City Council - Regular Meeting

[clears throat] Tell me when I didn't change anything. Okay. Mute for a couple days. And you don't have to. Okay. It'll be 10 seconds. Yeah. [laughter] 15 at most. Hold to it. Oh, it is right itself. Yep, it is. Yep. All right, let's start uh the regular meeting of the council of the city of Ott December 2nd, 2025. Roll call. Michael Kraut, here. Gorier here. Pearson here. Baron here. Mayor here. We have five present. Stand for the pledge of allegiance.

Pledge 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. Moved by Commissioner Echo that the minutes of a regular meeting of the council of the city of Ottawa, Illinois held on Tuesday, November 18th, 2025 be approved as recorded in the permanent files of the city clerk. Can I get a second? Second. Commissioner Gainer. Roll call. I coat I. Gayer. Hi. Pearson. I. Baron. I. Mayor.

I. Uh before I ask if anyone would like to appear before the council, I'm just going to remind everyone of the agenda that we'll first have the public hearing for Fields Hill annexation agreements and then the presentation from the canal association. And with that, does is there anyone wishing to appear before the council? Okay, over to you.

Thank you, mayor. Um as the mayor indicated, this is the public hearing for the Fields Hill annexation agreement. These are annexation agreements that we've been doing um for the last number of months, 8 to 10 months, regarding Field Hill properties. There's an agreement and a petition and we have four new ones that are being placed on file tonight um that uh resolve some of the issues outstanding in Fields Hill with these annexation agreements. These folks will be able to connect to sewer in the future for a $5,500 set fee and they'll also be able to get city water um once they're contiguous and into the city. So, uh, very similar to what all the agreements are the same for all the property owners out there and we're going to be having a lot more in the next upcoming meetings.

Think any discussion or comments or questions? All right, then we'll close that public hearing at 702 and are we Arie? Are you the the speaker that we're If I may. Okay.

I don't know if I need a microphone. I speak pretty loud. Uh, my name is Arie Vansker. For those who might not know me, I'm the president of the Auto Canal Association. And we've got a video to show you. Um, and let me just tell you a little about about it. As you know, the INM canal is really been foundational to the whole city of Ottawa. Uh, it was uh the economic engine that got us started. industry was brought to Ottawa through the because of the IMF canal. Politics were involved in it all and a lot of people came to Ottawa because of this the situation of transportation and everything. Um the Ottawa Canal Association was started in 2008 with a purpose of uh preserving, restoring and promoting the Canal in Ottawa. And uh so we want to show you some of the experiences and to help us think about some of the possibilities of what the canal in the future. Uh we've been fortunate to see hundreds of people come on Sundays when we're open and recall about the history of INM canal. We have a lot of visitors from Illinois all over the state

who visit many other states and even other countries. Some of them come because of things like Skydive Chicago, Fox River Resort, Star Rock Park, and they're looking for something else to do. And we have great opportunities. And we've had several senior bus tours where you get like, you know, 30, 40 people come and and so there's a lot of opportunity to tell the story of Ottawa and the INM canal. So the canal I believe can become an even greater asset to the city of uh so hit the button. The Illinois and Michigan canal was once the super highway of its age. Completed in 1848, it connected the Great Lakes to the Illinois River, [music] the mighty Mississippi, and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. For farmers, merchants, and travelers, this canal was the link that opened the Midwest to the world. And right through the middle of Ottawa, Illinois, the canal carved its path. Very drawn boats carried grain, lumber, coal, and immigrants past the very streets we walk today. But time marched on. Railroads, and highways replaced the canal. By the mid 1900s, Ottawa's stretch of the canal sat dry and had largely forgotten. That began to change when the historic canal toll house was restored and furnished as a museum. Its opening sparked a new question. Could we bring life back to the canal itself? That question gave birth to the Ottawa Canal Association, a grassroots group dedicated to preserving, restoring, and protecting the canal. Their dream was bold to rewater a section of the canal and turn it into a living centerpiece for recreation, education, and community pride.

