City Council - Regular Meeting

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Call the April 20th, 2026 meeting to order. Please stand for the pledge. 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.

Okay. Thank you for coming to the April 20th, 2026 city council meeting. Uh for those of you in attendance, thank you for showing up. uh to attend our meeting. And for those that are watching online, uh thank you for attending uh virtually. Uh we also have our city treasurer, Mr. Hersy, with us tonight. Good to see you. Uh we will now begin with roll call. Roll call. Rosenberg, present. My here. Lots here. Stofl here. Carney here. Phony here. Roach Nukem Hudson here. Blackburn here. Boris here. Campbell here. Parchman here.

Ford here. We have a quum. Thank you. Uh, everyone should have received a copy of the minutes in their packet from April 6, 2026. Uh, can I get a motion for approval? So move. Second. We have a motion and we have a second. Does anybody have any questions or comments on 1.4? Seeing none, all in favor? I

opposed. Motion carries. Uh tonight we do have a uh public hearing. Um the public hearing is for the adoption of the fiscal year 2027 municipal budget. Do I have anyone at this time that wants to speak out for or against the 2027 fiscal year municipal budget? Is anyone here to speak for or against the fiscal year 2027 municipal budget? Is anyone here to speak for or against the fiscal year 2027 municipal budget? Okay, we will close the public hearing. We do not have any uh city presentations tonight. Uh so we will move on to uh public comments. This portion of the city council meeting is reserved for any member of the public wishing to address the council. All remarks should be made to the council as a whole, not to individual members or the audience. The Illinois Open Meetings Act 5 ILCS 1201 mandates no action shall be taken on matters not listed on this agenda. The council may direct staff to address the topic or refer the matter to a committee. Please provide the city clerk with your name, speak into the microphone, limit the presentation to 5 minutes, and avoid repetitious comments. Thank you. Would anybody like And we do have public comments later in the um meeting. So, does anyone want to make public comments at this time?

Good evening, Mr. Mayor, members of the council. Doug Gaines, Ward Five. This not tonight. My comments are inspired by Vern and his relentless pursuit for fiscal transparency. Our founders dumped tea into Boston Harbor rather than tolerate a 2% taxation without real representation. A recent article in the Fruited Plain Substack titled No Taxation Without Representation celebrates a historic moment. Tariffs replacing the federal income tax scam that has stolen nearly 40% of our labor since 1913. The article calls it what it is, theft. The biggest scam ever perpetrated on humankind. And today, I bring that same truth home to Oallon and St. Clair County along with a dire warning. Our creator never meant for his people to be milked like cattle, our life force sucked away to fund out of control machine that no longer serves us. Yet here, our property taxes, the most direct form of that theft, keep climbing while we, the people, cannot make ends meet. Illinois has the second highest property tax burden in the nation. St. Clair County effective rates run from 2.5 to over 5% depending on the district. In Ofall, the median effective rate of 2.36% is above the state average. Just this past year, Ofallon Township High School District 203 pushed through a 2 to 3% per 100 EAV increase while the city is floating a 22 million library bond referendum. And across the county, levies for schools, pensions, and debt service roll forward year after year on the backs of families who continue to struggle. Now add the looming municipal and school bond crisis staring us in the face. Across America, strained school districts issued a record 82 billion in bonds last year alone, a 42% increase, the most in over a decade, just to stay afloat amid failing enrollment and inflation that never quits. Here in

