City Council - Regular Meeting

out. else. Thank you. I don't know. welcome to the uh January 20th, 2026 council meeting. If you're able to, please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic

for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. Welcome everybody to uh tonight's meeting whether you're here in person or watching online. Uh we also have uh John Kors, our St. Clair County board chair representative with us from Allen. Uh so welcome John. Thank you for coming. Uh at this time roll call please. Okay present here. Here here Roach here. Nukem here. Hudson here. Blackburn here. Bors here. Here here.

Thank you. Uh, everybody should have received a copy of the minutes in your packet. Uh, if I can, can I get a motion for approval of the minutes from January 5th? Second. We have a motion. We have a second. Do we have any discussion on 1.4? [clears throat] Seeing none, all in favor?

Opposed? Motion carries. Uh we do not have any public hearing. Uh we do not have any city presentations. Uh so at this time we will move on to the first of two uh public comments. This portion of the city council meeting is reserved for any member of the public wishing to address the city council. The Illinois Open Meetings Act 5 ILCS1201 mandates no action shall be taken on matters not listed on this agenda. [snorts] The council may direct staff to address the topic or refer the matter to committee. Please provide the city clerk with your name, speak into the microphone, limit your presentation to five minutes, and avoid repetitious comments. Thank you. Do we have anybody wanting to make public comments?

Jerry, I'll rect two or seven or whatever the next uh census Um, you all have tough decisions and tough decisions are part of why you were elected. You have to make them for the city. You were elected to do that. The time there are times when the city's future uh is more important than uh what the people in your ward may feel or think. And you as older older people or older persons, whatever you want, um have to consider both. My concern is a sales tax generation. Sales tax is what allows the city to satisfy the increasing demand for services without increasing the already high property taxes. If your decision on the Meyers uh uh issue, the the change in the development schedule or development plan uh if you don't allow that modification of the of the development and it endangers the entire project, consider uh carefully the potential risk. Um you are you owe the staff uh clear guidance on issues like this and the staff owes you clear guidance on their potential results. Thank you for the opportunity.

Thank you for your comments. Do we have anyone else that would like to make public comments at this time? [snorts] Okay, they're setting. Um, oh, you're coming. Good. Mary's coming. Okay. Sandre Marson, president of the women's club. And then Julie Ziggler and Mary Cumins are co-chairs of Empty Bowl. And we are here tonight to remind you, especially to mark your calendars because it is not on Wednesday, but it's Fat Tuesday because we couldn't get our location after last year for empty bowls. So, please mark that because it's such a habit when we've been doing it for 15 years that, you know, we're we're a little worried people will forget. So the the good thing is for uh the religious groups, you know, you can have meet on Tuesday. Uh but so mark that on your calendars. Just a few notes for the council and any new council members. The Empty Bowl Oh, and I'm Mary Gene Hutchson, Ward 2, and I'm on the committee. Uh the Empty Bowl is a community impact partnership and we've been doing this for 15 years. And the key points are is that we raise over 15,000 annually for the fallen food pantry. With a 100% pass through, the club takes no profit. Empty bowl supports economically challenged residents of Oallon. It aligns with the city's public welfare and quality of life goals. This is truly a community benefit partnership with no administrative overhead. Between the [snorts] sites and the schools that we deliver to, we have over 1,500

participants. What's the ask? The ask is we're asking each alder person that's sitting here and staff to personally support the empty bowl event the same way many of your community leaders and businesses already already do. A sponsorship of $100 or more would be recognized at our event and we'll just touch base with you. We hope to follow up with you after tonight. The second ask is waste management in the past in their contract has had a community-based donation to the city of 10,000 sometimes 5,000 per year. And even though uh the city may not always use this money, we would ask that you would support this and enable this to be encouraged to be used for this city event. The empty bowl directly addresses the food insecurities in Oallen and we do have them and we would appreciate any help that the city can provide to direct waste management to take that community donation to our event that includes to serve the underserved. We value your time and your support and if you have any questions we'd be happy to respond. So questions? No. All right. Thank you.