[music]

Rewatering became a community project. The US Army Reserve brought in heavy equipment to prepare the canal bed. The Ottawa Garden Club transformed the banks into a ribbon of color with native flowers and plants. Volunteers, retirees, students, and even some of Ottawa's homeless neighbors offered their hands and their time. Together, they repaired the barge, rebuilt the boat cabin after a devastating direct storm, and gave the toll house a fresh coat of paint. In the spring of 2021, water flowed once again into the Ottawa Canal. For the first time in decades, ripples shimmerred across the surface and fish returned. Minnows flourished, growing strong through the summer months. Winters proved too harsh for them to survive, but their brief return reminded us that life had come back. Of course, a project like this comes with challenges. Algae, pond weeds, and cattails quickly became familiar foes. In 2023, volunteers raped the canal by hand. By 2024, careful treatments controlled the algae more effectively. In 2025, professionals from J&J and D Lake Services joined the effort, removing not just algae, but entire sections of weeds and cattails. Each year brought new lessons in the delicate art of managing a living waterway. Today, the Watered Canal is a playground for the community. With advanced notice, canoes, paddle boats, and kayaks are available for anyone to use at no charge. smooth and shallow depths. It's the perfect classroom for beginners where a child can learn to paddle without the risks of a rushing river or a wide open lake. [music]

The toe path offers miles of peaceful trail for walkers, joggers, and cyclists. And when the temperatures drop, the water gives one more gift. Wintertime turns the canal into Ottawa's skating rink. Children glide hand in hand under the watchful eye of history. The canal is also a stage for the past. Long before the canal was built, French explorers Marquette and Juliet passed through this very spot in 1673. They paused near the confluence of the Illinois and Fox rivers where Ottawa would one day rise to chart their journey of discovery. Nearly 250 years later, another adventurer arrived here by canoe. In 1917, a young Ernest Hemingway paddled from Chicago to Ottawa with a high school friend. Their trip ended in the INM canal where they shipped their canoe home by train before walking to Starve Rock and back. Hemingway's love of the outdoors and his hunger for adventure seen so clearly in his writing left ripples here long before his fame spread across the globe. The new discovery of a lateral canal lock, which has been buried for decades, provides an opportunity for future learning and enhancement of the Ottawa Canal experience. [music] Ottawa celebrates this heritage with Canal Day. For a few hours, the past comes alive. Costumes, crafts, and stories [music] give residents and visitors a taste of life when the canal is bustling with commerce. These celebrations don't just entertain. They stitch our community closer to its roots. Maintaining the canal is never simple. It takes dedication, creativity, and constant care.

The Ottawa [music] Canal Association continues its mission to preserve, restore, and protect the INM Canal. It is more than a waterway. It is a bridge between past and present. A gift of history and a promise of community for generations to come. Here in Ottawa, the canal flows [music] once again, not with barges or cargo, but with stories, with life, and with hope. So you can see that's the vision that we had. Can we put the lights back on, please? Yeah. Thanks.

That's the vision we had from the beginning. We're seeing parts of it come together and like the the video shows, there's there's plenty more that it can be for the city. Uh we really appreciate the cooperation that we're receiving now from the city as far as the maintenance and and management of the canal and we're still here to work alongside and make this a real asset for the city of just wanted to share that vision with everybody. We look for the future. Any questions? No,

we have uh a good part of our board. Our board is very small. Uh five or six of us get together on a monthly basis to kind of keep things moving. Um unfortunately, many of us are getting older and we can't do some of the things we used to do. So, it's going to take, you know, a real a team effort between the city and the auto canal association. Okay, thank you for Thank you. Thank you, Arie. Yep. And we can add uh it to the list of things that Tom can now do for us. [laughter]

Thanks, Arie and everyone. I appreciate it. On to uh Commissioner Craut's report. Moved by Commissioner Echelcraft that the bi-weekly salary payroll of November 20th, 2025 in the amount of $665,858 cents be approved and warrants issued. I got a second. Second. Commissioner Pearson. Roll call. Eichelra. Hi. Gear. Pearson. I. Baron. I. Mayor. I. Moved by Commissioner Ekler that the bimonthly expense report dated December 2nd, 2025 showing expenses in the amount of $560,731.92 cents be approved and warrants issued. Okay, I got a second. Second. Commissioner Baron. Roll call. Eichelkraut. I Pearson. Iron.