Illinois, we've already seen defaults and missed bond payments. Analysis analysts now give the entire US school district sector a negative outlook for 2026. Why? Because costs never shrink and the borrowing binge is catching up. And then there is our Federal Reserve note. Our dollar on the brink. It fell more than 9% in 2025. Its worst year since 2017. Forecast for 2026 warn of further weakness. And don't believe me, just look at the price of gold and silver over the last two years. When, not if, our paper currency failure fails, the reserves our city holds, those devalued dollars become worthless. I hope you're paying attention and preparing. When this happens, property values will plummet in real terms as tax base collapses under the weight of a shrinking economy. Suddenly, local governments won't be able to levy the same inflated taxes on homes that are worth far less. The bond debt that's piled up, secured by our property taxes, will become impossible to service without massive rate hikes or savage cuts. That is the moment of truth. We will finally discover what services are truly essential and what is not, such as administrative bloat, shiny non-essential projects and endless pension promises built on House of Cards. In that moment, we the people will stand as one and demand no more taxation without representation. So, I hope you have a plan because we the people will not shoulder the failure of city and county servants selected by processes many of us no longer trust. Voting machines controlled by interests other than we the people have given us servants who act as masters but are illegitimate. The founders taught that government derives its just powers from the consent of the govern. We don't consent. I urge you tonight freeze all new levies and bond referendums. Publish transparent zerobased budgets that put every dollar under the microscope. Audit every department. Roll back

non-essential spending before the bond crisis and dollar reality force your hand. Because if you do not, the people will. The people will show up and force at every meeting. We will organize until no taxation without representation is not just a slogan from 1773 or a Substack article in 2026, but the battlecry that restores our sovereignty right here in Ofall and St. Clair County citizens, we are not conscripts. We are heirs of the revolution. The time to reign in outofc control government is now before the crash does it for us. 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 at this time?

Well, I get to see uh the back of my head again. Hello folks at home. Uh Vern Lawyer, ward three. Uh before I go on to the warrant, I just couple things I noticed on the agenda 7.5 in regards to a labor contract resigning with local 100. Uh, is this in requirement of your workers that work for you as full-time employees uh must or partially or whatever belong to the union because years ago when 670 had it, everybody that came out of the hall at that time that worked for the city uh went about that way. you went through the city, you got the job, and you came to work for the found uh city. I was just wondering if that refers to all full-time employees that actually do your labor work, whatever that if they're in that contract. And then also, what about your uh part-time people who work for your park board or for the park department and whatever. I know you'll wait till the end of comments and answer that. So hopefully we'll get an answer to that. Now moving on to the warrant report. 2,172,000 and change. Again, um I know some of these items I'm mentioning are on your assigned payments out, but I just want to let the people know here and listing whatever where you're spending this money at and where it's going to. Like

your Amazon account was only 65 almost $6,500 this month. Of course, your commerce card is a lot more expensive than that when that comes due, and that'll be next month, and I'll be watching that one. Uh, Barcon, you pent $12,742 and change for some benches and some trash receptacles that we know are trash cans. Hopefully, that's what it is. And then the people who take care of your turf out there, you're giving them over a million dollars tonight. I know it's probably budgeted. I'm just letting the public know where that money goes. Then you have the um park also again has a custom printing for their uniforms that they have. I guess you know they sell those and whatever. That's $18,350 and change. uh Formington signs you made a deposit to for some post panel signage map and some signs for 8,600 and change. um focus point group for some at the park some playground servicing restoration and removal and uh return and prep for PIP whatever that is $21,000 almost $22,000 now Hanks Construction has been working on your wood stream sewer bypass uh and he's you're paying at payment number seven of 6,000 688,000 and change. But my question on it is that the is that the line back there at uh Koi Road? I believe that's where that's

at. And what is the consistency or what is the reason for that black piping laying in the creek line? I don't understand what that's about. Um, you also had a plumber doing some other restoration work for you uh at the waste treatment plant. Your two-month bill for maids my way was $34,000 for that's for the months of February and March. I haven't checked the door sills yet to see uh if they would clean at the top or not, but I will attempt to do that later on. Um, I'll cover the rest of this. Am I running out of time? But, uh,

thank you. Okay. Thank you for your comments. Does anyone else wish to make public comments at this time? Okay. Seeing none, we'll close and move on. Uh, clerk's report. Thank you, mayor. I have no report tonight.

