Illinois Valley Times

City of Peru City Council met Sept. 22

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, September 22, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.

City Clerk Jamey Mertel called the roll with Aldermen Ballard, Tieman, Edgcomb, Sapienza, O’Sadnick, Lukosus and Moreno present. Alderman Payton arrived at 7:12 p.m. Mayor Kolowski present.

PUBLIC COMMENT

PRESENTATION

MINUTES/FINANCIAL REPORTS/ACTIVITY REPORTS

Mayor Kolowski presented the Regular Minutes of September 8, 2025, Treasurer’s Report for August 2025, Clerk’s Report of Cash Received for August 2025, Peru Police Department Monthly Report for July 2025, Peru Police Department Monthly Report for August 2025 and Peru Volunteer Ambulance Service Inc. Activity Summary for July 2025. Alderman Edgcomb made a motion the minutes and reports be received and placed on file. Alderman Lukosus seconded the motion; motion carried.

FINANCE AND SAFETY COMMITTEE

Alderman Sapienza presented the following disbursements for payment on September 24, 2025:

FUND NAME TOTAL EXPENSES

General Fund $533,956.30

TIF Funds 1,374.00

Utility Fund 2,657,112.97

Landfill Fund 1,233.82

Airport Fund 6,969.73

Total $3,200,646.82

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, Edgcomb, Sapienza, O’Sadnick, Lukosus and Moreno voting aye. Alderman Payton absent. Motion carried.

PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE

Alderman Tieman made a motion to approve quote from Augustyniak Construction Inc in the amount of $9,995.00 for interior furnishing of the Washington Park icehouse. Alderman O’Sadnick seconded the motion. Adam Thorson, Director of Parks, Recreation and Special Events, reported the bid is to furnish the interior of the shell building. Clerk Mertel called the roll with Aldermen Ballard, Tieman, Edgcomb, Sapienza, O’Sadnick, Lukosus and Moreno voting aye. Alderman Payton absent. Motion carried.

Alderman Sapienza reported he was at a meeting with the LaSalle County School Superintendent, and they had many accolades for the Peru Police Department and how well School Resource Officer Brian Zebron and Haven have been received.

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

Alderman Ballard made a motion to approve the Baker Lake Path Replacement Base Bid to Gillan Construction in the amount of $253,639.75. Alderman O’Sadnick seconded the motion. Clerk Mertel called the roll with Aldermen Ballard, Tieman, Edgcomb, Sapienza, O’Sadnick, Lukosus and Moreno voting aye. Alderman Payton absent. Motion carried.

Alderman Ballard made a motion to approve the Baker Lake Path Replacement Alternate Bid to Gillan Construction in the amount of $40,212.76. Alderman Sapienza seconded the motion. Clerk Mertel called the roll with Aldermen Ballard, Tieman, Edgcomb, Sapienza, O’Sadnick, Lukosus and Moreno voting aye. Alderman Payton absent. Motion carried.

Eric Carls, Director of Engineering and Zoning, reported the City received 4 bids ranging between $253,000-$570,000 range with alternate bid range of $40,000-$138,000. Mr. Carls reported the low bid and alternate low bid were all within specifications.

Alderman Moreno made a motion to approve the purchase of assistance drafting and submitting an Illinois 40101(d) Preventing Outages Grant Full Application with Baker Tilly for a price not to exceed $20,000.

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

REPORT OF CITY ATTOREY/ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

Corporate Counsel Scott Schweickert presented a proposed ordinance entitled:

ORDINANCE NO. 6980

AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING MEETING DATES FOR THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PERU FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2026

Alderman Tieman 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. 6981

AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING MEETING DATES FOR THE CITY OF PERU COMMITTEE OF A WHOLE FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2026

Alderman Ballard made a motion the ordinance be adopted as written and read. 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.

