DeKalb Times

City of Sandwich City Council met Feb. 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

1. Call to Order: Mayor Latham called the meeting to order at 8:50 PM

2. Roll Call

Present: Mayor Latham, City Clerk Ii, Aldermen Arnett, Erickson, Fritsch, Johnson, Kreinbrink, Littlebrant & Whitecotton

Also present: City Attorney Gottschalk, City Administrator Penman, Police Chief Senne, EEI Engineer Dettmann & SEMA Director Eberle

Absent: Alderman Robinson

Quorum established

3. Audience Comments: None

4. Consent Agenda:

Motion to adopt the Consent Agenda as a whole. (All matters listed are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. If discussion is desired, that item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately).

A. Approval of Committee-of-the-Whole Meeting Minutes of January 20, 2025

B. Approval of Committee-of-the-Whole Meeting Minutes of February 3, 2025

C. Approval of Minutes for the Regular Council Meeting of February 2, 2025

D. Approval of Treasurer’s and Financial Reports for January, 2025

Motion made by Alderman Littlebrant, and seconded by Alderman Whitecotton, adopting the consent agenda as presented. Motion passed unanimously on voice vote.

5. Mayor’s Report: No report

6. Attorney’s Report: No report

7. City Clerk Ii: No report

8. Treasurer’s Report: Vacancy

9. City Administrator Penman’s report consisted of:

• Auditors will make their presentation at the March 3rd meeting

• Engineers Week is February 16th through February 22nd

• Adjudication hearing will be held on Wednesday, February 19th at 1 PM. The wedding venue is on the docket.

• Reminder that political signs must be placed on private property, and cannot be placed on the City’s right of way

• The City did not receive the anticipated grant money to go toward the downtown street lights replacement and upgrades. The proposed budget will be reviewed for funding, and the project may need to be restructured.

• Don Alesky, the City’s Economic Director, has been working on the GIS (geographical information systems) that will be part of the City’s implementation with the cloud permit process. This should make the building permit process better, and hopefully move along to include other licenses and permits.

• Work continues regarding the solar farm issues

• March 8th is the bid opening on the Main Street project

10. City Department’s Reports: No reports

11. Council Reports:

Alderwoman Johnson, as the finance committee chair, stated that if there is a problem with bills, she asks that the questions be addressed prior to the finance committee meeting, allowing time to investigate. Following the finance committee meeting earlier in the evening, several bills were removed due to questions.

12. Old Business: None

13. New Business:

A. HLR Professional Services Agreement: Discussion regarding the mayor to enter into the HLR Professional Services Agreement for the Main Street project in an amount not to exceed $591,888.00. Alderman Arnett reminded the Council what happened with the Latham Street project where that fee increased over the initial agreement. Attorney Gottschalk explained that IDOT contracts allow overage in costs, and that a motion should not limit via “not to exceed” in the motion.

Alderman Littlebrant motioned to approve and authorize the Mayor to sign a Professional Services Agreement for the Main Street project with HLR in an amount of $591,888.60 on a cost fee basis. Alderwoman Johnson seconded. Aye: Alderman Arnett, Erickson, Fritsch, Johnson, Kreinbrink, Littlebrant & Whitecotton Nay:0 Motion carried 7:0

B. Monthly Bills: Discussion and possible approval of monthly bills in the amended amount of $223,850.60 as recommended by the Finance Committee. After removal of some invoices requiring additional information, the finance committee had amended the total. Alderman Kreinbrink explained that the purchase of holiday gift cards for the employees was not agreed by the council and did not meet the City’s purchasing policy. He added that it was his personal opinion that the Mayor sets the governance for the city council, and the City Administrator is the one who runs the daily operations. He also explained that another invoice had been removed for further investigation regarding the holiday luncheon. A flyer had been circulated stating that the Mayor and a city employee were paying for catering of the luncheon. The invoice amounts were $1,825 for the gift cards, and $450 for the catered holiday luncheon. A third invoice was for a downtown concrete repair in the amount of $17,984.00, that was lacking information forcing the finance committee to withhold. Alderman Kreinbrink emphasized that three businesses in the community had been impacted by these decisions. Mayor Latham stated he had encouraged council to donate door prizes, as he had; he offered to pay the $450 luncheon bill.

Motion made by Alderwoman Johnson to authorize payment of monthly bills as amended. Alderman Fritsch seconded. Aye: Aldermen Arnett, Erickson, Fritsch, Johnson, Kreinbrink, Littlebrant & Whitecotton Nay: 0 Motion carried unanimously

C. Resolution 25-02 entitled “A Resolution Approving an Agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation to Commit Local Funds for the City of Sandwich Roadway Project” presented for passage. Committed funds to be utilized for the Main Street reconstruction and improvement accounts for $2,465,024 as the expected cost of local funds out of a $5.9 million dollar project

Motion made by Alderwoman Johnson to approve Resolution 25-02, as presented. Motion was seconded by Alderman Littlebrant. Aye: Aldermen Arnett, Erickson, Fritsch, Johnosn, Kreinbrink, Littlebrant & Whitecotton Nay: 0 Motion carried 7:0

D. Sandwich Police Department 2024 Annual Report: Chief Senne presented his 2024 Annual Report for the police department, adding that the focus for the upcoming year will be domestics as well as mental health. Some highlights included, but not limited to:

• Organizational Structure for the police department

• Police department travelled over 115,000 miles in 2024 patrolling the city

• Statical crime summaries covering 2022 – 2024

• Traffic summaries covering 2022-2024

• Provided a School Resource Officer

• Police Department partnered with Oxcart Permit Systems for overweight and oversized vehicles

• Support services summary, including number of FOIA requests, subpoenas, and adjudication cases

Alderwoman Johnson moved to accept the Police Department 2024 Annual Report, and motion was seconded by Alderwoman Erickson. Motion passed unanimously on voice vote

E. Approval of Real Estate Contract: Motion requested to approve and authorize the Mayor to sign a real estate contract for the purchase of Parcel Number 19-35-236-001, at a purchase price of $25,000.00.

So moved by Alderman Littlebrant, and seconded by Alderwoman Erickson. Aye: Aldermen Arnett, Erickson, Johnson, Kreinbrink, Littlebrant, and Whitecotton Nay: Alderman Fritsch Motion carried 6:1

14. Executive Session: None

15. Announcements:

A. Next Finance Committee Meeting will be held on Monday, March 3rd, 2025 at 6:30 PM

B. The next Committee-of-the-Whole Council Meeting will be held on March 3rd, at 7:00 PM followed immediately by the Regular Council Meeting.

16. Adjournment: Motion made by Alderwoman Erickson to adjourn at 9:28 PM. Motion was seconded by Alderman Whitecotton. Motion passed unanimously on voice vote.

https://www.sandwich.il.us/media/3141