Okay. Moving on to the mayor's report. Uh, April 23rd to the 27th, uh, 2026, the library annual book sale during the normal library hours will take place. April 25th, 2026, Vine Street Micro Market, 9:00 a.m. to noon. Uh, April 25th, 2026, we have a taste of the district downtown uh, district. So, that's 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Uh, April 25th, 2026, we have National Drug Takeback Day. That'll be at the public safety building from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Uh May 9th, 2026, the Vine Street Market opening day. Uh that will be from 8:00 a.m. to noon. May 29th, uh 2026, we have the OFallen Fire Department golf scramble at Tamarack Country Club. Uh July 3rd, we have the America's 250th anniversary celebration. And um we can now citizens if you want to sign up uh for the new mass notification system you just need to text Oallon to 38276. And that's all I have for uh the mayor's report. We'll move on to resolutions. Uh Mr. Blackburn. Thank you, mayor. May I'd like to make a motion to approve a resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the village of Shiloh to provide radio communication and computer aided dispatch.

Second. We have a motion and we have a second. Do we have any comments or discussion on 7.1? Seeing none, roll call, please. My yes, yes. Stofl, yes. Carney, yes. Phony, yes. Hudson, yes. Blackburn, yes. Vor, yes. Campbell, yes. Parchman, yes. Ford, yes. Rosenberg, affirmative. Thank you. Motion carries. Moving on to 7.2. Mr. Parchman, please.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. um like to make a resolution or like to approve or make a motion to approve a resolution in support of municipal housing authority IML model resolution. Second. Second. Okay, we have a motion and we have a second. Do we have any comments or discussions on 7.2? Seeing none, roll call, please. Lots, yes. Stofl, yes. Carney, yes. Bony, yes. Hudson, yes. Blackburn, yes. Vor, yes. Campbell, yes. Parchman, yes. Ford, yes. Rosenberg, affirmative.

Lord, yes. Thank you. Motion carries. Uh, moving on to 7.3. Mrs. Lots, please. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I move that we approve a resolution approving and accepting the minor subdivision of 1730 East Highway 50 known as the second addition of Oallon Business Park on 5.37 acres on parcel ID ending in 207-002. Second. We have a motion and we have a second. Uh do we have any discussion or comments on 7.3? Yes, mayor. The um resolution document has the wrong address. It still says West Highway 50 and I believe it should be East Highway 50.

Let the record reflect that should be East Highway 50. Okay. Anybody else have any questions, comments? Seeing none, roll call, please. Stofl, yes. Carney, yes. Phony, yes. Hudson, yes. Blackburn, yes. Vor, yes. Campbell, yes. Parchman, yes. Ford, yes. Rosenberg, affirmative. Miler, yes. And Lutz, yes.

Thank you. Motion carries. Uh 7 point. We're going to be going into executive session tonight to discuss 7.4 and 7.5. Uh when we return from executive session, we will be voting on those two items uh when we exit uh return back to the meeting. Uh, moving on to 7.5. That's also going to be the one that'll be tabled after executive session. Uh, reading for ordinances. First reading 8.1. Mrs. Lots, please. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I move to consider on first reading an ordinance approving the final plat of Bethl Grove. Second. We have a motion and we have a second. Do we have any discussion or comments on 8.1?

Seeing none, roll call, please. Caring. Yes. Phony. Yes. Hudson. Yes. Blackburn. Yes. Boris. Yes. Campbell. Yes. Parchman. Yes. Ford. Yes. Rosenberg. Affirmative. Milard. Yes. Lots. Yes. Stol. Yes. Thank you. Motion carries. Uh we do not have any other ordinances for first reading. So we will move on to ordinances second reading. Uh 9.1. Mr. Rosenberg, please. Thank you, sir. I'd like to make a motion. Pop up.