Thank you for your comments. Okay. Do we have anyone else that would like to make public comments at this time? [clears throat]

Good evening. Doug Gaines from Ward Five. Uh I'm a concerned resident who's watched with growing alarm as our local leaders prioritize foreign interest over a community's well-being. Tonight, I stand before you to oppose the proposed solar farms on Posh Road and Ryder Road. These projects aren't just misguided, they're a direct threat to our environment, security, and sovereignty. Building on your troubling consent and sanctioned use of Chinese-made electronic voting machines which are riddled with vulnerabilities and have been proven to compromise elections, approving these solar farms would further entrench control by the same adversary, China, our number one adversary in accordance with the 2025 national security strategy. We, the citizens of Ofallen, do not consent to our tax dollars, land, or resources funding this betrayal. It is time to reconsider and reject these proposals outright. Let's start with the undeniable environmental devastation these solar farms would unleash on our land. Far far from the green paradise promoters claim large-scale solar installations clear vast areas fragmenting habitats and displacing wildlife including birds, insects and man mammals that call our region home. A global assessment reveals reduced land reflectivity, decreas decreased vegetation cover, and altered uh local temperatures leading to ecological imbalances. Panels contain toxic cocktails like cadmium compounds and silicon uh tetrachloride which pose public hazards through leeching into soil or water. Uh construction causes soil compaction, erosion, and polluted runoff while water demands for cleaning further strain resources. Research shows electromag electromagnetic fields from inverters disrupt animal navigation and behavior across species with potential unstudied effects on human health near

for nearby residents. Uh this glaring visual blight scarring our rural landscape is just plain ugly. They emit incesscent humming noise from equipment and the reports even confirm uh concerns associated with radiation and heat. Do we really want this industrial eyesore in or near? I don't think so. But the risk escalate to national security when we consider our dependence on China which controls 85 plus% of global solar panel and component production. Can you guarantee the panels will be made in the US? Recent federal legislation underscores these threats. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed July 4th, 2025 accelerates the phase out of inflation reduction act subsidies for renewables relying on foreign adversaries like China, disqualifying tax credits for Chinese source tech. Additionally, an executive order signed July 7, 2025 ends support for unreliable foreign controlled energy sources explicitly targeting China's dominance and to protect our election our electric grid. Why? Because US experts have uncovered rogue communication devices, cellular radios and modems, and Chinese-made inverters creating back doors for remote sabotage. These kill switches can shut down entire farms, destabilize our power supplies, or cause blackouts during crisis. Mirroring cyber attacks that have already crippled solar farms in Europe. Installing Chinese tech here isn't progress. It's invoking the fox into the hen house, especially one of from one of the nations linked to election interference via those electronic voting machines you [clears throat] all support through your inaction. How do these farms benefit the o ofallon citizens? They don't. Power generated goes to distant utilities, not lowering our bills. Jobs are fleeting, mostly short-term construction, while they convert prime farmland, potentially

slashing agricultural output and devaluing properties 10 to 15% in nearby areas per studies. Taxpayers bear decommissioning costs if developers bail as your ordinances mandate $9,000 per acre fee that barely covers risk. out of state firms like Swift Energy, RWE Profit fueling money, funneling money to Chinese manufacturers such as Jenko Solar. In similar Illinois cases, petitions with over 400 signatures have opposed such projects, citing the same concerns. State laws may preempt outright bans, but you can deny special use permits and annexation if they fail our standards. Supposedly, you've sworn to serve the public, not distance corporations or foreign adversaries. We the people urge you to align with America first energy dominance. Reject these farms. Protect our land, health, and security. The people of Ofalon demanded. Thank you for your time and God bless.

Thank you for your comments. Do we have anyone else that would like to make public comments this evening?

[clears throat]

Vermalware 43. I don't know where to start, but here it goes. I noticed in the U other meetings in the committee meetings on the comment notes the person's name is named and the comment they give. Fine. But only in the meetings here, you give the person's name and the amount of minutes he was up here. No mention of what the person has said except for what is mentioned that goes out to the airways. Uh I think it should be noted for what comments are made and what was what is trying to be said should be notated in the minutes along with any other comments like they are in the committee meetings. My question wasn't answered last two weeks ago in regards to the city fest funds and what was going to be done with it and when the meeting was going to be held to do that. I have seen nothing publicly. I've heard from a few people when the meetings were, but evidently I got the wrong time or the wrong place or whatever, but it's not publicly out there to let us know to give comments for that scenario that's going to happen on the 3rd of July. Among the items I have notated are items that I always bring up in regards to the the warrant report and the amount of money the city spending.

I I believe it's probably you're thinking, "Oh, I'm just being redundant." That's fine. But I just want to let the people know where the funds are being spent at and maybe find out why they're spent for whatever. So you spend a million dollars, but the thing is it's not going to be paid until whatever because I'm under an impression the bills that were for two weeks ago were just paid when you signed it into today with rented into rented into the record. So, these will be coming up later. [clears throat] Probably not worth of any interest to you, but I there's several things on here, but you know, I I don't know. It just I just don't get any answers to a lot of my questions. And um but I did notice one thing. say really interesting on there. You bought some basketballs. I think 30 or 36 for $1,300 and something. And I'm thinking back, I'm a When I was a kid, I had a basketball and a football. I'm 77 years old and I still have my basketball and football. What do you need all these basketballs for? You know, uh there was a bunch of them and plus walkers and everything else. as basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, whatever was in the old Katy Katy Center when you tore it down, but uh you you didn't want to go in there and take it out. You wanted new stuff just like all the new stuff you're buying. So, I don't know what to say for it, but uh I still got five minutes at the end of the meeting. Thank you.

