City Council - Regular Meeting

Yeah, there you go.

All right, let's start the regular meeting of the Council of the City of Ottawa, September 15, 2026. Roll call.

Michael Crow. Here. Gaynor. Here. Pearson. Here. Barron. Mayor.

Here.

We have four present.

Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Move by Commissioner Eichelkraut that the minutes of a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Ottawa, Illinois, held on Tuesday, September 1st, 2026, be approved as recorded in the permanent files of the City Clerk.

Can I get a second? Second. Commissioner Gaynor, roll call.

Eichelkraut?

Aye.

Gaynor? Aye. Pearson?

Aye.

Mayor?

Aye. Is there anyone wishing to appear before the Council? All right, well then let's move to the public hearing.

Keith, the floor is yours. Oh, thank you. This is a scheduled public hearing on three annexation agreements. The properties at 2210 Caton Rd. 1749 North 2703rd Rd. Anne. 4 Airport Rd. These are voluntary annexations. The agreements have been on file for public inspection for at least not less than seven days. And I think they've been on longer. Public notice was given at tonight's hearing. Purpose of the hearing is for anyone, any member of the public who wants to comment on the proposed agreements, this is your floor time.

And with no comments, we will close that part at 7.02. Okay. On to Commissioner Eichelkraut's report.

Moved by Commissioner Eichelkraut, the biweekly salary payroll is September 11, 2026, in the amount of $669,611.41 be approved and warrants issued.

Can I get a second? Second. Pearson, roll call.

Eichelkraut. Aye. Gaynor. Aye. Pearson. Aye. Mayer. Aye. Moved by Commissioner Eichelkraut that the bi-monthly expense report dated September 15, 2026, showing expenses in the amount of $4,312,094.22 be approved and warrants issued. I get a second? Second. Gaynor?

Roll call.

Eichelkraut? Aye. Gaynor? Aye. Pearson?

Aye.

Mayer?

Aye.

Moved by Commissioner Eichelkraut that the monthly financial report of City Clerk Shelly L. Rolson for the month of August 2026 be received and placed on file.

I get a second. Second. Pearson, roll call.

Eichelkraut. Aye. Gaynor. Aye. Pearson. Aye. Mayer.

Aye.

Moved by Commissioner Eichelkraut that a resolution approving and authorizing the execution of an employment agreement for Elizabeth Rodriguez as part-time NCAT custodian, which has been on file for public inspection since September 1st, 2026, be adopted.

I get a second. Second. Gaynor. Roll call.

Eichelkraut. Aye. Gaynor. Aye. Pearson.

Aye.

Mayer.

Aye.

Moved by Commissioner Eichelkraut that a resolution authorizing the execution of transit service agreements between the City of Ottawa and multiple entities regarding transportation through NCAT, which has been on file for public inspection since September 1st, 2026, be adopted.

I give a second. Second. Pearson. Paul.

Eichelkraut. Aye. Gaynor. Aye. Pearson.

Aye.

Mayer.

Aye.

Moved by Commissioner Eichelkraut that a resolution improving and authorizing the execution of multiple NCAT employment agreements for Hunter O'Dell and Gary Schroeder as full-time bus operators, Kathy Thompson as full-time route coordinator, and Kevin Hart as full-time dispatch supervisor, all be received and placed on file for public inspection.

Second.

Second. Gagner. Yeah, we've had some people retire over the last month, and these are basically their replacements, and well over 65, so. Roll call.

Eichelkraut? Aye. Gaynor? Aye. Pearson?

Aye.

Mayer?

Aye. Commissioner Eichelkraut, anything you'd like to add?

Yeah, we had a wrap up today of debate days. I think everything went good. I think debate days went fairly good. We're looking at maybe doing it next year. We're not sure yet, but we're actually looking forward to that. I just also wanted to bring up that the rec board has rented the KC's October 25th from two to four o'clock for a senior dance. Last act will be the band. And music in the park was officially over. I think we had a great year and really had a great time.

So was the Jordan Block Jams as well. That was pretty good this year. On to Commissioner Gaynor's report.

Moved by Commissioner Gaynor that a resolution authorizing the execution of an intergovernmental agreement between the City of Ottawa and the Illinois Department of Health Care and Family Services for the 2027 supplemental ambulance rates, which has been on file for public inspection since September 1, 2026, be adopted. Thank you.

Second. Second.

Mr. Eichelkraut? Again, this just sets the reimbursement rates for next year.

All right, roll call.

Eichelkraut? Aye. Gaynor? Aye. Pearson? Aye. Mayer?

Aye.

Moved by Commissioner Gaynor that a resolution authorizing the execution of an agreement with Bill Walsh Incorporated to purchase the 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee, currently being leased by the City of Ottawa Police Department, which has been on file for public inspection since September 1, 2026, be adopted.

