DeKalb Times

City of Sandwich Committee of the Whole met Jan. 15.

Here is the agenda provided by the committee:

Here is the agenda provided by the committee:

Mayor Latham called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM

Roll call was taken:

Present: Mayor Latham, Clerk Ii, Aldermen Arnett, Erickson, Fritsch, Johnson,

Littlebrant & Whitecotton

Absent: Aldermen Kreinbrink & Robinson

Quorum established

Also Present: Attorney Gottschalk, City Administrator Penman, Police Chief Senne & EMA Director Eberle

Mayor Latham:

Budget Workshop Dates: Budget meetings are scheduled for Saturday, March 9th @ 9 AM and on Wednesday, March 13th, @ 6:30 PM.

Council Retreat: A retreat is scheduled for Saturday, March 16th, starting at 8 AM.

Foster, Buick, Conklin, Lundgren & Gottschalk Law Group: Attorney Gottschalk updated the Council on notices that were mailed regarding properties that are non-compliant to code. She has received a response on one property that is making strides to bring the property compliant.

City Clerk Ii asked department heads to provide their notes from the evening meetings due to sound and recording equipment failure.

City Treasurer: Open Position

City Administrator Penman report consisted of:

Hearing on January 10th with Walgreens regarding a tax assessment challenge. DeKalb County Board of Review upheld last year’s appraisal and approved at the same amount. The decision can be appealed by Walgreens. Another hearing is scheduled for January 16th with FNB of Omaha. Old National Bank will have their hearing on January 18th; their appraisal has not yet been received by the City.

Have received two applications for Code Enforcer; no applications have been received for the Economic Development position

Grant application has been submitted to DeKalb County Community Foundation. Grant money would be used for banners, and other things for the downtown business district

Administrator Penman thanked staff on snow removal and plowing, EMA, and the police department for continuing patrols.

City Department Reports: Mayor reported that work is to continue on the Latham Street project in March. Engineering on Main Street continues and includes sending necessary documentation to IDOT for approval. EEI submitted a grant application with KKCOM on behalf of the City for Pleasant Avenue. Pratt Road Bridge Engineering is moving along as well

Aldermen Reports:

Alderman Fritsch remarked that pedestrian crossings on the railroad tracks are impassable due to the snow storm, and questioned if the City could clean up all crossings.

Alderwoman Johnson would like to address resident, Becky Nelson’s, audience comments regarding migrants and drop sites. It is a hot topic, and she would like to talk to her peers before bringing it forth for Council discussion. She would like to see the approval of home-rule placed on the ballot for next year.

New Business:

Continued Discussion on Water Rate Fees: The final report on the water study should be available next month. The Council will need to determine the amount of increase to become effective May 1, 2024. EEI estimates that $72 million is needed to be repaid over 27 years. Discussed was the need that developers carry more burden for new and extended infrastructure, and the need to review recapture fees by the City. Also to be considered is raising the service fee from $5/quarterly to $10/quarterly. The sewer service fee was raised to $10 last year. Council was unanimous in raising water rates at an amount to be determined at next month’s meeting.

Continued Discussion on Fees Increases: Upon learning that the licensing cost of trailer parks is limited to $50.00 / year by under Section 210 ILCS 115/18, Mayor Latham indicated that he will reach out to IL State Representative Jed Davis, Illinois Senator Sue Rezin, and IML (IL Municipal League) to have the law amended. It was noted that there is a lot of police activity in the parks resulting in over 227 police calls om the past year. He asked the Council to consider an annual registration of local businesses and create a landlord registration. Suggestions for licensing increases included video gaming to $125/terminal; increase scavenger services to $300, increase downtown parking permits for overnight parking, and increase cigarette licenses as well liquor fees. Also to be considered is a storage unit tax, an annual business registration, a landlord registration, and raising Plan Commission fees.

Announcements: Next meeting for the Finance Committee will be on Monday, February 5th, 2024, at 6:30 PM. The Regular Council meeting will meet at 7:00 PM on the same date immediately followed by the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting.

Upcoming committee meetings for Technology Committee, Historical Preservation Commission, and Citizens Advisory Committee will be held on February 8th.

Audience Comments: None

Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the Council, motion made by Alderwoman Erickson and seconded by Alderman Littlebrant to adjourn the Committee-of-the-Whole Council Meeting at 8:15 PM. Motion carried unanimously on voice vote.

http://www.sandwich.il.us/cow-minutes.html