City Council - Regular Meeting

Just wait until 7. I expect him to stand in his hotel room. I muted him for a second.

It's the longest minute. Oh, there we go. Okay. All right. Let's start the regular meeting of the council of the city of Ottawa, March 3rd, 2026. Roll call. Eichel Crouch here. Gener. Pearson here. Baron here. Mayor here. We have four present and one on the phone. Stand for the pledge of allegiance. Pledge to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Must get a little delayed there.

Moved by Commissioner Echo that the minutes of a regular meeting of the council of the city of Ottawa, Illinois held on Tuesday, February 17th, 2026 be approved as recorded in the permanent files of the city clerk. I a second. Second. Commissioner Gayer. Roll call. Michael Crow. Hi. Gainer. Hi. Pearson. I Baron. I. Mayor. I. Is there anyone wishing to appear before the council? All right. Then on to uh Commissioner Eichcraut's report. Moved by Commissioner Eichcra that the bi-weekly salary payroll dated February 27th, 2026 in the amount of $621,3581 be approved and warrants issued. Okay. You second. Second. Commissioner Pearson. Roll call. Eichelra. Hi. Gier. Hi. Pearson.

I. Baron. I. Mayor. I. Moved by Commissioner Echo that the bimonthly expense report dated March 3rd, 2026 showing expenses in the amount of $810,339.39 be approved and warrants issued. Can I get a second? Second. Commissioner Ger. Roll call. Hikrowout. Hi. Ger. Hi. Pearson. Hi. Baron. Hi. Mayor. Hi. Moved by Commissioner Accutra that a resolution authorizing the execution of an amendment to the grant agreement between the city of Ottawa and the Lily Department of Transportation regarding ENCAT which has been on file for public inspection since February 17th, 2026 be adopted. Can I get a second? Second. Commissioner Pearson. Roll call. Eichelra. I. Pearson.

I. Baron. I. Mayor. I. Moved by Commissioner Akraut that a resolution authorizing the execution of an engagement agreement between the city of Ottawa and Whipley LLP for the fiscal year 26 audit be received and placed on file for public inspection. I get a second. Commissioner Ger. Roll call. Eichelra. Hi. Gorier. Hi. Pearson. Hi. Baron. Hi. Mayor. Hi. Commissioner, is there anything you would like to add? I would like to thank you for uh taking the business development district off. Okay. I still have that opinion that raising the taxes would not have been good and I appreciate you taking it off.

Thank you for that. On to Commissioner Gainer's report. Moved by Commissioner Gainer that a resolution authorizing the execution of two maintenance agreements between the city of Ottawa and Alto for power systems for generators for the fire station and north water tower which has been on file for public inspection since February 17th, 2026 be adopted. Okay, you have a second. Second. Commissioner Eichler. Roll call. Echo. Hi. Gerard. Hi. Pearson. I Baron. I. Mayor. I. Moved by Commissioner Gainer that a resolution approving financing through PNC equipment finance to purchase a 2026 Fierce Enforcer PUC pump fire truck be adopted.

Can I get a second? Commissioner Akout. This is not the actual financing agreement. This is just merely a resolution to commit to financing it through PNC. Roll call. Michael Crow. Hi. Gorier. Hi. Pearson. Hi. Baron. Hi. Mayor. Hi.

We have the report of police chief in the month of February. Squad car calls 1,691. Arrest including citations 401. Sentence to IDOC 6. Transported to the county jail 23. Juvenile referrals four peer jury one issued a notice to appear 373 Ottawa central dispatch handled 686 911 calls. They also handled 3,913 administrative calls. Moved by Commissioner Gainer that the report of police chief Michael J. Chtham for the month of February 2026 be received and placed on file. Okay, I got a second. Second. Commissioner Pearson. Roll call. Michael Krell. Gorier. Hi. Pearson. I. Baron. I. Mayor. Hi.

We have the report of the fire chief for the month of February. Number of bell alarms, one. Number of still alarms, 31. Activated alarms, 26. Number of medic calls, 251. Mutual aid, four. Number of patients, 218. Total calls for February, 309. Total emergency overtime, nine. Structure and contents loss was at zero. Vehicle loss was at $100,000. Total loss for February, $100,000. Total law residents build for medical services was 27. Moved by Commissioner Gay that the report of fire chief Brian R. Brezner for the month of February 2026 be received and placed on file. Okay, I get a second. Second. Commissioner Pearson. Roll call. Echelut. Hi. Gorier. I. Pearson. I. Baron. I.