I. Mayor. I. [gasps] Moved by Commissioner Echo Craut that an ordinance loving taxes in the city of Ottawa, Lasel County, Illinois for the fiscal year beginning May 1st, 2025 and ending April 30th, 2026 and authorizing the city clerk of the city of Ottawa to certify to the county clerk of Lasel County, Illinois. The several amounts required to be raised by taxation for the corporate purposes of said city for said fiscal year be received and placed on file for public inspection. We can further move a public hearing be set for Tuesday, December 16th, 2025 at 7 o'clock p.m. on this said levy. Can I get a second? Second. Commissioner Gayer, Commissioner.

Yeah, [clears throat] we are going to be placing our annual levy request on file tonight. We will also be scheduling the truth taxation hearing that you just heard. The total requested increase in levy is 7.2%. We do expect though that the actual levy rate will decline as it has in the last few years. uh it'll decline 8.9 8.9 cents per 100 assess valuation though that's subject to change and I'll ask our treasurer now to give us some further details on the levy just remind everyone that um anytime that we um request an ext tax extension uh that's greater than than um 105% of what we request that we actually received last here we're required to do a truth and taxation hearing which is what we're referring to here. Uh this the city does not the city does not determine the equalize assess valuation of its properties. Um we get that information from the county this year. Our EAV is expect the city's EAV is expected to increase by approximately 11.5%. Um the dollars that we're including in the levy are 7.2% 2% over that that was extended last year, which is then what requires the truth in taxation. Uh although as commissioner Michael Kraut noted, we do expect um the levy rate itself to drop at this point by 8.9 per $100 of assessed valuation. But as that process evolves, it'll be something something less than that. But still, we expect it to decline. Uh we're requesting uh approximately an additional $683,000 over what we received last year.

Any other questions, comments? So the rate's going up, but what we're actually collecting is going down%. No, what we're collecting is going up. The levy rate is going down. But yeah, the actual money we are charging people is going down. But since the assessed valuation of homes are going up, it'll still be more. How? However, if someone's house the value of someone's house did not change, then we would expect that the amount that they pay the city will be less than last year. Yeah, that's a good way of right describing it.

Yeah. the the the factor that we can't really account for is how the homes will be reassessed. But if township, right? But if but if there's no change in the assessment, then our bill will go down. And just to remind everyone, the city portion of your real estate tax bill is only about 17 to 20%. The rest of it's education and township and what have you. True. Any other comment, questions? Roll callout. I gain Pearson. I Baron I. Mayor I.

Moved by Commissioner Echo that an ordinance abading the tax here to levied for the year 2025 to pay debt service on 2.485 million worth of taxable general obligation bonds alternate revenue source of the city of Ottawa South County Illinois be passed and approved. Okay, a second. Second. Commissioner Pearson. Roll call. Michael Kra. Hi. Gainer. Hi. Pearson. I Baron. Hi. Mayor, I moved by Commissioner Echelra that an ordinance abating the tax here to ford levy for the year 2025 to play principal and interest on $4.770 million worth of taxable general obligation bonds, waterwork and sewer ridge system alternate revenue source series 2017 of the city of Ottawa, Lasel County, Illinois be passed and approved. Okay, got a second. Second. Commissioner Baron. Roll call.

Michael. Hi. Ger. Hi. Pearson. Hi. Baron. Hi. Mayor. I moved by commissioner Michael Crow that an ordinance abating the tax here to fordford levied for the year 2025 to pay principal and interest on $3.7 million worth of general obligation bonds waterworks and sewage system alternate revenue source series 2020 of the city of Ottawa County Illinois be passed and approved. Okay, you got a second. Commissioner Ger callout. I Pearson. I Baron. I mayor. I moved by Commissioner Echo Craut that an ordinance abating the tax here to levied for the year 2025 to pay principal and interest on $4.52 million worth of general obligation bonds alternate revenue source series 2021A of the city of Ottawa County, Illinois be passed and approved.