Like to make a motion to approve on second reading an ordinance authorizing jurisdictional transfer of Salem Place frontage road from Old Commonville Road to Venita Drive. Second. Second. We have a motion and we have a second. Do we have any comments or discussion on 9.1? Seeing none, roll call, please. Phony, yes. Hudson, yes. Blackburn, yes. Horse, yes. Campbell, yes. Parchman, yes. Ford, yes. Rosenberg, affirmative. Mart, yes. Lots, yes. Dolphel, yes. Cardier,

yes. Thank you. Motion carries. Uh, moving on to 9.2. Mr. Parchman, please. Thanks, sir. I'd like to make a motion to approve on second reading an ordinance budgeting for all corporate purposes for the city of Ofalon, St. Clair County, Illinois for the fiscal year beginning May 1st, 2026 and ending April 30th, 2027. Second. We have a motion and we have a second. Do we have any comments or discussion on 9.2? Seeing none, roll call, please. Hudson, yes. Blackburn, yes. Worse, yes. Campbell, yes. Parchman, yes. Ford, yes. Rosenberg, affirmative. My

yes. Lots, yes. Stofl, yes. Caring, yes. Fing, yes.

Thank you. Motion carries. Uh, we do not have any additional ordinances for second reading. So, we will move on to our second uh public comment section. I'm not going to reread the instructions as were presented before the first session, but uh everything does apply. So, if anyone would like to come forward for public comments, please step to the microphone. Vermo Air Ward 3. Continuing on with my list of items that the monies that are being spent. So the public knows you have Millennium uh professional services at the park for another 10 10,000 $350. The work they're doing there on that north Parkway. The uh on on-site landscaping supply has supplied you or going to supply you with 12 soccer goals for $48,568 and change. the um also on the items in your bud in the budget was mentioned there's like four or five I didn't list them monies that were paid out for individuals who had tiffs coming due this at this time um I was just whole wondering also this afternoon I was out and about and I heard this siren going off and it went off a couple times and I was wondering what the response was on that or was not after the fact. So, just wanted to know what that was all about. It could have been a test. I don't know. Maybe I'll find out tonight in the comments from the city.

And uh a noticing factor that was brought to my attention is the flag up at the memorial area at Lincoln and First Street. It's uh hanging there with owned by one connection and not two like I could generally hang up. So that's been there for a period of time. So maybe somebody hasn't noticed. Maybe they need to fix that. I don't know where that falls under. We'll probably see it in a new bill after it gets fixed. um a course of all time. I still have my little card to reference the items I continue to ask about and hopefully it won't come about that we have a problem out at the Vincent's Road and Troy Fallon Road cuz um statistically something's going to happen there eventually, but hopefully it won't harm anybody or really kill anybody. But it's there's going to be a ne I mean it gets it gets worse every time traveling that road. And I was just wondering uh if we're ever going to have money to paint the streets stripes down the middle of the street. You know, you uh had a budget, so maybe you'll find some money for painting. I I might even volunteer to help you out on doing it. Thank you.

Thank you for your comments. Does anyone else wish to make public comments at this time? Okay, seeing none, we will move on to staff and council member commun or comments. We'll start with city administrator Grant Litkin.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. A few responses tonight. Um there was a question regarding the contracts posted for a vote after executive session. Uh the agreement with local 100, a laborers international union includes all part our full-time uh employees of public works, labor or streets, sewer and water division and parks maintenance. Um the turf project we are starting to wrap up and the turf looks great. Thank you Andrew for you and your staff and the parking lots coming along. It also included some professional service for Millennium that was asked a question about. Um I believe this next week we'll be starting to replace field two which is the championship field or Gary Graham Field. Um that is our oldest turf field. As mentioned in meetings before all of our uniforms and custom printing are then placed into enrollment fees for those teams. And then my last one is the on-site soccer goals. The money was a result of the donation made by Metro Alliance that was here at the last council meeting um in which that group made a donation to the city to pay for most of those soccer goals. Um there was a question about the Woodstream by Woodstream uh project and the black pipe that is a bypass pipe they were using um during the construction. That project is getting close to being wrapped up. We're doing some sewer lining and hopefully um that year and a half long project will be done here pretty soon. That's all I have, Mr. Mayor.

