DeKalb Times

City of Genoa City Council met July 20.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Brust called the meeting of the City Council to order at 7:03 p.m. Roll call was taken. Aldermen Wesner, Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Hughes and Holcomb were present. Quorum present.

Mayor Brust asked for a motion to have Alderman Cravatta be remote, motion made by Alderman Wesner, seconded by Alderman Pulley. Roll call was taken. Aldermen Wesner, Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Hughes and Holcomb voted yes. Motion carried.

Guest Speakers –

DEKALB COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: Teri Spartz from the DeKalb County Community Foundation present the council with information about the foundation. The foundation is a 5013C non profit organization that wants to enhance the quality of life of DeKalb County by addressing needs, expanding, managing and distributing philanthropic resources. The foundation has donated to the City of Genoa $20,000 to help off set the cost to update our comprehensive plan. The foundation has also donated Kindergarten readiness boxes to the local school districts along with many other things throughout DeKalb County.

Motion made by Alderman Hughes to accept the minutes from the July 6, 2022 City Council meeting, seconded by Alderman Pulley. Voice vote was taken. All voted yes. Motion carried.

Motion made by Alderman Pulley to approve the account’s payables for July 15, 2022, seconded by Alderman Holcomb. Roll call vote was taken. Alderman Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Cravatta, Hughes and Holcomb voted yes. Motion carried.

ITEMS FROM INDIVIDUALS IN ATTENDANCE – None

OLD BUSINESS - None

NEW BUSINESS

PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING VETERAN’S WEEKEND JULY 29TH THROUGH JULY 31ST, 2022: Mayor Brust read the proclamation for the 15th annual Veterans Weekend recognizing our Veterans, First Responders

APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF TAMMY ENGEL TO THE CITY OF GENOA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION: Motion made by Alderman Pulley to approve the appointment of Tammy Engel to the City of Genoa Economic Development Commission, seconded by Alderman Holcomb. Mayor Brust informed the council that Tammy will be filling a vacant position. Alderman Cravatta stated that he feels Tammy will be a great addition to this commission. Roll call vote was taken. Alderman Wesner, Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Cravatta, Hughes and Holcomb voted yes.

APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE DRAFTING OF A CITY OF GENOA COMPREHENSIVE AND STRATEGIC PLANS, NOT TO EXCEED $39,000: Motion made by Alderman Pulley to approve and authorize the mayor to execute an agreement with the Northern Illinois University Board of Trustees for the drafting of a City of Genoa Comprehensive and Strategic Plans, not to exceed $39,000, seconded by Alderman Stage. Northern Illinois Center for Governmental Studies will be present at the July 20, 2022 City Council meeting to review N.I.U.’s proposal to draft a Comprehensive Plan for the City of Genoa. The City’s current Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2003. The city is once again planning to draft a Comprehensive Plan through significant public input to help guide Elected Officials and Staff in the public’s interests related to residential and economic development, land use, and utilities and infrastructure. Following the Comprehensive Plan drafting, under the agreement, N.I.U. would draft a Strategic Plan that will aid the city in drafting a plan to achieve goals identified through the Comprehensive Planning process. The city has been awarded an extremely generous $20,000 grant from the DeKalb County Community Foundation to assist with the cost of the Comprehensive and Strategic Plans. Additionally, the city has applied for a RISE grant to address the city’s housing need, which would reduce the Comprehensive Plan cost by approximately $7,000. There was no further discussion. Roll call vote was taken. Alderman Wesner, Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Cravatta, Hughes and Holcomb voted yes.

APPROVE THE USE OF THE MUNICIPAL PARKING LOT BY PRAIRIE STATE WINERY ON AUGUST 19, 2022 FROM 7 AM – 10 PM: Motion made by Alderman Wesner to approve the use of the municipal parking lot by Prairie State Winery on August 19, 2022 from 7am-10pm, seconded by Alderman Freund. Prairie State Winery would like to use the Municipal Parking Lot from 7 AM to 12 AM on August 19th to host an event for their wine club members. The Winery intends to have music in the parking lot along with food and their slushie machine available. The Winery will be roping off the area and only allowing one entrance where wrist bands and guest check-in will be required. Wine members will be picking up their wine subscription which may be opened at the event and the slushie machine will be available but the Winery doesn’t intend to serve additional wine. The event will take place from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM, however, the Winery would like to reserve the park for the entire day to avoid any cars remaining parked in the parking lot during their event. No further discussion. Roll call vote was taken. Alderman Wesner, Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Cravatta, Hughes and Holcomb voted yes.

APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF GENOA AND GENOA-KINSTON SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM: Motion made by Alderman Holcomb to approve and authorize the mayor to execute memorandum of understanding between the City of Genoa and Genoa-Kingston School District for a School Resource Officer Program, seconded by Alderman Pulley. The City’s agreement with the Genoa-Kingston School District for the School Resource Officer Program expired in June of 2022. The City and School District have met to review the terms of the initial agreement, which was the first agreement for the School Resource Officer program, and made changes to reflect how the School Resource Officer program works currently. Overall, the District and Police Department have been very happy with the arrangement and results of the School Resource Program. No further discussion. Roll call vote was taken. Alderman Wesner, Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Cravatta, Hughes and Holcomb voted yes.

APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A SIDE LETTER WITH THE GENOA KINSTON SCHOOL DISTRICT: Motion made by Alderman Hughes to approve and authorize the mayor to execute a side letter with the Genoa-Kingston School District, seconded by Alderman Holcomb. As the City’s designated School Resource Officer position is currently vacant, the Chief of Police will be filling the role. The side letter stipulates the rate required to be paid per hour that the Chief is working as the SRO. No further discussion. Roll call vote was taken. Alderman Wesner, Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Cravatta, Hughes and Holcomb voted yes.

APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF A RAW PUMP FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FROM THOMAS PUMP COMPANY, INC. NOT TO EXCEED $43,024: Motion made by Alderman Pulley to approve the purchase of a raw pump for the wastewater treatment plant from Thomas Pump Company, Inc. not to exceed $43,024, seconded by Alderman Stage. Within the packet is a quote and additional information regarding replacement of a raw pump for the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The pump has been rebuilt multiple times and rebuilding is no longer recommended. This equipment is critical and required to pump sewage into the Wastewater Treatment Plant. No further discussion. Roll call vote was taken. Alderman Wesner, Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Cravatta, Hughes and Holcomb voted yes.

APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF A 2007 PELICAN STREET SWEEPER FROM STANDARD EQUIPMENT, NOT TO EXCEED $65,000: Motion made by Alderman Winter to approve the purchase of a 2007 Pelican Street Sweeper from Standard Equipment, not to exceed $65,000, seconded by Alderman Hughes. A quote is provided in the packet for a 2007 Pelican Street Sweeper. The city’s 1982 street sweeper with the ability to pick up sticks and leaves in the fall is irreparable as parts have become extremely difficult to find for the old equipment. Public Works has continued to shop for a used street sweeper while weighing the cost of the equipment against the miles and hours on the vehicles (see newer 2011 Pelican that is double the price with more miles and hours). This item was not budgeted during this fiscal year; however, it is critical to fall street cleanup. For this fiscal year, the city had budgeted $250,000 for the purchase of a new sewer flusher truck. Both this item and the used flusher truck (also on the agenda for consideration) total $150,000, which is $100,000 less than the budgeted amount to purchase the flusher truck as well as a savings of $250,000 to the city’s equipment fund over two fiscal years. No further discussion. Roll call vote was taken. Alderman Wesner, Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Cravatta, Hughes and Holcomb voted yes.

APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF A 2008 VACTOR RAMJET (FLUSHER TRUCK) FROM STANDARD EQUIPMENT, NOT TO EXCEED $85,000: Motion made by Alderman Stage to approve the purchase of a 2008 Vactor Ramjet (flusher truck) from Standard Equipment, not to exceed $85,000, seconded by Alderman Pulley. A quote is provided in the packet for the purchase of a new flusher truck. Public Works inspected the truck and found that it was in good working condition. A new flusher truck was budgeted for this fiscal year; however, this would have amounted to $250,000. The 2008 vehicle has 41,000 miles and 12,760 hours on it. Public Works feels that this flusher truck could last 5-10 years. No further discussion. Roll call vote was taken. Alderman Wesner, Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Cravatta, Hughes and Holcomb voted yes.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

Finance Report – Treasurer & Finance Director, Jan Tures stated that last week they finished the field work for the audit, everything went good hoping to do a close-up meeting on Friday or beginning of next week. The City’s initial part is done then the 50-80 page document gets started and will be completed by October. First finance committee meeting will be in the next couple of weeks. Mayor Brust stated that Jan was helping out with some cost differences for the waste water committee with numbers for now and in the future.

Public Works – Public Works Director Janice Melton stated that they have completed some chip and seal on roads, chips are working in and once its all sets, she feels you won’t be able to tell, there is a sweeper coming in to sweep up the excess rock by the end of this week. Alderman Hughes stated that he had a resident talk to him about the dips in the road. Janice stated that this was not meant to fix the dips in the road it was meant to fill in all the fine cracks and to help extend the wearability of the road. Public Works is working on getting a lot of tree trimming completed. Last Fall there was a drainage issue behind the building where the laundry mat and subway is, the building owner was easy to work with and put in angled downspouts to direct the water to the middle of the alley instead of shooting straight across into the neighbor behinds backyards. We recently got a heavy down pour and the modifications worked to keep the water out of the backyards.

Police Department – Deputy Chief Edwards reported that he has nothing new to share at this time

Administrative Report – City Administrator, Alyssa Seguss reported that she has nothing new to share at this time

Mayor’s Report – Mayor Brust reported that he has nothing new to share at this time

ANNOUNCEMENTS – Mayor Brust stated that Veterans Day weekend is at the end of the month, kayak on the Kish was last weekend with a good turnout and Volksfest planning is starting.

Motion to adjourn the meeting of the City Council was made by Alderman Wesner, seconded by Alderman Winter. Voice vote was taken. All voted yes. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 8:07 p.m.

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