Thank you for your comments. Does anyone else have any comments they'd like to make in our first session of public comments? Okay, seeing none, we will close that out and we will move on to the clerk's report. No report tonight, mayor. Thank you. Okay, thank you. Uh for the mayor's report, uh 6.1, Miss Phony. Yes, Mr. Mayor. I make a motion to approve the reappoint of Doug Dysler to the library board for a three-year term expiring February 3rd, 2029. Second. We have a motion and we have a second. Do we have any discussion on 6.1 or any comments? Seeing none. Roll call, please. Yes. Yes.

Stole. Yes. Yes. Yes. Roach. Yes. Yes. Yes. Blackber. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Ford. Yes. Affirmative.

Okay. Thank you. Motion carries. Uh 6.2 to is just a reminder that beginning February 2nd, uh the council meetings will be at 6 PM. That will be our new start time for the remainder of the year. Uh and later in the year, we'll re-evaluate um how the time uh change has worked uh for the council and for the community. Uh the other thing tonight is we will be going into executive session to discuss a possible purchase. And uh at this time, uh Mr. Fleming has a comment or two he needs to make.

Hello everybody. Um, several council members have reached out uh requesting clarif clarification on the ordinance process, specifically asking whether an ordinance that does not receive the necessary affirmative votes, move on to a second reading. uh for clarifications. Pursuant to sections A through D of the city's ordinance procedure, a bill for an ordinance is read for the first time, what we call first reading, uh for consideration and possible amendment. This allows the city council to vote in support or opposition of an ordinance, make amendments, or send them back to committee. Following a first reading, an ordinance is placed on a second and final reading only in accordance with those provisions. If the ordinance does not receive the necessary votes to advance to a second reading following the first reading, it does not proceed to a second reading. So, what that means, well, I think you all know what that means. If you have any questions, uh, now is a good time to ask.

I do just want to state that was clarification based on an error I made during the committee meeting last week when I was trying to explain the process. It had been a very long time since something um I wasn't sure if something was going to pass. So, I was trying to provide clarification based on information I had received from prior staff and I was wrong. So, I did ask them to clarify that so we could all go into tonight's meeting with some reassurance as to what happens depending on uh whether something passes on first reading or not. So, thank you for that.

Okay. Thank you. Okay, that being said, uh we have no resolutions, so we will move on to ordinances. First reading. Uh Mrs. Lots, please. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I move that we uh consider on first reading an ordinance amending ordinance 623, zoning of the city of Ofall, Illinois development known as the shopset Pierce located at 700 Pierce Boulevard, parcel number ending- 001. Second. We have a motion and we have a second. Do we have any comments or discussion on 8.1?

Seeing none, roll call, please. Or wait a minute. Does somebody have one?

Just uh one of the things and I understand the the gravity of the vote. Um, however, uh, Ward Six, uh, has already had quite a turnout on on the the entire uh, issue of the Meyer uh, development. And one of the things that uh the alderman from W six have heard loud and clear is the residents uh do not want a gas station on that corner. It's already difficult to get out of of the subdivision either going uh uh east to South Lincoln or to get on to uh to Remont even with the lights. So, um, that will be the basis of my vote [clears throat] this evening.

Okay. Thank you for your comments, Mr. Campbell. Does anyone else have any comments they'd like to make?

Mr. just say in in line with what I said the last time um if there is let's just if there is no gas station and Meyer develops what they had what has already been passed the traffic itself according to our traffic engineers will be worse. So gas station or pet store or whatever if traffic is is the issue then this new proposal will decrease the traffic from what they could fall back to. So again, I get that they don't want a gas station there and and again at the beginning I was against this entire development. But if their issue is traffic, as Alderman uh Kimmel just said, then this new proposal will provide or cause less traffic. So that that's why I'm voting yes uh on this one. Again, I I didn't want this whole development to begin with. So um If the issue is traffic, this is the lesser of two evils, so to speak.