I get a second. Second. Commissioner Pearson. Roll call. Eichel Kraut. Hi. Gorier. Hi. Pearson. Hi. Baron. [clears throat] Hi. Mayor. Hi. Moved by Commissioner Echo that an ordinance abating the tax here to for levied for the year 2025 to pay principal and interest on 8.86 million worth of general obligation bonds waterworks and sewer system alternate revenue source series 2021B of the city of Ottawa County Illinois be passed and approved. Okay, I got a second. Second. Commissioner Baron. Roll call. Eichelra. I Pearson. I baron I. Mayor

I. Moved by Commissioner Echo that an ordinance abating the tax here to for levied for the year 2025 to pay principal and interest on $5.095 million worth of general obligation alternate revenue source bonds series 2022A of the city of Ottawa County Illinois be passed and approved. Okay, you have a second. Commissioner Gayer roll call. Michael Kraut. Hi, Gainer. Hi, Pearson. Hi, Baron. Hi, Mayor. Hi. Move by Commissioner Echo Crowd that an ordinance abading the tax for levied for the year 2025 to pay principal and interest on $ 1.53 million worth of general obligation bonds, alternate revenue source series 2022b of the city of Ottawa, Lasowl County, Illinois be passed and approved. I get a second. Second. Commissioner Pearson. Roll call. Eichel Kraut. I. Gorier.

Hi. Pearson. Baron. I. Mayor. I. Move by Commissioner Echo Craut that an ordinance abading the tax here to levy for the year 2025 to pay principal and interest on $1.415 million worth of general obligation bonds alternate revenue source series 2023 of the city of Ottawa Lasal County Illinois be passed and approved. I got a second. Commissioner Baron roll call. Michael I. Baron I. Mayor I.

Commissioner after spending all of that money is there anything else you'd like to add? Yeah, I just like to mention to everybody that uh this is something we do every year to make sure we pay off pay off all of our debts. Okay. Uh I just wanted and I know last time I kind of missed this Marlo, but this time I won't. Okay. But the festival life parade was excellent. It couldn't have been any better. It was great. And thanks to all the people that helped putting it together. Special thanks to Rich Crumb and the special events committee for they did a tremendous job and I thought it was great. The fireworks were great. eating down a central school or whatever you want to call it now where the amphitheater's going. Um I think that was great. I think that's a great spot for fireworks even. Yeah, I thought the whole thing worked out really well.

Was excellent and it was warmer this year, too. Yeah, lucky it this weekend. [laughter] So, thank you. On to Commissioner Gainer's report. We have the report of the police chief for the month of November. Squad card calls 1,828. Arrest including citations 405. Sentenced to IDOC, three, transported to the county jail, 19. Juvenile referrals, one peer jury, zero. Issued a notice to appear 385. Ottawa central dispatch handled 738 911 calls. They also handled 4,398 administrative calls. Moved by Commissioner Gainer that the board of police chief Michael J. Cham for the month of November 2025 be received and placed on file. I get a second. Second.

Commissioner Pier Commissioner Pearson. Roll call. Michael Krell. Hi Ger. Hi Pearson. Hi Baron. I mayor. Hi. We have the report of the fire chief for the month of November. Number of bell alarms one. Number of still alarms 13. Activated alarms 34. Number of medic calls 272. Mutual aid 5. Number of patients 269. Total calls for November 320. Total emergency overtime 11. Structure loss contents loss and vehicle loss was all at a zero for November. Total law residence build for medical services 28. Moved by Commissioner Gainer that the report of fire chief Brian Resner for the month of November 2025 be received and placed on file. Are you a second? Second. Commissioner Baron.

Roll call. Eel Kraut. I Gor Pearson. Hi. Baron. Mayor. Hi. Commissioner Gainer, anything that you would like to add? Nothing this even. Commissioner Pearson, is there anything that you'd like to add? I have nothing today. Commissioner Baron's report. Moved by Commissioner Baron that a resolution authorizing the execution of four annexation agreements between the city of Ottawa and various property owners in Fieldill subdivision which have been on file for public inspection since November 18th, 2025 be adopted. Okay, I have a second. Second. Commissioner Ger.