Mayor. I. Commissioner Ger. Is there anything that you would like to?

There is. Um, as we all know, over the last week, I think we've all received an email from Arie Bansstra, uh, president of the Canal Association, asking about rewatering the the canal this year. Shelley was kind enough to send me the reports of what we've spent. It appears that we've spent upwards of almost $2 million on the canal rewatering project so far to date. As we'll all recall, Mayor Ashbach had the vision of putting water in the canal and brought it up brought a proposal before the council of which I voted for. Um, and but the proposal said it was going to cost 600,000. At the time, I figured, well, it's probably not going to cost 600,000. It's probably going to cost a little bit more than that. But I no way imagine that we'd be sitting here today talking about $2 million spent on the canal. It has not worked properly since day one. It maybe looks good for a month and then we have algae over the almost the whole thing the rest of the year. At what point in time do we call this what it is, a failed experience and move on? A failed experiment and move on. I think we're wasting good money after bad. And I think we should stop my opinion.

I appreciate your opinion and the vast majority of that 2 million was spent long ago. Um this last year the cost was around 9 to12,000 for what we did during that year. Um I think it still looked like crap mostly

and there were problems with it. Some of it had to do with the responsibilities that were given to the canal association of which we then said that you're not going to be doing that anymore because they were unable to maintain it to the level of which they had promised. Now, moving forward, as far as what we do, what we're going to do with it, it's going to continue to be much more scaled down, less than even that 12,000. I would argue the amount of just leaving it I don't mean leave it as is as how it's been the last couple years but to with the knowledge that we've now received of filling it making sure that it's the right algae blockers are put in and all that stuff is no different than what the cost is going to be for us now to revert all of that property back to what it was prior to that and then to maintain that and seed it and grass it and do all that stuff. So, as far as when you're, you know, at 90 90 95% to the finish line of actually having something that would be uh an asset to the to the to the community to now turn face over 10 or 12,000 and dump a bunch more money into reverting it back to a grass field. Now, we're now we're especially throwing good money after bad. Well, I I don't share your vision that it will be just 10 or 12,000 going forward. I think it'll be a lot more than that going forward because we're going to find out that this 10 or 12,000 fix doesn't work also. And then how do we get by? And and Christina, you can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the license agreement with IDNR does not allow us to do what the Canal Association wants to do on the water. I don't think it allows us to put anything on the water. It allows us to put water in the canal and that's it pretty much.

That's correct. Along with ice skating was permitted under the lease. So the the boats that they've put in so far have been against the license agreement with IDNR. And if they want to continue doing that, we're against the license agreement with IDNR. So if they revoke that license agreement, we're back in the same thing. We got to put it back to the way it was before we even started this. I think I think it's Don't get me wrong, I I thought it could work well and I thought it could be a nice asset for the city. That's why I voted for it. Well, I was wrong.

So So what I would say is as opposed to making assumptions as to what it would cost one way or the other would be to get a cost assessment as to what both of those would cost and make a better determination at that at that time. That seems to be a much better version than bringing up numbers from seven years ago. Well, but how do you I mean when something was projected to cost 600,000 and now we're nearing 2 million. Yeah. A lot of projects go over budget. There's no doubt about that because there's unforeseen circumstances that that uh happened, but not three times more than the original budget.

All of which were in the first three years of it. Most of it was in the first three years of it, but but it still doesn't work. That all the all that money was supposed to correct the problem and it hasn't yet. I mean, I know we all follow the Facebook posts and everything, but every single solitary year it gets complaints because of how it looks. I would rather have it look like it does today than how it looks with water in it and algae all over it because it looks dirty. It looks messy. It It does not in in um what I wonder.

It doesn't the aesthetics that you Yes. It's not It's not It's not aesthetically pleasing to look at. That's correct. And it doesn't help us at all with tourism like it was supposed to have done. Could it if it worked? Yes. But nobody wants to go out and even paddle around in something that's got algae all over it. Well, like I said, I think probably what would be best at this point is to look at both is is to sit down and look at the numbers both with making corrections that would keep it so that you're not filling it and maintaining it to the level of where it is with well, if we're a pond is what I would call it at this point.

