City Council - Regular Meeting

Longest minute ever.

Come on. There we go.

There we go.

All right, let's start the regular meeting of the Council of City of Ottawa May 19th, 2026. Roll call.

Eichelkraut? Here. Gaynor? Here. Pearson? Here. Barron?

Here.

Mayor?

Here.

We have three present and two on the phone.

Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Move by Commissioner Pearson at the minutes of a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Ottawa, Illinois, held on Tuesday, May 5th, 2026, be approved as recorded in the permanent files of the city clerk.

I get a second second. Gainier will call Eichelkraut.

Gainier Pearson I Baron Mayor.

Is there anyone wishing to appear before the council? If not, we will move on to Commissioner Eichelkraut's report.

Moved by Commissioner Eichelkraut that the biweekly salary payroll of May 8th, 2026 in the amount of $740,312.89 be approved and warrants issued.

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

Eichelkraut? Aye. Gagner? Aye. Pearson? Aye. Barron? Aye. Mayor?

Aye.

Moved by Commissioner Eichelkraut that the bi-monthly expense report dated May 19th, 2026, showing expenses in the amount of $1,373,086.39 be approved and warrants issued. I get a second. Second.

Commissioner Gaynor, roll call.

Eichelkraut. Aye. Gaynor. Aye. Pearson.

Aye.

Barron. Aye. Mayer.

Aye.

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

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

Eichelkraut? Aye. Gaynor?

Aye.

Pearson?

Aye.

Barron?

Aye.

Mayer?

Aye.

Move by Commissioner Eichelkraut that a resolution authorizing the execution of a transit service agreement between the City of Ottawa and Fox Valley Community Services regarding NCAT be received and placed on file for public inspection.

I give a second. Second. Commissioner Gaynor. Roll call.

Eichelkraut. Aye. Gaynor. Aye. Pearson.

Aye.

Barron. Aye. Mayer.

Aye. Well, I don't know the protocol on this. Wayne, is there anything you would like to add from where you are? All right, perfect, thank you. I hope your family's doing well. Thank you. Moving on to Commissioner Gaynor's report.

Moved by Commissioner Gaynor that an ordinance adding Article 6 to Chapter 102 of the Municipal Code of the City of Ottawa, LaSalle County, Illinois, regarding administrative fees for impounded vehicles involved in crimes be passed and approved.

I give a second. Second. Commissioner Pearson.

This is just a new ordinance that establishes fees for impound vehicles. They do present problems with us, and we need to find some way to recuperate our costs. Roll call.

Eichelkraut? Aye. Gaynor? Aye. Pearson?

Aye.

Barron? Mayor.

Aye.

Moved by Commissioner Gainor that a resolution authorizing the execution of a proposal for equipment and software with Axon Enterprises Incorporated for the police department be received and placed on file for public inspection.

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

Eichelkraut. Aye. Gainor. Aye. Pearson.

Aye.

Barron. Aye. Mayor.

Aye.

Moved by Commissioner Gaynor that the quote received from CDS Office Technologies in the amount of $61,556 for laptops for the squad cars for the police department be accepted, approved, and paid for from the General Corporate Fund.

I give a second.

Second.

These are just replacements. Roll call.

Eichelkraut. Aye. Gaynor. Aye. Pearson.

Aye.

Barron. Aye. Mayer.

Aye.

Mr. Gainers, anything that you would like to add? Which everyone a happy Memorial Day. Thank you. On to Commissioner Pearson's report.

Moved by Commissioner Pearson that the bid received from Deconstruction Incorporated in the amount of $613,501.42 for the Main Street Bridge Rehabilitation Project be accepted and paid for from the General Corporate Fund.

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

Eichelkraut. Aye. Gainer. Aye. Pearson.

Aye.

Barron. Aye. Mayor.

Aye.

Moved by Commissioner Pearson that change order number one from Deconstruction Incorporated in the decreased amount of $165,396 for the Main Street Bridge Rehabilitation Project be accepted and paid for from the General Corporate Fund.

I second. Second. Gaynor. Roll call.

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

Aye.

Mayor.

Aye.

Moved by Commissioner Pearson that the quote received from U.S. Tennis Court Construction in the amount of $15,600 for the Lincoln-Douglas Park Basketball Court be accepted, approved, and paid for from the Playground and Recreation Fund.

I get a second. Second. Daniel?

This is a memorial court that we had removed for Russ Maimon, and so we're going to replace that, and it's coming out of the rec board fund.

