DeKalb Times

City of Sycamore City Council met June 3.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

ROLL CALL

Mayor Braser called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and City Clerk Mary Kalk called the roll. Those Alderpersons present were Chuck Stowe who arrived at 6:02 pm after roll call, Alan Bauer, Ben Bumpus, Nancy Copple, Alicia Cosky, Jeff Fischer, Pete Paulsen who arrived at 6:02 pm after roll call, and Virginia Sherrod. Attorney Keith Foster was also present.

INNVOCATION led by Alderperson Virgina Sherrod

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Alderperson Virgina Sherrod

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

MOTION

Alderperson Copple motioned to approve the agenda and Alderperson Cosky seconded the motion.

VOICE VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a voice vote to approve the motion. All Alderpersons voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.

AUDIENCE TO VISITORS

CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of the Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of May 20, 2024

B. Payment of the Bills for June 3, 2024, in the amount of $438,698.10.

MOTION

Alderman Bauer motioned to approve the Consent Agenda and Alderman Stowe seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Stowe, Bauer, Bumpus, Copple, Cosky, Fischer, Paulsen, and Sherrod voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.

APPOINTMENTS

A. Kimberly Stallworth to the Sycamore Public Library Board.

MOTION

Alderperson Cosky motioned to approve the appointment and Alderperson Copple seconded the motion.

VOICE VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a voice vote to approve the motion. All Alderpersons voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.

B. Mark Zientek to the Beautification Committee

MOTION

Alderperson Cosky motioned to approve the appointment and Alderman Bumpus seconded the motion.

VOICE VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a voice vote to approve the motion. All Alderpersons voted aye. Motion carried 8-0. C. Daryl Graves to the Planning & Zoning Commission

MOTION

Alderperson Copple motioned to approve the appointment and Alderman Stowe seconded the motion.

VOICE VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a voice vote to approve the motion. All Alderpersons voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.

PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND BILLS

A. Presentation by the Sycamore Fire Department of the 2023 Annual Report.

Fire Chief Bart Gilmore presented the annual report highlighting the following: Emergency Medical Services Responses and heat map, Fire Losses, Ambulance Revenue, Personnel, Retirements, Promotions (Battalion Chiefs), New Firefighters, Apprentices, New in 2023, Public Outreach, Overtime, Aerial Vehicle, and Looking Forward. The report will be on the City’s website.

REPORT OF OFFICERS

City Manager Michael Hall reported that the health insurance preliminary renewal rate came in at 3.5% increase and said that it may go down. He stated that it’s the third year in row they have seen a decline, not going over the loss ratio.

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES

Finance – Alan Bauer – no report

Public Safety – Pete Paulsen – no report

Public Works – Chuck Stowe – no report

PUBLIC HEARINGS

ORDINANCES

RESOLUTIONS

A. Resolution No. 992 – A Resolution Authorizing the Participation in the Northern Illinois Municipal Electric Collaborative (NIMEC) and Authorizing the City Manager to Approve a Contract with the Lowest Cost Electricity Provider for a Period up to 36 Months.

City Manager Michael Hall said Sycamore has been doing this a long time and that NIMEC is going out to bid for this preliminary approval process for him to pick the lowest amount for 36 months. If not, they will look at shorter times but will see what those bids come back at.

MOTION

Alderman Fischer motioned to approve Resolution 992 and Alderperson Sherrod seconded the motion.

VOICE VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a voice vote to approve the motion. All Alderpersons voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.

CONSIDERATIONS

A. Consideration of a Public Works Recommendation to Authorize an Agreement with Thermal Process of Crown Point, Indiana for the ATAD Header Cleanout and Repair in an Amount Not to Exceed $43,345.00.

City Manager Micheal Hall said that this is a budgeted item that was started earlier as a three-part process with part-1; buying a pump, part-2; cleaning out the wastewater, and now this part-3 is adding the header cleanouts. The bid is not to exceed $43,345.

MOTION

Alderman Bumpus motioned to approve the Consideration and Alderman Stowe seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Stowe, Bauer, Bumpus, Copple, Cosky, Fischer, Paulsen, and Sherrod voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.

B. Consideration of an Engineering Department Recommendation to Accept an Easement for Watermain Purposes within the BCM Industrial Park LLC.

City Manager Michael Hall said that this is accepting the easement in the BCM Industrial Park which was recently finished.

MOTION

Alderman Stowe motioned to approve the Consideration and Alderman Paulsen seconded the motion.

VOICE VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a voice vote to approve the motion. All Alderpersons voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.

C. Consideration of an Administrative Recommendation to Award a Contract in the Amount of $39,392.50 to Safe Step LLC of Hortonville, WI for the 2024 Concrete Cutting Project.

City Manager Michael Hall said that this is a budgeted sidewalk project and is looking for approval not to exceed $39,392.50. City Engineer Mark Bushnell added that this is for the second phase.

MOTION

Alderman Bauer motioned to approve the Consideration and Alderman Fischer seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Stowe, Bauer, Bumpus, Copple, Cosky, Fischer, Paulsen, and Sherrod voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.

OTHER NEW BUSINESS

Alderman Bumpus reminded that the visitor’s bureau is for all of DeKalb County and that the group continues to be as creative and innovative as possible using social media, visitor’s guides, attending events throughout the county, and just shining a light on events and opportunities with hotels and other activities. He reported that there is a new social media site for this visitor’s bureau that is in the works targeted for this year’s fourth quarter. They will be working with the Chamber to make sure that the guide has accurate information. Also, there is a big push to collaborate with the Park District, the School District, the Library, etc. where all the groups are connecting. He said that Cortney Strohaker and her team will attend a July council meeting to update on their 2024 progress.

Mayor Braser thanked all the city staff who attended the Memorial Day service at the Elmwood Cemetery. He also said that he received positive feedback from the art show this weekend.

City Manager Michael Hall updated that he visited some downtown businesses with flyers offering free 15 second ads to play over the new speakers. He is very excited about this.

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION

Alderman Stowe motioned to adjourn the meeting at 6:27 p.m. and Alderman Paulsen seconded the motion.

VOICE VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a voice vote to approve the motion. All Alderpersons voted aye. Motion carried 8 -0.

https://www.cityofsycamore.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_06032024-293