Corporate Counsel Scott Schweickert presented a proposed ordinance entitled:

ORDINANCE NO. 6982

AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING MEETING DATES FOR THE CITY OF PERU PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2026

Alderman Edgcomb made a motion the ordinance be adopted as written and read. 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.

Corporate Counsel Scott Schweickert presented a proposed ordinance entitled:

ORDINANCE NO. 6983

AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING A CORPORATION DEED AND A PUBLIC UTILITY EASEMENT FROM EAKAS CORPORATION (PINs 11-32-200-000 & 11-32-202-000)

Alderman Edgcomb made a motion the ordinance be adopted as written and read. 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.

PROCLAMATIONS

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

NEW BUSINESS

PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

Attorney Schweikert presented a petition from the City of Peru seeking of approval of the Final Plat of Halm Subdivision. Alderman Lukosus made a motion the petition be received, placed on file and refer to Planning/Zoning Commission for review and recommendation. Alderman Payton seconded the motion. Motion carried.

MAYOR’S NOTES

Alderman Tieman reported the LP Homecoming Parade will be October 2nd at 4pm.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Ms. Emily Chado, business owner, who leases spaced within 2116 4th Street addressed parking concerns her clients are having due to the business volume at Bab’s Brew. Ms. Chado reported her clients are often dealing with chronic and/or unexplained pain, to which they become emotionally exhausted, and the design of the current Bab’s parking lot is causing an imposition for her clients. She explained her clients are often waiting for a parking spot to get into or out of due to the line of cars at Bab’s Brew. Ms. Chado reported that the clients are unable to park on the street due to the high rate of speed on Rte. 6 that poses a danger to her clients who are unsteady on their feet.

Ms. Chado stated she has a three-year lease and has one and one-half years remaining. She stated she would like to stay in the location. 

Ms. Chado inquired about the proposed purchase of the lot by Bab’s Brew and whether the purchase would include the entire lot or a portion of the lot. Alderman O’Sadnick asked Eric Carls, Director of Engineering and Zoning, to address the questions.

Mr. Carls explained that the city and Bab’s Brew entered into a lease agreement approved by the City Council. That lease includes the use of the entire property. Mr. Carls said prior to the lease agreement with Bab’s Brew the lot had been placed on the city’s surplus property sale, however the city did not receive a proposal the council was willing to enter into an agreement with.

Mr. Carls addressed the current layout of the Bab’s Brew lot, explaining that it is a temporary layout due to the temporary nature of the trailer. He acknowledges the current layout is not the most desirable, but what was necessary to allow cars to navigate the site and provide parking. Mr. Carls also explained his office will be reviewing the permanent site layout, which will include a bypass lane for the drive-thru and likely eliminate any parking along the east side of the lot. There will be parking spaces available on the south side of the lot, however they may not be for public use.

Mr. Carls stated he did not know the specifics of Ms. Chado’s current lease, and whether it discusses parking, however the city ordinance does set forth parking requirements for businesses. Alderman O’Sadnick ask Ms. Chado if there was parking available in the back of her leased building, to which Ms. Chado replied there is not.

Ms. Chado inquired about the public parking taking place on Bab’s Brew lot. Mr. Carls stated that following the executed lease with Bab’s Brew there was some discussion about if Bab’s Brew would allow public parking to continue. Bab’s Brew was agreeable to the public parking continuing the off-business hours, as long as no issues arose. Mr. Carls explained under the current lease agreement the city cannot force them to make public parking available. Ms. Chado referenced the public parking sign that is still in place. Mr. Carls explained the city did not go through the expense of removing the sign because there is not any guarantee what the end use of the lot will be and whether it may revert to the city. If the city council wishes, the sign could be removed.

CLOSED SESSION

ADJOURNMENT

Alderman Lukosus made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Alderman Tieman seconded the motion and motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

https://www.peru.il.us/government/agendas-and-minutes/minutes/regular-council-meeting/regular-meeting-minutes-2025/7056-regular-meeting-minutes-09-22-25/file