Okay. Thank you for your comments. Uh, Miss Stol, um, I wasn't on council when this was approved back in 2023, so I've made a point. I was engaged in the process and following along back then, but I've gone back and read everything. Um, and to me, this is kind of sort of a personal preference. I think there's a difference in a medical office building and and restaurants versus restaurants and a gas station. So, that's how I'm basing my vote this evening. Okay. Thank you for your comments.

Um, this was really hard [laughter] for me. Well, I think it's hard for everybody. Um, I supported the Meyer vote as a as a entire project and my view I was viewing it in totality back in 2023. The vote at the time was 10 to three. Um, I voted against the planned use during committee last week. Um, and it was because I like the plan that we have and my comment at the end of my comments was I'm I'm not anti- gas. I'm just pro food. Um, but the more I've thought about it, I've talked to uh many of my colleagues on the council. More than being pro food or anti- gas, like I'm pro- success. And I voted in favor of a project because I understood based on the research, based on what I think would do well at that very already very busy intersection, I want that to succeed. And I think whether it's six restaurants with a medical center or a gas station with a couple less restaurants, at the end of the day, as was referenced during public comments, we have a lot of weight that we need to think about in terms of how we are going to move forward as a city. So, um I've never voted against something in committee and then supported it um in the full council, but uh uh based on where I'm at right now, I plan to do that tonight. Um I think either proposal is fine. Um, it has its positives and negatives, but the the traffic studies, which I believe combined with comments that colleagues have made to me about how the city has grown, the population's grown, some of our services [snorts] have grown, we've got to make sure that we have other services like a gas station that can support the type of growth that the sports park brings in and that the traffic at an intersection um brings in. So, for that reason, I'll be a yes tonight.

Okay. Thank you for your comments. Does anyone else have any comments? Yes, I want to piggy back off what Jessica said. Some of my um comments to her were some of those and um you know I believe that you know in the last 25 years you know has has lost four gas stations. We've put two back. One you have to be a member to go to. Um we've encouraged residential growth. We've we've encouraged um you know commercial growth, sports travel um traffic, hospital traffic. um but you know some of our other services and amenities that need to support this haven't followed suit. So um I do believe that this type of gas station um as I said in committee um from talking with different folks um you know females feel more comfortable going to this type of gas station at a complex such as this than a standalone. Um you know it has set hours. I've done research on other locations. They are always common to be clean. um well taken care of. I've been to the one in Springfield. I was impressed with that one. Um so I do believe needs a gas station and I feel like this is the best choice. Um you know, I know me and Roy had a very hard decision with ParkPlace and and those traffic stops these, you know, we don't take lightly, but I've seen it work at Starbucks. I've seen it work at other uh projects. So I I do have faith in this one as well. So I will also be voting yes on this.

Okay. Thank you for your comments. Does anybody else have any comments prior to roll call? Seeing none, roll call, please. Yes. No. Yes. Yes. Roach. No. Nukem. Yes. Hudson. Yes. Black. Yes. Bors. No. Campbell. No. Harchman. Yes. Ford. Yes. Rosenberg affirmative. No. Okay. The vote was 94. 9 to5.

9 to5. So the motion does carry. We'll move on to second reading. Okay. We do not have any other ordinances for first reading. Uh we do not have any ordinances for second reading. So we will open up the second portion of public comments. Uh, I'm not going to reread the instructions for public comments, but uh, they do still apply. Would anyone like to make public comments at this time? Okay, seeing none, we will move on. Uh, at this time, we will open it up for staff and council member comments. We'll start with our city administrator, Mr. Litkin.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, just want to remind the council and those in attendance and those viewing online that we will start at 6 p.m. on February 2nd. Uh, a few questions that came in tonight. The one uh regarding solar farms. I can confirm we did receive notice from Slair County of two potential solar farms. One being on Posh Road, once on one on Reader Road. Um, both of these solar farms are not within the city limits. However, the council did pass an ordinance if you remember in November regarding solar farms a mile and a half outside the city limits um s not surprisingly or surprisingly in December and in January early a new law was passed in the state of Illinois that states municipalities have very restricted and limited powers on approval and cannot outright deny solar farms in any manner, shape or form. However, we still did with help and advice of our attorney send those solar farm developments notice from the city of found of the ordinance passed by this council in November and so we await to hear back from them

as part of that. Can you explain future use land maps the m the mile and a half that you referenced?

Correct. So in the state of Illinois we have what is called subdivision control outside of 1.5 miles from city limits. It allows the city to put conditions and require building to mimic the code within the city limits. The theory behind that is as the city grows out, you don't want subdivisions, hence the name subdivision control that are built without our standards of sidewalks, streets, and public infrastructure. And so that's the theory behind that zoning. Um we also pair it with our future land use map. So, traditionally, um, we see a lot of these solar farms on farm fields, fields that in our master plan and our long-term zoning have been deemed as single family residential for growth in houses. Um, and so we we try to look at that and again, we did petition to these solar farms. Um, we are aware or have been in re receipt of multiple solar farms outside of these two that have actually begun the process with the St. Clair County special use permit um, procedures. So,

thank you.

