DeKalb Times

City of Sycamore City Council met Nov. 4.

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 Ben Bumpus, Nancy Copple, Alicia Cosky, Jeff Fischer, Pete Paulsen, Chuck Stowe, and Alan Bauer. Alderperson Virginia Sherrod was absent. Attorney Keith Foster was also present.

INVOCATION led by Alderperson Nancy Copple

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Alderperson Nancy Copple

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

MOTION

Alderperson Copple motioned to approve the agenda and Alderman Fischer seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Bumpus, Copple, Cosky, Fischer, Paulsen, Stowe, and Bauer voted aye. Motion carried 7-0.

AUDIENCE TO VISITORS

CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of the Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of October 21, 2024.

B. Payment of the Bills for November 4, 2024, in the amount of $321,978.04.

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 Bumpus, Copple, Cosky, Fischer, Paulsen, Stowe, and Bauer voted aye. Motion carried 7-0.

APPOINTMENTS

PRESENTATION, PETITIONS, AND PROCLAMATIONS

A. Presentation by Ian Wheeler Regarding Project Fire Buddies.

Firefighter Ian Wheeler, 2222 Airport Road, along with his wife Whitney, and sons, Owen, and Emmet explained that the Sycamore Fire Department recently joined Project Fire Buddies in April. This is an organization that was established in 2016 with a mission to provide companionship, support, encouragement, and hope to young children battling serious health challenges or critical illnesses. For the four Fire Buddies in Sycamore, they do this by providing gifts on birthdays, holidays, special treatment benchmarks, visiting with the Fire Buddies, engaging in activities and games, and most importantly, being there for them. While Project Fire Buddies was founded by a firefighter and was initially assumed to be fire department driven, the Sycamore Police Department, Public Works Department, City Administration offices all joined becoming one of, if not, the only chapter that has expanded beyond the Fire Department. They fundraise by selling apparel, hosting fundraisers, and accepting donations. He said that “swag” is available at www.projectfirebuddies.com. He introduced Jon Bockman of Bockman’s Auto Care and Gus Gustava and Chris Streit of Hy-Vee Grocery Store where a gas fundraiser was done on November 1st. Many firefighters, police officers, city administration workers and Gus, helped pump gas for eight hours.

Jon Bockman said that he and his wife Liz raised money by their customers donating back their “Bockman Bucks” and presented a check for $1,150 to Project Fire Buddies.

Chris Streit said that Gus Gustava has been doing a great job with community outreach where at this event, Hy-Vee donated 10¢ for every gallon, raising $750 and $1000 of cash donations from the customers. He said they were happy to be a part of it.

Ian Wheeler closed by adding that a child may seek them by completing an application from the Project Fire Buddies website, which goes to a representative at Lurie Children’s Hospital for qualification, and then sent to the chapter to contact the family.

B. Presentation by City Manager Michael Hall Regarding Police and Fire Pension Funding.

City Manager Michael Hall gave his presentation from the PowerPoint included here within.

Alderman Ben Bumpus asked what happens if the pensions aren’t funded, if the school district is faced with the same dilemma and asked for examples to increase. He stated that the city owes it to the residents to lay out options of increasing taxes, or to save from somewhere else.

City Manager Michael Hall responded that, if not funded, the State will keep the State funding normally paid to Sycamore and put it toward the pensions. He confirmed yes that the school district has the same issue. He said, hypothetically, needing $2 million to cover pensions, they could use the $2.4 million roads budget in place of doing any road maintenance. Or with 70% of the budget being for personnel, they could use $2 million from that budget which would mean eliminating roughly 20 employees. This could be either a third of each department or eliminating the Finance, HR, and Administration Departments completely. [stressing] “hypothetically”.

Alderman Stowe said it is great to work on this noting from the chart that IMRF is the best with the Fire and Police pensions being the next best. Sycamore is not the only city. He said that Sycamore keeps pretty good track of everything but asked what they need to do to cover the obligations.

City Manager Michael Hall said that the city is covering the annual obligations.

Mayor Braser added that the State is looking to move the needle and are looking that the city is working on it. REPORT OF STAFF, COMMITTEES, AND CITY COUNCIL MEMEBERS

PUBLIC HEARINGS

ORDINANCES

RESOLUTIONS

CONSIDERATIONS

A. Consideration of Entering into a Contract with Ringland-Johnson Construction for Construction Management Services for New Fire Station 1.

City Manager Michael Hall said that staff is seeking to enter into a contract to construct the new fire house.

Eric Schwab, Ringland Johnson Construction, 1725 Huntwood Drive, Cherry Valley, IL, said they have been in business since 1946 and have done about 100 successfully completed projects in DeKalb County.

MOTION

Alderman Fischer motioned to approve the Consideration and Alderperson Cosky seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Bumpus, Copple, Cosky, Fischer, Paulsen, Stowe, and Bauer voted aye. Motion carried 7-0

B. Consideration of the Adoption of a Police and Fire Pension Funding Policy.

City Manager Michael Hall said that this policy establishes a framework to annually allocate 10% (5% to Police, 5% to Fire) of excess revenues identified during the annual audit process from the General Fund to the pension accounts.

MOTION

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

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Bumpus, Copple, Cosky, Fischer, Paulsen, Stowe, and Bauer voted aye. Motion carried 7-0

C. Consideration of Entering into a Contract with Marco Technologies, LLC for an Electronic Faxing Solution.

City Manager Michael Hall said that the council approved to work with Marco Technologies back on March 18th for printers and copiers. This Consideration adds e-faxing onto that five-year contract. The city is currently paying $350 per month to Frontier for fax/telephone systems (for HIPPAA and other compliances). This will cost $389 per year for e-faxing or a 90% decrease in cost.

MOTION

Alderperson Copple 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 Bumpus, Copple, Cosky, Fischer, Paulsen, Stowe, and Bauer voted aye. Motion carried 7-0

OTHER NEW BUSINESS

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION

Alderman Stowe motioned to adjourn the meeting at 6:49 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 7-0.

https://www.cityofsycamore.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11182024-325