If we're going to do that, I would ask that we do not do anything in between. Well, that I think that would be understandable. So, it's just a matter of getting those numbers together and going from there. Thank you.

I I mean, I everyone knows that I agree with Tom. I it was voted on right before I was sworn in my last term and I've never been happy with anything with the canal, with the budget engineering, with everything that we've had to spend to fix everything that was going to save us money, which is what he's referring to. Um, but yeah, there needs to be a bigger conversation because um it it smells bad, it looks bad, and now we've just we have more property that we need to take care of. And we need a better plan going in of what we're going to do with the canal to make it aesthetic for the community where it's not when people walk by look down and say we're struck at. I mean cuz it it looks bad most of the time.

And I I want to be clear when when Marlo said engineering, our engineer did not do the engineering for that project. It was an outside firm that he he has a look like. Why'd you even bring my name up? I just did not the public out there in the TV land uh misconcred who the engineer was. It was not our engineer. It was not. No, Tom. With respect, I would just say I I I hear what you're saying. I think probably the next step would be, as Mara is saying, to sit down and have a more in-depth conversation of looking at numbers going left or right and making a determination as to what would be the right course moving forward. I can live with that. Thank you. Where are we now? Commissioner Pearson.

Commissioner Pearson. Yes. Okay. On to her report. Moved by Commissioner Pearson that a resolution authorizing the execution of an intergovernmental agreement between the city of Ottawa and Lasel County for Cape Ceiling of various city streets which has been on file for public inspection since February 17th, 2026 be adopted. I get a second. Second. Commissioner Ger. Roll call. Michael Crow. I Pearson I. Baron I. Mayor I. Moved by Commissioner Pearson that a resolution authorizing a maintenance proposal between the city of Ottawa and Marcel Street for the IBCC satellite building be received and placed on file for public inspection. I get a second commissioner.

This is just maintenance that we always have on file. Thank you. Roll call. Eichelraut. Gay. Pearson. Hi. Baron. I. Mayor. I. Moved by Commissioner Pearson that a resolution requesting permission from the Illinois Department of Transportation to temporarily close Southbound Lasell Street from Washington Street to Center Street and portions of various city streets on Saturday, May 9th, 2026 and closing Alban Steven Drive on Friday, May 8th, 2026 for the run Star Brock Country Marathon be adopted. Can I get a second? Second. Commissioner Gir,

go ahead. I would just thank you for this uh for putting this on file and my corporate council just told me I'll be abstaining from this vote as president of RunStar Rock Country, but I do appreciate it. Um I'll say that our numbers are over a hundred people higher than it was this time last year, which is a good indication of the race growing since I think we had like eight or nine00 runners in total of the four races last year. So, the fact that we're already that much over, this should be a pretty big year that will bring a lot of people into our community. So, if the mayor abstains and two of us vote no, it doesn't happen, huh?

I guess then I won't have to volunteer that day. Oh, boy. Roll call. Michael Kraut. I Pearson I. Baron I. Mayor abstain. Moved by Commissioner Pearson that a resolution authorizing execution of the design and engineering inspection services agreement between the city of Ottawa and Redwick and Associates Incorporated for the 2026 curb replacement project be received and placed on file for public inspection. I get a second. Commissioner Icraut. Roll call. Echelutra. I Pearson. I. Baron. I. Mayor.

I. Moved by Commissioner Pearson that a resolution authorizing the execution of a maintenance engineering agreement between the city of Ottawa and Renwicken Associates Incorporated for the 2026 street maintenance program be approved and p excuse me received and placed on file for public inspection. Can I get a second? Second. Commissioner Pierce or I'm sorry, Commissioner Gerro. Hi. Gay. Hi. Pearson. Hi. Baron. Hi. Mayor I. Anything that you'd like to add?

