City Council - Regular Meeting

They're both adjusting. They're both adjusting.

There you go. All right.

Let's start the regular meeting of the Council of the City of Ottawa, July 7, 2026. Roll call.

Eichelkraut. Here. Gagner. Here. Pearson. Here. Barron.

Here.

Mayer.

Here. 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, June 16th, 2026, be approved as recorded in the permanent files of the City Clerk.

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

Eichelkraut? Aye. Gaynor? Aye. Pearson? Aye. Barron?

Aye.

Mayor?

Aye. Is there anyone wishing to appear before the Council? All right, then let's move on to Commissioner Eichelkraut's report.

Moved by Commissioner Eichelkraut that the biweekly salary payroll of June 19th, 2026 in the amount of $706,755.04 and the biweekly salary payroll of July 2nd, 2026 in the amount of $733,331.56 both be approved and warrants issued. Can I get a second? Second. Commissioner Pearson, roll call. Eichelkraut. Aye. Gaynor. Aye. Pearson. Aye. Barron. Aye. Mayer. Aye. Moved by Commissioner Eichelkraut that the bi-monthly expense report dated July 7, 2026, showing expenses in the amount of $799,727.92 be approved and warrants issued. I second. Second.

Mr. Barron, roll call.

Eichelkraut?

Aye.

Gaynor?

Aye.

Pearson?

Aye.

Barron?

Aye.

Mayer?

Aye.

Moved by Commissioner Eichelkraut that a resolution accepting and authorizing a grant agreement between the City of Ottawa and IDOT for the rehabilitation of the NCAT maintenance facility be received and placed on file for public inspection.

A second second in your local.

I go crowd. I gain your I Pearson I Aaron I may or I move by commission record crowd that a resolution authorizing the execution of transit service agreements between the city of Ottawa and multiple entities regarding transportation through and can be received and placed on file for public inspection.

I get second.

I can hear some local.

I go crowd. I gain your I Pearson I fear and I may or I Moved by Commissioner Eichelkraut, the resolution authorizing the execution of 28 amendments to the employment agreements for multiple NCAT employees be received and placed on file for public inspection.

I give second. Second. Barron, roll call.

Eichelkraut?

Aye.

Gagner?

Aye.

Pearson? Aye. Barron?

Aye.

Mayer?

Aye.

Moved by Commissioner Eichelkraut that an ordinance amending section 4 of ordinance number 17-2024 and repealing ordinance number 25-2024 regarding compensation for all part-time appointed NCAP bus operators be passed and approved.

Do I get a second? Second. Mr. Gaynor. Roll call.

Eichelkraut? Aye. Gaynor? Aye. Pearson? Aye. Barron?

Aye.

Mayer?

Aye. Yes. First of all, let's start out with we had a great fireworks show. The band was really good. We had a great time Saturday. The rain stopped at the right time for us. Now, this weekend, okay, here we go again. We got Jordan Block Jams with Sarah's Place, which is a Zach Bryant tribute band. That'll be Friday night in Jordan Block. Saturday night, we got South Town Soul and Groove. That's music in the park Saturday night at Washington's Park. So come on down. There's a lot of things to do. Go uptown, eat, enjoy yourself, stop and listen to music and have a great time. Fantastic.

On to Commissioner Gainer's report.

Moved by Commissioner Gainer that a resolution authorizing an execution of a memorandum of understanding between the City of Ottawa and Ottawa Township High School District Number 140 regarding our school resource officers, which has been on file for public inspection since June 16, 2026, be adopted.

I give a second. Second. Commissioner Eichelkraut.

Roll call.

Eichelkraut.

Aye.

Gainer. Aye. Pearson.

Aye.

Barron.

Aye.

Mayer.

Aye.

We're going to pass on the second one and move on to the report of the police chief for the month of June. We have squad car calls, 2,248 arrests, including citations, 314 sentenced to IDOC to transported at the County jail, 23 juvenile referrals for peer jury to issued a notice to appear 291 Ottawa central dispatch handled 826 911 calls. They also handled 4,681 administrative calls. Moved by Commissioner Gaynor that the report of Police Chief Michael J. Cheatham for the month of June 2026 be received and placed on file.

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

Michael Kraut.

Aye.

Gaynor.

Aye.

Pearson. Aye. Barron.

Aye.

Mayer. We have the report of the fire chief for the month of June. Number of bell alarms, zero. Number of still alarms, 34. Activated alarms, 47. Number of medic calls, 290. Mutual aid, six. Number of patients, 237. Number of transfers, two. Total calls for June, 371. Total emergency overtime, 11. Structure, contents, and vehicle loss was all at a zero for June. Total on residents billed for medical services, 24. Moved by Commissioner Gaynor that the report of Fire Chief Brian R. Bresner for the month of June 2026 be received and placed on file.

