DeKalb Times

City of Genoa City Council met Oct. 15.

Here is the agenda provided by the council:

I. CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. GUEST SPEAKERS

IV. PUBLIC COMMENT

V. OLD BUSINESS

VI. CONSENT AGENDA

A. MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

1. THE MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 1, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING

2. THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLES DATED OCTOBER 15, 2025

3. AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF GENOA, DEKALB COUNTY ILLINOIS TO DECLARE CERTAIN PROPERTY AS SURPLUS AND APPROVING THE DISPOSAL OR SALE OF SAID PROPERTY

From time to time, the City Council approves an ordinance authorizing the disposal or sale of City equipment. This includes electronics, office furniture, tools, and vehicles. This ordinance includes a list of many smaller items to be disposed of as they’ve exceeded their useful life along with a list of equipment to be sold. The City uses a 3rd party auction site to list these items. If they are not sold through the auction, they will be disposed of (recycled, scrapped, etc.)

4. AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A HEARTLAND BANK AND TRUST COMPANY COLLATERIZED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT

Heartland Bank has recently upgraded their collateral system to safeguard our deposits that exceed FDIC insurance levels. As part of this upgrade, Heartland Bank is requiring an updated agreement for pledged securities to be held in a secure pooled account.

5. AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE RISK MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION MINIMUM/MAXIMUM PREMIUM AGREEMENT

Since 2023 the City has been purchasing insurance from the Illinois Municipal League Risk Management Association (IMLRMA). IMLRMA provides insurance to the City in the case of workers compensation, auto liability, general liability, property damage, and so on. For 2026 coverage, the City was presented with a quote for a net 4% increase. City staff is happy with their service and support, which includes staff training to reduce risk, claims made and assistance in meeting OSHA requirements.

6. A NATIONWIDE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. GOVERNMENTAL 457(B) PLAN ADOPTION AGREEMENT

Nationwide Financial Services is updating Governmental Plan agreements. The City’s original agreement was signed in 1993 and this agreement will continue our 457(b) Plan with Nationwide with no changes to the elections made under the original agreement.

7. A RETURN TO WORK POLICY

The City’s risk management insurance is requiring that the City of Genoa adopt a “Return to Work Policy”. This policy regulates how the City of Genoa will provide structure in how employees return to work after a work-related injury, in line with the City’s risk management carrier’s recommendations.

8. A RESOLUTION FOR IDOT APPROVAL TO CLOSE ROUTE 72 (MAIN STREET) FOR THE 2026 GENOA DAYS CELEBRATION/CARNIVAL MAY 26- MAY 31, 2026

9. USE OF THE MUNICIPAL PARKING LOT DURING THE G-K FIRE DISTRICT ANNUAL GENOA DAYS EVENT FROM MAY 26- MAY 31, 2026

10. CLOSURE AND USE OF NORTH GENOA STREET, NORTH MONROE STREET, AND NORTH EMMETT STREET, AND SOUTH EMMETT STREET FROM ROUTE 72 TO THE EAST AND WEST BOUND ALLEY DURING THE G-K FIRE DISTRICT ANNUAL GENOA DAYS EVENT MAY 26- MAY 31, 2026

11. A RESOLUTION FOR IDOT APPROVAL TO CLOSE ROUTE 72 (MAIN STREET) FOR THE GENOA HARVEST FESTIVAL ON OCTOBER 3, 2026

12. USE OF THE MUNICIPAL PARKING LOTS DURING THE HARVEST FESTIVAL EVENT ON OCTOBER 3, 2026

13. A RESOLUTION FOR IDOT APPROVAL TO CLOSE ROUTE 72 (MAIN STREET) FOR THE GENOA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CAR SHOW

14. THE USE OF THE MUNICIPAL PARKING LOT AND CLOSURE AND USE OF NORTH EMMETT STREET AND SOUTH GENOA STREET DURING THE GENOA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2026 CRUISIN’ TO GENOA CAR SHOW ON AUGUST 15, 2026

15. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE FOR THE MEMORIAL DAY PARADE ON MAY 25, 2026