Yeah, this is u marching our way through Fields Hill and completing the annexation agreements. And once we get them all annexed in, we'll start the next phase, which is the sewer improvements and then the new water lines that we have to put in. So, um, we're we have few more coming at the next meeting. Great. [laughter] Roll call. Michael Croat. I Pearson. I baron. I mayor. I moved by Commissioner Baron that an ordinance annexing certain territory to the city of Ottawa South County, Illinois, located at 111 Beverage Avenue, owned by Robert El Brew as trustee, be received, excuse me, be passed and approved. Okay, a second. Second, Commissioner Eichelra. Roll call.

Eichelkraut. I Pearson. Baron. I. Mayor. I. Moved by Commissioner Baron that an ordinance annexing certain territory to the city of Ottawa South County, Illinois, located at 2124 Fields Place owned by Leverne Cman as trustee be passed and approved. Okay, you have a second. Second. Commissioner Pearson. Roll call. Echelutra. I Pearson. I Baron I. Mayor. Hi. Moved by Commissioner Baron that an ordinance annexing certain territory to the city of Ottawa, Lasowl County, Illinois, located at 21106 Fields Place owned by David and Carrie Underh Hill be passed and approved. Okay, a second. Second, Commissioner Ecra. Roll call. Michael, I Pearson I Baron I

mayor I commissioner Baron is there anything else you'd like to add? We're just making the city bigger. Okay, thank you. On to my report. We have the report of the registar for the month of November. There were 32 birth certificates issued and 33 death certificates. Certified copies were issued with fees totaling $1,669. Moved by Mayor Hasty that the reporter registar Shelley Rollson for the month of November 2025 be received and placed on file. Okay, you get a second. Second. Commissioner Ger. Roll call. Michael Kraut. I Pearson I. Baron I. Mayor I. Moved by Mayor Hasty that the report of the parking administration department showing fines collected of $800 for the month of November 2025 be received and placed on file. I get a second. Sorry. Commissioner Ircout. Roll call. Eichelra.

Hi. Gainer. Hi. Pearson. I Baron. Hi. Mayor. Hi.

We have the report of the building official for the month of November. There were six building permits issued with fees totaling $452.50. Total number of on-site building inspections 64. There was one flood flood plane development permit, which was no charge. Two fence permits for $100. Three new business registrations for $300. 19 short-term rental registers for $1,900. Five vacant property registrations for $1,250. 11 general contractor licenses issued for $1,100. One electrical license renewed for $150. One new electrical license issued for $150. eight electrical permits for $1,250. Total number of on-site electrical inspections, 25. We had 10 people take our electrical exam for $1,860. Our code enforcement officer did a total of 176 inspections, and our construction coordinator did 115 inspections for a total of permits and licenses of 67 with these collected $8,512.50. Moved by Mary Hasty that the report of building official Matthew W. Stafford for the month of November 2025 be received and placed on file.

Okay. A second. Second. Commissioner Pearson. Roll call. Echelut. Hi. Gorier. Pearson. Hi. Baron. I. Mayor. Hi. Moved by Mayor Hasty that the report of the sidewalk program showing three participants in the amount of $6,582.50 for the month of November 2025 be approved and paid for from the general corporate fund. I got a second. Second. Commissioner Eler. Roll call. Eichelro. Hi. Ger. I Pearson. I Baron. I mayor. I moved by Mayor Hasty that a resolution authorizing execution of an ownership transfer agreement between the city of Ottawa and Susan Burton for the cupcake sculpture to be transferred into the city of Ottawa's name which has been on file for public inspection since November 18th, 2025 be adopted. I have a second.

Second. Commissioner Baron. Roll call. Erl Kraut. I. Gainer. Pearson. I. Baron. I. Mayor. I. Moved by Mayor Hasty that a resolution authorizing the execution of a license agreement between the city of Ottawa and First National Bank of Ottawa as trustee of trust number 102366 which has been on file for public inspections since November 18th, 2025 be adopted. I get a second. Second. Commissioner Gayer. Roll call. Michael I. Gayer. I Pearson. I baron I. Mayor.