Second. Second. Commissioner Barron, do you have a call?

Eichelkraut?

Aye.

Gaynor? Aye. Pearson?

Aye.

Barron?

Aye.

Mayer?

Aye.

I also heard good comments of the festivities over the weekend and also received good comments on the move for the fireworks. And then on an unrelated matter, I would like to comment. It's very interesting how after we pass a resolution looking into gas prices that the gas prices in Ottawa went down. What happened up again? Well, and they were actually 20 cents lower than they were in Peru and Utica at one time. Now, whether they still are or not, I don't know. But I still want us, our council, to continue looking into that to see if there's anything. But in my mind, that's almost an admission of price gouging.

Didn't the City of Marseilles request something similar or about to?

Yes, they reached out to me, and we're going to be doing a very similar thing from Marseilles as well at the next council meeting.

Very good. Thanks. On to Commissioner Pearson's report.

Moved by Commissioner Pearson that a resolution authorizing the execution of a fire alarm monitoring inspection and service contract between the City of Ottawa and Thompson Electronics Company, which has been on file for public inspection since June 16, 2026, be adopted.

I give a second. Second. Commissioner Gaynor. Call.

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

Aye.

Mayer.

Aye.

Moved by Commissioner Pearson that a resolution authorizing the execution of a professional services agreement between the City of Ottawa and RVI Planning and Landscape Architecture Incorporated for a skate park master plan and Oslo grant application, which has been on file for public inspection since June 16, 2026, be adopted.

Second. Second. Mr. Eichelkraut?

As you know, we've received the Oslo grant a few other times. And so we're going to try to revamp our skate park. Yeah, it's some money.

Definitely in need. Yes. Use some love. Roll call.

Eichelkraut. Aye. Gaynor. Aye. Pearson.

Aye.

Barron.

Aye.

Mayer.

Aye.

Moved by Commissioner Pearson that the quote received from Grand Rapids Enterprises Incorporated in the amount of $19,580 for the Lincoln-Douglas Park Basketball Court be accepted and paid for from the Playground and Recreation Fund.

I give a second. Second. Barron. Roll call.

Eichelkraut?

Aye.

Gaynor? Aye. Pearson?

Aye.

Barron?

Aye.

Mayer?

Aye.

Moved by Commissioner Pearson that the bid received from Advanced Asphalt Company in the amount of $1,022,865.35 for the 2026 Street Maintenance Program be approved and paid for from the General Corporate Motor Fuel Tax Fund.

Can I get a second?

Second.

Gaynor?

That was actually the only bid that we received for.

Roll call.

Eichelkraut? Aye. Gaynor? Aye. Pearson?

Aye.

Barron?

Aye.

Mayer?

Aye. Anything that you would like to add?

Nothing tonight.

On to Commissioner Barron's report.

Moved by Commissioner Barron that change order number one for Visering Construction Company in the decreased amount of $6,295,770 for the new Fox River Wastewater Treatment Plant project be accepted and approved. Can I get a second? Second. Commissioner? Eichelkraut?

We went through the plans, made some adjustments, and made the plant cheaper.

Can we continue to have these same kind of change orders?

I don't know if you'll get $6 million. Hopefully we bring it in under budget.

Very good. Roll call.

Eichelkraut. Aye. Gaynor. Aye. Pearson.

Aye.

Barron.

Aye.

Mayer.

Aye.

Moved by Commissioner Barron that the quote received from H-Turbo Incorporated in the amount of $19,143.99 for the turbo blower compressor and motor assembly for the wastewater department be accepted, approved, and paid for from the wastewater fund.

Can I get a second? Second.

Commissioner Pearson. Things wear out. Roll call.

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

Aye.

Mayer.

Aye. Commissioner Barron, is there anything that you would like to add tonight?

Just try to stay cool, everybody. It's hot.

Thank you. On to my report.

Moved by Mayor Hasty that the report of Registrar Shelly L. Rolson showing 32 death certificates issued and certified copies issued in total $1,820 for the month of June 2026 be received and placed on file.

I give a second. Second. Commissioner Barron, roll call.

Eichelkraut? Aye. Gaynor?

Aye.

Pearson?

Aye.

Barron?

Aye.

Mayer?

Aye.

Moved by Mayor Hasey that the report of the parking and adjudication fine department showing fines collected of $3,568 for the month of June 2026 be received and placed on file.