16. CLOSURE AND USE OF USE OF WASHINGTON AND HILL STREETS DURING THE MEMORIAL DAY PARADE ON MAY 25, 2026

17. A RESOLUTION FOR IDOT APPROVAL TO CLOSE ROUTE 72 (MAIN STREET) FOR THE GENOA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL CELEBRATE THE SEASON EVENT ON DECEMBER 4, 2026

18. USE OF THE MUNICIPAL PARKING LOTS AND DOWNTOWN SIDE STREETS DURING THE GENOA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL CELEBRATE THE SEASON EVENT ON DECEMBER 4, 2026

VII. NEW BUSINESS

A. PRESENTATION OF THE CITY OF GENOA FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 AUDIT REPORT BY SIKICH

Sikich’s Auditor’s Communication to the City Council is available in the packet. Sikich will present their findings at the City Council meeting. Further, the Audit is available in the packet and the acceptance will be considered under the following agenda item.

B. ACCEPT THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED APRIL 30, 2025

Each year, the City’s financials and accounting controls are reviewed by an independent auditor, Sikich. The City’s financial statements are presented as an Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). In this format, the basic financial statements, statements of net position and budget-to actual statements are provided with additional information about the City in the introductory section and a statistical section toward the end of the document to show a historical comparison.

The City of Genoa will be submitting the ACFR to the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) to be considered for the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. The City of Genoa has received the Certificate with the past 19 ACFRs submitted and believes the Audit once again conforms with the GFOA’s award standards. The Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) is available in the ACFR and the ACFR will be posted on the City’s website, once the ACFR is accepted by the Council. The MD&A is designed to provide a narrative overview and analysis of the City’s financial activities for the past fiscal year. The MD&A focusses on significant financial issues as well as changes in the City’s financial position.

C. APPROVE HEALTH INSURANCE RENEWAL EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 1, 2025 THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, 2026

The City has received renewal proposals for the City’s Employee Health Insurance Program. The program includes health, prescription drug, dental, life, and disability insurance for qualified employees. For the 2026 health insurance renewal, the 2025 market trend has been an 8-15% increase, although December 2025 & January 2026 renewals are experiencing 15-35% increases. Due to demographics and risk factor changes, the City is seeing an increase of 18% in costs which represents a $42,652 annual increase. HUB International, the City’s insurance broker estimated a possible 30-40% increase should the City switch to an alternative comparable plan given the current plan’s grandfathered in status following the Affordable Care Act. The dental insurance premiums will experience a 6.8% increase while vision, short-term disability, and life insurance premiums will see a 0% increase. The past 3 years the City has experienced decreased premiums totaling $37,784. While the City’s portion of the insurance premiums are increasing, all plan benefits to the employees will remain the same.

D. APPROVE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING VARIOUS TITLES OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF GENOA

City Staff has been reviewing individual Titles within the Municipal Code. In consultation with our City Attorney, Staff is looking for inconsistencies with current practices, policies, and/or State Law. This Ordinance primarily amends Title 7, which regulates public ways and property (streets, sidewalks, and public easements). A full marked-up version of the changes is included in the packet. Highlights include:

• Removal of regulations regarding street usage by vendors as this is already included under other Titles

• Removed language for block parties and placed it in Title 5

• Deleted the old sidewalk program where repairs were chosen by Aldermen as the new sidewalk program has been developed after all sidewalks were inventoried

• Removed a lot of regulations regarding railroads as this is governed by federal law

E. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TO PURCHASE A 2024 FORD F-350 FROM KUNES AUTO GROUP, NOT TO EXCEED $43,987.70

This truck purchase is to replace a 2004 F-150 which has reached its end of life. Public Works budgeted $50,000 in FY 2025-2 to replace this vehicle.

F. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO PURCHASE CLARIFIER CHAINS AND SPROCKETS FROM EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES, NOT TO EXCEED $19, 828.66

Primary clarifiers are a critical component of wastewater treatment. The chains and sprockets of the primary clarifiers at the Wastewater Treatment Plant are past their useful life and are expected to fail in the near future. For this reason, the Public Works Department has budgeted for their replacement in FY 2025-2. This item approves the purchase of the materials; Public Works will perform the installation.

VIII. FUTURE ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

IX. DEPARTMENT REPORTS

X. ANNOUNCEMENTS

XI. MOTION TO ADJOURN

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