Hi. Moved by Mayor Hasty that a resolution approving and authorizing the execution of a sidelitter agreement between the city of Ottawa and askme local Local 2819 regarding donated and catastrophic sick leave which has been on file for public inspection since November 18th, 2025 be adopted. Okay, a second. Second. Commissioner Pearson. Roll call. Ecle. Gayer. Hi. Pearson. I. Baron. I. Mayor. I. Moved by Mayor Hasty that a resolution authorizing execution of a contract for sale agreement between the city of Ottawa and Ottawa Illinois Loyal Order of the Moose Incorporated number 960 to purchase 2.24 acres off of Champlain Street which has been on file for public inspection since November 18th, 2025 be adopted. Okay, a second. Second.

Commissioner Gier, um I will clarify real quick because someone did ask me this this last week. Uh the two acres is not the entire property. So the Moose Lodge will still remain and still be a civic organization within the town. This is the property that would be immediately to the west of their lodge. South I'm sorry to south of their lodge. It's about [laughter] my head was turned. Sorry. It's about half the property. About half the property. So I just want to clarify that because someone asked why we were buying the moose lodge. Roll [snorts] call. Michael Kraut. I Gay. Hi. Pearson. Hi. Baron. I. Mayor.

I. Moved by Mayor Hasty that a resolution authorizing the execution of 13 amended annexation agreements between the city of Ottawa and various property owners in Woodward subdivision be received and placed on file for public inspection. Be it further moved a public hearing be set on these set annexation agreements for Tuesday, December 16th, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. in council chambers. Okay, you have a second. Second. Commissioner Baron, I know that this has been a long time coming. So, thank you to everybody for cooperation and being able to get to this stage. Roll call. Michael Kraut. Hi. Gorier. Hi. Pearson. Hi. Baron. I. Mayor. I.

Moved by Mayor Hasty that a resolution authorizing execution of a proposal with fair grant for wetland jurisdictional determinations for the Ottawa Industrial Park units 2 through 5 be received and placed on file for public inspection. Okay. A second. Second. Commissioner Gayer. Roll call. Eichel Kraut. I. Gainer Pearson. I Baron. I mayor. I

moved by Mayor Hasty that the report of the historic preservation commission meeting held on Thursday, November 13th, 2025 considering the request from Heroes Holdings LLC for property located at 222 West Main Street for Assad renovation including the installation of new seconds story windows be received and placed on file. Be it further moved the council concur with the recommendations of the Historic Preservation Commission and the certificate of appropriateness be issued and the follow-up ordinance be passed and approved. Okay, I get a second. Second, Commissioner Pearson. Um, just to give a place for this. This is the building that would be directly west of Keegan's Irish Pub

and it's the one that they just recently replace the whole front facade of and this is just continuing work that they're wanting to do to put tenants into that downtown building. Roll call. Michael Kro. I Gayer. I Pearson. I Baron. I mayor. I

moved by Mayor Hasty that the report of the zoning board of appeals meeting held on Monday, November 24th, 2025 considering the rear yard setback variance request from Kenneth and Fern Kllin for vacant property located on Berry Avenue be received and placed on file. Be further moved, the council concur with the recommendations of the zoning board of appeals and the request to construct a single family home with a threecar garage be approved and the condition that the rear yard setback variance be not less than 6 ft from the property line of 2218 Berry Avenue and it be staked by a surveyor engineer prior to the permit being issued and the follow-up ordinance be passed and approved. Can I get a second? Second. Commissioner Ger Roll callout. Hi. Gear. Hi. Pearson. I Baron. Hi,

Mayor. I uh the only thing that I'll add is um I'm sure everyone remembers Wednesday we had pretty bad wind storms which kind of started for our public works department. A very long couple days. They had a lot to put back together for the Chris Kringle market and then we've had many days of snow where they've been working till 2 o'clock in the morning. So, um, I just hopefully they're either sleeping now or watching at home, but I just want to give a shout out to our public works department, both water and streets and property that they've had a one hell of a week. So, a lot of thanks to them. Motion to adjurnn. Moved by Mayor Hasty that this regular meeting be adjourned. Okay, I get a second. Second, Commissioner Ecrow. Roll call. Eichel Kraut. Hi,

Gori. Pearson. I Baron. Hi, Mayor. I thanks everyone.