And it'll also be striped for pickleball too, right?

And I'm wondering, do we get a comment from Don on this as well? The U.S. Tennis Association. Roll call.

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

Aye.

And Commissioner Pearson, we were lining up the last item underneath her.

Is there anything else that you'd like to add? Nothing else tonight. Okay. On to Commissioner Barron's report.

Moved by Commissioner Barron that the quote received from Dorner Company in the amount of $26,066 for valves for the Central Water Department plant be accepted, approved, and paid for from the Water Fund.

Could I get a second? Second. Commissioner Pearson. Roll call.

Eichelkraut. Gainier? Aye. Pearson?

Aye.

Barron?

Aye.

Mayor?

Aye. I asked Commissioner Eichelkraut, so Commissioner Barron, is there anything that you would like to add?

No, just want to wish everybody a happy Memorial Day.

All right, thank you. On to my report.

Moved by Mayor Hastie that an ordinance amending Article 3 and Article 4 of Chapter 22 of the Municipal Code of the City of Ottawa, LaSalle County, Illinois, regarding updates to the building and electrical codes be passed and approved.

Can I get a second?

Second.

As it states, it's an update of some of our codes. It's aligning them with the other codes that we recently adopted for our building codes. Probably the most important or unique thing to point out is if you're getting your license, your electrical license, and you're not doing work in the city of Ottawa, we'll no longer require you to provide proof of insurance. We're told that that's not required in other places where people would get their license. So we took that out of our code. Other than that, it's just an update of our codes to make sure that it's compliant with other sections of our codes. Roll call.

Eichelkraut? Aye. Gaynor? Aye. Pearson?

Aye.

Barron?

Aye.

Mayer? Aye. Moved by Mayor Hastie that the request for a fundraiser from the VFW Auxiliary Post number 2470 to hold their annual poppy days on Saturday, June 27th and Sunday, June 28th at the intersection of Norris Drive and Columbus Streets be approved and the city departments involved be notified of the event.

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

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

Aye. we have uh some proclamation two proclamations the first proclamation is whereas america a land of freedom is preserved and protected willingly and freely by citizen soldiers and whereas millions who have answered the call to arms have died on the field of battle and whereas a nation must be reminded of the price of war and debt owed to those who have died in war whereas the red poppy has been designated as a symbol of sacrifice of lives in all wars whereas the american legion and american legion auxiliary have pledged to remind america annually of this debt through the distribution of memorial flower Therefore, I, Robert Hastie, Mayor of the City of Ottawa, and on behalf of the Ottawa City Council, do hereby proclaim May 21st and 22nd, 2026 as Poppy Days in the City of Ottawa and ask that all citizens pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom by wearing the memorial poppy on this day. Proclaim this 19th day of May 2026. Robert Hastie.

Moved by Mayor Hastie that a proclamation declaring May 21st and May 22nd, 2026 as American Legion Poppy Days in the City of Ottawa be adopted.

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

Eichelkraut? Aye. Gagner? Aye. Pearson?

Aye.

Barron? Aye. Mayer?

Aye. second proclamation in regards to national public works week whereas public work services including our city's transportation water supply wastewater treatment public buildings and other structures essential for our citizens and whereas the health safety and comfort of our community greatly depends on these facilities and services and whereas the efficiency of qualified and dedicated personnel who staff our public works departments is strongly influenced by the citizens attitude and understanding of the importance of the work they perform now therefore be it resolved that i robert hasty mayor of the city of ottawa do hereby proclaim the week of may eighteenth through the twenty second 2026 as national public works week in the city of ottawa i urge all citizens to acquaint themselves with the issues involved in providing our public works and to recognize the contribution which public works employees make every day towards our health safety comfort and quality of life claim this 19th day of may 2026 robert hasty moved by mayor hasty that a proclamation declaring the week of may 18th through may 22nd 2026 as national public works week in the city of ottawa be adopted I guess I get second. Mr. Pearson roll call.

I go crowd. Gainier Pearson. I Aaron Mayer.

I will just add to the sentiment of the commissioners on Memorial Day that there's a very nice service in Washington Square that morning and I would encourage everyone here and everyone watching at home to come out that morning. We have a number of different speakers lined up and I think it's going to be a respectful ceremony. So with that, motion to adjourn.

Moved by Mayor Hasty that this regular meeting be adjourned.

I get a second. Second. Mr. Gaynor, roll call.

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

Aye. All right. Thank you, everyone.