More to come. Hopefully that um I have something to report back on those. I will confirm that I am happy about the empty bowl lunchon being on Tuesday this year. Um I've gone for many years. It's one of my favorite lunches and events. Um and we will be helping them sell bracelets here at city hall. Um we'll have some when people come in and I'll have some at the committee meetings and council meetings coming up for our city council. Um and then there was a question about cityfest. I was not in attendance. Um, but I believe they met Thursday night to discuss the final wrap-up of the previous cityfest organization. Um, I've only heard bits and pieces of that and I believe the cityfest organizer sent out an email this week notifying the council or the that committee of more of that. U, we did meet prior to this meeting about planning for the or the 250th anniversary celebration of America. U, we do intend for that to be on July 3rd of this year. Um we are looking at a daytime event at community park and then a break and then we'll do our traditional fireworks at the sports park. And so as that planning comes through I'll report more. We are going to work on building a website and having forms um as the committee or the group discussed today. It'll be event for a lot of our nonforprofits and vendors and businesses in town to come out and show the community what they have. will have music available, some kids games, and the historical society I know is working with the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Sons of the American Revolution on having some historical aspects on that.

Um, I believe that is covered everything I have written down. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Does anybody else on the Dis have any comments? Any of our council members have anything they'd like to share tonight? Okay, seeing none, we will close out. We will move on to committee reports. We will start with 12.1. Uh Mrs. Lots, please. Thanks, Mr. Mayor. We uh did meet last week on January 12th. Those draft minutes are attached for review. We have um handled all the business that needed to be handled. So, our next committee meeting is scheduled, as far as I know, for next Monday evening. Okay. Thank you. Uh we'll move on to 13 public works.

Mr. Mayor, sorry I jumped you none. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, we have not met since the last uh official city council meeting. Our next meeting is scheduled for next Monday at 7 p.m. Check the website in case uh time shift. Thank you. Number 14, public safety. Mr. Blackburn, the January meeting was canceled due to a lack of business. Our next meeting is February 9th at 6:30 p.m. Thank you. Uh 15, Parks and Environment, Mr. Voris, please. Thank you. Uh we have not met since the last council meeting. So our next scheduled meeting is February 9th. Check the website for details.

Okay. Thank you. And number 16, we have uh finance and administration. We have Mr. Parchman's remote. Okay. To do it should be the vice chair. Vice chair. Unless you're prepared to do it right now. I'm ready. Okay, do it.

Okay. All right. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, we have not met since the last meeting. Our next meeting is going to be, uh, next Monday at 5:30. Check the website if there's any changes, but we should have a meeting. Uh, and then we do have one item for approval, which will be 16.1, the warrant approval. So, I'd like to make a motion to approve warrant number 575 in the amount of 1,61,981.93. Um, just real quick, can someone else make that motion and then someone else second it? Nathan, because he's not here can't actually make the motion. Yes, he can. Go ahead.

Um, I'll make a motion that we move to approve warrant number 575 in the amount of $1,61,981.93. I'm sorry. 93 cents. Second. We have a motion and we have a second. Do we have any discussion on 16.1? Seeing none, roll call, please. Still, yes. Carney, yes. Tony, yes. Yes. Nukem, yes. Hudson, yes. Black, yes. Boris, yes. Campbell, yes. Parchment, yes. Ford, yes. Rosenberg. Affirmative. Yes.

Yes. Thank you. Motion carries. Uh, as I did mention, we are going into executive session to discuss possible purchase of property. Uh, I need a motion to go into executive session. Motion. Have a motion. Second. We have a motion and we have a second. Uh, at this time, we will be moving into executive session at 7:35 p.m. Oh, apologize. Roll call. Carney, yes. Bony, yes. Roach, yes. Yes. Hudson, yes. Black, yes. Yes. Campbell, yes. Yes. Yes. Rosenberg. Affirmative. Yes. Yes.

Yes. Okay. Motion carries at 7:35. We are moving into executive session. Um, everyone else needs to clear the council chambers, please. And just as a reminder, we do not bring back the Facebook and YouTube feed after executive session, but we will open back up the council chambers. Nothing to vote on before we adjourn and there will be nothing to vote on. Thank you, Mr. Parchman. This does include a an an item that you have previously recused yourself from. Do you?