Okay. Thank you. Does anybody on any of our council members have any comments they'd like to make tonight? Somebody want to explain what the picture is, the um leadership team. Uh in regards to the sirens, we no longer uh activate the sirens in Fallon. There was Slair County. I'm not aware of any testing that went on today. Uh we can figure that out. If I may. You may.

I would like to point out that there's a picture hanging up here on the dis of a young lady that uh just had a birthday. I'm not going to tell you how old she is, but she's still pretty young. But uh that's the reason why that picture is hanging in there. Happy birthday. Thank you. Um Roy um that uh five-year-old little girl is very happy to to have this seat. So thank you. Thank you.

Okay. Okay. We'll move on uh to our committee reports. We will start with community development. Mrs. Lots, please. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The Community Development Committee, we met last week. The draft minutes are attached for review. We are scheduled to meet next Monday, the 27th, at 6 PM, but check the website. Sometime sometimes that time changes. Um, the only other action item we have would be 12.2, and that is a special event permit. So, I move that we uh approve the special event permit for Ofall Celebrates America's 250th.

Second. Okay, we have a motion and we have a second. Do we have any discussion or comments on 12.2? Roll call, please. Blackburn, yes. Vor, yes. Campbell, yes. Parchman, yes. Ford, yes. Rosenberg, affirmative. Myart, yes. Lots, yes. Stofl, yes. Carney, yes. Phony. Yes. Hudson. Yes. Had to find you there for a minute.

Okay. Thank you. Motion carries. Moving on to public works. Mr. Rosenberg, please. Thank you, sir. We have not met since the last city council meeting. Our next scheduled meeting is next week. Scheduled for 7 p.m. Please check the website. Times do often slip. Like to see you there. Thank you. Moving on, public safety, Mr. Blackburn. Thank you, Mayor. Public safety last minute on April 13th. Draft minutes are attached. We voted on all the required items tonight. Our next meeting is scheduled for May 11th at 6:30. Check the website should a change. Thank you. Uh, parks and environment, Mr. Boris, please.

Yes. This committee has not met since the last council meeting, so our next scheduled meeting is May 11th. Check the website for details. Thank you. Uh, Mr. Parchman, Finance and Administration. Thanks, sir. We've not met since the last meeting. Uh our next meeting will be on the 27th or next Monday at 5:30. Check the website for any possible changes. We do have one item uh that we need to approve which be the warrant approval 16.1. So I would like to make a motion to approve warrant number 581 in the amount of 2,172,62326. Second. We have a motion and we have a second. Do we have any comments or discussion on 16.1?

No. Okay, then. Um, roll call, please. Boris, yes. Campbell, yes. Parchman, yes. Ford, yes. Rosenberg, affirmative. Mard, yes. Lots, yes. Scofel, yes. Carney, yes. Phony, yes. Hudson, yes. Blackburn, yes.

Okay, thank you. Motion carries. Uh, as I mentioned earlier, we will be going into executive session for personnel and property. Uh, the only thing that we will be voting on coming out of um executive session is 7.4 and 7.5, which are the respected union contracts. So um if you are watching online we will be uh disconnecting the feed uh to the zoom link and when we come out of executive session we will not be reestablishing it. So uh at this time I would ask that everybody please I need a motion first a motion to go into executive session. So moved second. Second. Okay we have a motion and we have a second. Roll call please. Campbell. Yes.

Parchman. Yes. Ford. Yes. Rosenberg. Affirmative. Lots. Yes. Milard, yes. Stolen, yes. Carney, yes. Phony, yes. Hudson, yes. Blackburn, yes. Okay, thank you. Motion carries. At this time, looks like we have Yeah, if we could just close kill the doors. It looks like we're executive session. Ally, can you kill all the stirring? Screams.