I give a second.

Second. Pearson? buying out a lease of a vehicle that we already have in our inventory. Roll call.

Eichelkraut. Aye. Gaynor. Aye. Pearson.

Aye.

Mayer.

Aye. Anything you would like to add, Commissioner Gaynor? Not this evening. Okay. On to Commissioner Pearson's report.

Moved by Commissioner Pearson that a resolution accepting a bid and authorizing the execution of a contract for sale between the City of Ottawa and JVE Homes LLC for the purchase of 1461 West Lafayette Street which has been on file for public inspection since September 1st, 2026, be adopted.

I get a second? Second. Commissioner Gaynor?

Again, this is a house, the house that we were given by the Thorntons. We are selling that house on a Thornton property, which is actually now the city property. And we are using the funds from this house to pay for any remodeling that we had to do, which is now the rec center out at the old golf course bridge. Roll call.

Eichelkraut? Aye. Gaynor? Aye. Pearson? Aye. Mayer?

Aye. And anything you'd like to add? Nothing tonight. On to my report.

Moved by Mayor Hastie that a resolution authorizing the execution of a proposal for environmental professional services between the City of Ottawa and Fair Graham for the U.S. EPA Brownsville cleanup grant on Jackson Street, which has been on file for public inspections since September 1, 2026, be adopted.

Do I get a second? Second. Pearson. I think I remember Commissioner Eichelkraut talking about this last week, but this is that property that's over by the dumpsters in Financial Plus. So it's good to have that remediated, and hopefully some development can go there someday. Roll call.

Eichelkraut. Aye. Gaynor. Aye. Pearson.

Aye.

Mayer.

Aye.

Moved by Mayor Hastings that a resolution authorizing the execution of two annexation agreements between the City of Ottawa, Trevor Carada for 2210 Caton Road, Matthew Berry and Maggie Stoneking for 1749 North 2703rd Road, which have been on file for public inspection since September 1st, 2026, be adopted.

I give a second. Second. Mr. Eichelkraut, roll call.

Eichelkraut. Aye. Gaynor. Aye. Pearson.

Aye.

Mayer.

Aye.

Move by Mayor Hastie that a resolution authorizing the execution of the 2027 music performance agreements be adopted.

Second. Second. I'm going to give this to Commissioner Eichelkraut. Roll call.

Eichelkraut. Aye. Gaynor. Aye. Pearson.

Aye.

Mayor.

Aye. I should have made you guys arm wrestle over it.

Move by Mayor Hastie that an ordinance authorizing advanced remittance of payments on health insurance claim invoices as required by Bucos-Bushield be passed and approved.

second Commissioner Gaynor just an explanation on this Blue Cross Blue Shield for us to make our payments on the claims for our health insurance is required they're now giving us that bill on a weekly basis and we have 48 hours to make that payment that doesn't exactly fit into how we typically do bills as you can see from Commissioner Eichelkraut's report so we had to pass an ordinance to allow us to pay that so that we don't assess fines from Blue Cross Blue Shield until the next council meeting comes around Roll call.

Eichelkraut. Aye. Gaynor. Aye. Pearson.

Aye.

Mayer. Aye. Moved by Mayor Hasty that an ordinance annexing certain territory to the city of Ottawa with South County, Illinois, owned by Trevor Cravatta and located at 2210 Caton Road, be passed and approved.

I get a second. Second. Pearson. Roll call.

Eichelkraut. Aye. Gaynor. Aye. Pearson. Aye.

Aye.

Mayor?

Aye.

Moved by Mayor Hastie that an ordinance annexing certain territory to the City of Ottawa, LaSalle County, Illinois, owned by Matthew Berry and Maggie Stoneking, and located at 1749 North 2703rd Road, be passed and approved.

Do we get a second? Second. Mr. Eichelkraut? Roll call.

Eichelkraut? Aye. Gaynor? Aye. Pearson?

Aye.

Mayor?

Aye.

Moved by Mayor Hastie that an ordinance annexing certain territory to the City of Ottawa, LaSalle County, Illinois, owned by Dan Doherty, and located at 4 Airport Road, be passed and approved.

I got a second commissioner roll call.

I go crowd gain your Pearson.

I mayor I. The only thing I had before going to closed session is last weekend was a lot of fun in Ottawa. There was almost too many things to go on going on and we are two weeks away from Fall Fest, right? It's just October 4th, so still more things to come. And with that I'll take a motion to go into closed session.

Moved by Mayor Hastie, does this council recess in a closed session to discuss the matter of a step three AFSCME grievance?

Can I get a second? Second. Eichelkraut, roll call.

Eichelkraut?

Aye.

Gaynor? Aye. Pearson? Aye. Mayor?

Aye.