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

Eichelkraut? Aye. Gaynor? Aye. Pearson?

Aye.

Barron?

Aye.

Mayer?

Aye.

We have the report of the building official for the month of June. There were 13 building permits issue with these totaling $4,410.10 total number of onsite building inspections. 64. There was one demolition permit for $250 for sign permits for $87 and 50 cents, three pool permits for $300, 16 fence permits for $800, two new business registrations for $200 32 general contractor licenses issued for $3,200. Eight electrical licenses issued for $2,000. Nine electrical permits for $1,650. Total number of onsite electrical inspections, 21. We had six people take our electrical exam for $1,500. There was one plumbing permit for $100. Total number of onsite plumbing inspections, 15. Our code enforcement officer did a total of 165 inspections, and our construction coordinator did a total of 168 inspections for a total of permits and licenses of 492, with fees collected of $14,797.60. Moved by Mayor Hastie that the report of building official Matthew W. Stafford for the month of June 2026 be received and placed on file.

Can I get a second? Second.

Commissioner Gaynor.

Gaynor. Roll call.

Eichelkraut.

Aye. Gaynor. Aye.

Pearson. Aye. Barron.

Aye.

Mayor?

Aye.

Moved by Mayor Hastie that a resolution authorizing the execution of a settlement agreement between the City of Ottawa and AFSCME Local 2819 regarding the contracting out grievances, which has been on file for public inspection since June 16, 2026, be adopted.

Second. Second. Pearson, roll call.

Eichelkraut? Aye. Gaynor? Aye. Pearson? Aye. Barron?

Aye.

Mayor?

Aye.

Move by Mayor Hastie that a resolution appointing Don Gainier to the JETSBA subcommittee as the City of Ottawa Illinois representative be adopted.

I give a second. Second. Commissioner Eichelkraut.

Eichelkraut. Aye. Gainier.

Abstain.

Pearson. Aye. Barron.

Aye.

Mayer.

Aye.

Move by Mayor Hastie that an ordinance authorizing the issue of a certificate of appropriateness for 804 Chapel Street and owned by the Fork and Family LLC to construct a detached garage be passed and approved. Second.

Pearson. Roll call.

Eichelkraut. Aye. Gaynor. Aye. Pearson.

Aye.

Barron.

Aye.

Mayer.

Aye.

Moved by Mayor Hastie that an ordinance authorizing the issuance of a certificate of appropriateness for 620 through 630 Court Street and known by West Becker Properties LLC for facade renovations be passed and approved.

I got a second. I got a second. Commissioner Eichelkraut. If you guys didn't see it, the facade drawings are sharp, so it's going to be a nice addition to that street. Roll call.

Eichelkraut. Aye. Gaynor. Aye. Pearson.

Aye.

Barron.

Aye.

Mayer.

Aye.

Moved by Mayor Hastie that an ordinance authorizing the issuance of a certificate of appropriateness for 615 through 617 LaSalle Street and owned by Westbecker Properties LLC for facade renovations be passed and approved.

Second. Gagner. Roll call.

Eichelkraut. Aye. Gagner.

Aye.

Pearson.

Aye.

Barron.

Aye.

Mayer. Aye. Moved by Mayor Hastie that the report of the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting held on Monday, June 22nd, 2026, considering variance requests from Amanda Brockman for property located at 124 East Van Buren Street be received and placed on file. Be it further moved, the council could occur with the recommendation of the Zoning Board of Appeals and the side yard setback variance be granted with the condition that it is not less than one foot from the rest property line, including eaves and gutters to construct an addition to the existing detached accessory structure. And the request for a rear yard setback variance and the variance to allow over the maximum area to exceed 900 square feet both be denied and the follow-up ordinance be passed and approved.

Can I get a second? Second.

Commissioner Eichelkraut.

Again, I'll just say that I think Doug Carroll does a really good job with his reports and the information that he provides to us. And so it's my recommendation to follow suit with the recommendation. Roll call.

Eichelkraut. Aye. Gaynor. Aye. Pearson? Aye. Barron?

Aye.

Mayor?

Aye. I will just echo what the other commissioner said, and that's 4th of July was a pretty big hit for us after a day of heavy rain and chaos and everything. The new location seemed to work really well. And thank you to our emergency services and to our public works for pulling the whole day together. Motion to adjourn.

Moved by Mayor Hastie that this regular meeting be adjourned.

I give a second. Second. Michael Kraut, roll call.

Michael Kraut. Aye. Gagner. Aye. Pearson.

Aye.

Barron.

Aye.

Mayer.

Aye. All right, thanks everyone.