Nothing tonight. Then I'm I am gonna add again that Commissioner Pearson and Commissioner Baron do volunteer at this marathon every year. So I I expect at least see you, Tom. Wayne's not gonna get up that early, but I have dished water out before. I think I think Sunrise Rotary is going to uh do a uh water spot. So I will be at that water spot. Thank you so much. It's appreciated. Um Commissioner Baron, there's nothing on your agenda. Is there anything you'd like to add? Uh, it's hot down there. Okay, thank you very much. On to my report.

Moved by Mayor Hasty that the report of registar Shelley Rollson showing 28 death certificates filed and $2382 in certified copies fees both for the month of February 2026 be received and placed on file. I get a second. Second. Commissioner Gir. Roll call. Eel Kraut. I. Pearson. I. Baron. I. Mayor. I. Moved by Mayor Hasty that the report of the parking administration department showing fines collected of $2,260 for the month of February 2026 be received and placed on file. Can I get a second? Second. Commissioner Pearson. Roll call. Michael Kraut. Hi. Gener. Hi. Pearson. Hi. Baron. Hi. Mayor. I.

We have the report of the building official for the month of February. There were nine building permits issued with fees totaling $4,293.50. Total number of on-site building inspections 39. There were three sign permits for $76. Five fence permits for $250. Six new business registrations for $700. Seven waste hauler registrations for $3,300. 13 general contractor licenses issued for $1,300. 39 electrical licenses issued for 7, excuse me, $9,750. Three electrical permits for $700. Total number of on-site electrical inspections, 21. We had eight people take our electrical exam for $2,040. Our plumbing inspector did a total of 22 inspections. Our code enforcement officer did 188 inspections and our construction coordinator did 89 inspections for a total of permits and licenses of 91 with fees collected of $23,9.50. Moved by Mayor Hasty that the report of building official Matthew W. Stafford for the month of February 2026 be received and placed on file.

I got a second. Second. Commissioner Pearson. Roll call. Eichel Crown. Hi. Gorier. Hi. Pearson. Hi. Baron. Hi. Mayor. Hi. Moved by Mayor Hasty that an ordinance establishing a temporary moratorum on data centers and all zoning districts in the city of Ottawa be passed and approved. Can I get a second? Second.

Commissioner Pearson. Um, I just want to say that this is a very temporary moratorium just so we have time to put an ordinance on file. Right now, we don't have anything. Um, we just think it's prudent to have something in place so that with all of the u pros and cons that people are debating in the state of Illinois as to whether or not this is something you want in your community, we make sure that we can at least put in some guard rails to protect the people in our community should we uh get a viable candidate for one of those mega centers. Uh we we have uh we had we've had brief discussions with some of the micro ones and our economic development director uh uh Dave Noble has reached out to let them know that this is a temporary one um just so that we can kind of put some guardrails into place and make sure that we're protecting everyone until we get that full ordinance of which corporate council is working on currently. And I would just ask that that ordinance not be so restrictive that it scares any development away from the city.

I I would concur with that. I I think it's more of just to um allow us to be in the conversation because the way our zoning is is currently stipulated. There's very little regulation we would have once they get an appro once any company would have the power approval that they would need which we don't have anything to do with. So, this is more to make sure that we can have some input into that conversation um legally once we were to have someone come and ask us about it. So, roll call. Michael Kraut. Hi, Ger. I Pearson. Hi, Baron. Hi, Mayor.

Hi. Moved by Mayor Hasty that a resolution authorizing the execution of a renewal agreement between the city of Ottawa and Civic Plus LLC for the city's website which has been on file for public inspection since February 17th, 2026 be adopted. A second. Second. Commissioner Ger call. Michael Kraut. I Pearson. I baron I. Mayor I. Moved by Mayor Hasty that a resolution authorizing execution of a fireworks display agreement between the city of Ottawa and J&M Displays Incorporated for the 2026 Fourth of July fireworks which has been on file for public inspection since February 17th, 2026 be adopted. Take a second. Second commissioner. Roll call. Eichelro. I Pearson I.

