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

A Committee Of A Whole meeting was called to order by Mayor Ken Kolowski in the Peru City Council Chambers on Monday August 4, 2025, at 3:30 p.m.

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

PUBLIC COMMENT

MINUTES

Mayor Kolowski presented the Committee of A Whole Minutes of July 28, 2025. Alderman Payton made a motion that the minutes be received and placed on file. Alderman Edgcomb seconded the motion; motion carried.

PRESENTATION

None

PUBLIC WORKS (IT, Water & Sewer, TEST, Airport, Buildings and Grounds, Streets & Alleys, Electric, Engineering)

IT

Stephen Rounds, Director of IT, reported on new camera system throughout city buildings and parks.

WATER & SEWER

None

TEST

None

AIRPORT

Eric Carls, Director of Engineering and Zoning reported that coordination with Marquis Aviation’s parking lot expansion has begun.

BUILDINGS & GROUNDS

Alderman Edgcomb inquired about markings by Target and asked that they be looked at.

STREETS & ALLEYS

None

ELECTRIC

Kevin Minnick, Electric Operations Manager, reported crews are preparing service for the chillers at Schweickert Arena.

ENGINEERING

Eric Carls, Director of Engineering and Zoning, reported on the following:

• Area 2 Phase Sewer Separation project moving along slowly

• Plank Road Widening is moving along on time

• General Fund Street Program bids went out

• Baker Lake Walking Path Expansion and Resurfacing bids should go out next week

○ Looking at rock around lake to stop erosion

OLD BUSINESS

None

NEW BUSINESS

None

PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE (Code Enforcement, Police, Fire, Landfill, Cemetery, Parks & Recreation)

CODE ENFORCEMENT

Alderman Edgcomb reported that Community Service Officer, Blake Frund will provide the committee an update in two weeks.

POLICE

Corporate Counsel Scott Schweickert presented an update on scooter ordinance.

FIRE

None

LANDFILL

None

CEMETERY

PSM/Fire Chief King reported on proposed purchase of John Deere X734 Series w/o deck for $11,000 and asked for formal approval at the August 11th Regular Meeting.

PARKS & RECREATION

Adam Thorson, Director of Parks, Recreation and Special Events presented a communication from Jessica Strauch of State Farm Insurance requesting permission to host a Movie in the Park at Centennial Park on Saturday August 9th. Alderman Edgcomb made a motion the communication be received, placed on file and permission granted.

Alderman Payton seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Mr. Thorson reported that crews are getting ready to put up the walls of the ice rink in September.

Mr. Thorson reported on diamond updates at Veterans Park.

OLD BUSINESS

None

NEW BUSINESS

None

FINANCE COMMITTEE (Finance, Human Resources)

FINANCE

Alderman Payton reported on CD’s that are coming due soon.

HUMAN RESOURCES

None

OLD BUSINESS

Alderman Payton stated that it is time to start reviewing our contract with Republic Services as they are not holding up there end of the contract. The Mayor stated he gets an update from Republic every evening and the next negotiation is August 11th. Alderman Edgcomb stated the city needs to have one of these calls not be a ”hey buddy” call and start to put pressure on Republic to get this resolved. Alderman Edgecomb suggested issuing a letter in support of the unions. Alderman Payton requested for the city to stay impartial. All Aldermen commented they are receiving many calls from residents. Clerk Mertel informed the Council that the Clerk’s office received over 200 more calls from residents concerning garbage, recycling and yard waste in July and the start to August has been worse. Routes are not getting finished and trucks have been leaving a trail of garbage in the middle of the road.

NEW BUSINESS

None

PUBLIC COMMENT

None

CLOSED SESSION

Alderman Sapienza made a 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. 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.

Closed session began at 4:24 p.m. and ended at 4:57 p.m.

Alderman Payton made a motion to reopen the meeting. Alderman Edgcomb seconded the motion. Clerk Mertel called the roll with Aldermen Ballard, Tieman, Payton, Edgcomb, Sapienza, O’Sadnick, Lukosus, and Moreno present. Mayor Kolowski present.

ADJOURNMENT

Alderman Edgcomb made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Alderman Moreno seconded the motion and motion carried.

Meeting adjourned 4:57 p.m. 

https://www.peru.il.us/government/agendas-and-minutes/minutes/committee-as-a-whole-1/committee-of-a-whole-minutes-2025/7010-committee-of-a-whole-minutes-08-04-25/file