Baron I. Mayor I. Moved by Mayor Hasty that a resolution authorizing the execution of a collective bargaining agreement between the city of Ottawa and the police benevolent labor committee. I guess I got to change that. Sorry about that. Um be received and placed on file for public inspection. I forgot we were replacing it on file due to changes in the appendex. Yeah, I was I was going to make sure because it's on the agenda. It says that we're authorizing it and it is being placed back on file because there was a financial change due to it and so therefore we're revoting on it and then we'll vote on it hopefully for the final time on the 17th. A second second. Thank you. Roll call. Michael Kraut. I Pearson I Baron

I. Mayor I moved by Mayor Hasty that a resolution authorizing the execution of four annexation agreements between the city of Ottawa, Timothy and Katherine Garini for 2033 Kaitton Road, Bill Bazinski for 2219 Boyce Place, Guy and Lana Renan for 2921 East 1889th Road and Adam Shot for 2918 East 1989th Road be received and placed on file for public inspection. Be it further move that a public hearing be set for these annexation agreements for Tuesday, March 17th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. in council chambers. I get a second. Second, Commissioner Alec. Roll call. Echelut. Hi. Geor. Hi. Pearson. I. Baron. I. Mayor. I.

Moved by Mayor Hasty that the report of the plan commission meeting held on Monday, February 23rd, 2026, considering the conditional use permit for a drive-through facility from James Bow and McDonald's USA LLC. and Dan Olsson from Upstream Design Group on behalf of the petitioners for property located at the southwest corner of McKinley Road and First Avenue be received and placed on file. Be further moved the council concur with the recommendations of the plan commission and the conditional use permit be granted with the following four conditions. One, completion of the roadway and rideway improvements as recommended by the city engineer. Two, installation of noise limiting technology on the drive-through speaker equipment. Three, all exterior lighting to be shielded and directed downward. and four, provision of a cross access easement to the commercially zoned property to the south and the follow-up ordinance be passed and approved.

I get a second. Commissioner Pearson, I will say that um myself, Commissioner and Commissioner uh Baron did attend that that meeting and I thought that McDonald's did a really good job of explaining uh what they were planning on doing there and addressing all of those conditional uh things. They they mentioned each one of them and how they plan to attack each of it and I was really impressed by uh by what they had to say.

I was also and but uh you know with all the blow up on Facebook during the week I was expecting there to be 50 people here complaining. Um there was not one person that complained and there wasn't one person that came up and was in support of it either. So, yeah, I um I I've said a few times that uh I I don't think companies like McDonald's or Walmart or whoever make these decisions by mistake and if anything, I see it as an opportunity for there to be more development on that southside that you put a McDonald's there and the next thing you know there's one or two other businesses and it can really help to revitalize that part of our city. So, I I I thought it was

I wish we'd have done a better job on the one that we have on the north side, though. And and I think uh lessons were learned there and our planner and engineer I thought did a good job in working to make sure that we alleviate those. Well, it's better than it was before, but it's not perfect. No. So, roll call. Eiffel, I Pearson. I Baron I. Mayor I.

Moved by Mayor Hasty. that the report of the plan commission meeting held on Monday, February 23rd, 2026, considering the conditional use permit for a living space above an existing detached garage from Laura and Brenda Nash for property located at 622 Chapel Street be received and placed on file. We approve the move the council concur with the recommendations of the plan commission and the conditional use permit be granted and the follow-up ordinance be passed and approved. Can I get a second? Second, Commissioner Gay. Um, this was at the same one and I had the same remarks in regards to what the Nashes are planning on doing with that. And in both cases, I forgot to mention it was unanimous uh vote for both of these. So, roll call. Echel. Pearson. Hi. Baron. Hi,

Mayor. I All right. Um, so just real quick, I appreciate your words. Uh Wayne, I one thing I would like to reiterate is the business development district is one idea that would have allowed for um a beginning to some property tax relief, but it uh would have also served to free up funds for other projects as well. And uh with some of the comments I've gotten since pulling that off, I just want to reiterate that that doesn't mean that we're slowing down on any of those projects. Uh we'll we'll continue to look for different ways of funding them. We'll continue to plan for them and hopefully be able to continue to grow our city. But I do appreciate your remarks, Wayne. And with that, I will ask for meeting to adjourn.

Moved by Mayor Hasty that this regular meeting be adjourned. I get a second. Roll call. Michael Crow. Hi. Gainer. Hi. Pearson. I baron. Hi. Mayor. Hi. All right. Thanks everyone. Good night, Brent. I mean, talk to you. Okay. All right.