Carbondale Reporter

City of Genoa City Council met April 16.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Brust called the meeting of the City Council to order at 6:30pm followed by roll call. Aldermen Wesner, Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Braheny, Hughes and Roca were present. Quorum present.

Mayor Brust led the pledge of allegiance.

GUEST SPEAKERS – None

UPDATES FROM BOARDS AND COMMITTEES – Mayor Brust explained that some of the boards/committees have not met since the last time they presented at a city council meeting, so they do not have an update. Mayor Brust gave an update on the Liquor Commission and City Administrator Seguss gave an update on the Economic Development Commission, Plan Commission, and Comprehensive and Strategic Plan Committee.

PUBLIC COMMENT – Carolyn Snively of 216 S Genoa St came before the council to follow up on the issue regarding her neighbor at 220 S Genoa St that she brought up at the previous council meeting. City Attorney Kelly Cahill gave her an update on what the city is doing. Gordon Jones of 11794 Pebble Beach Dr came before the council to ask further questions on the grocery tax that is voted on in agenda item B.

OLD BUSINESS – None

CONSENT AGENDA

Alderman Pulley made a motion to approve of items 1-14 within the consent agenda, seconded by Alderman Braheny. No further discussion. Aldermen Wesner, Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Braheny, Hughes and Roca voted yes. Motion carried.

1. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE APRIL 2, 2025, CITY COUNCIL MEETING

2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE APRIL 2, 2025, PUBLIC HEARING

3. APPROVAL OF THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLES DATED APRIL 15, 2025

4. THE USE OF THE MUNICIPAL PARKING LOT AND CLOSURE AND USE OF NORTH EMMETT STREET AND SOUTH GENOA STREET DURING THE GENOA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2025 CRUISIN’ TO GENOA CAR SHOW ON AUGUST 16, 2025

5. THE USE OF CITIZEN’S/CARROLL PARK DURING THE GENOA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RUMBLE ON THE RIVER ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2025

6. THE USE OF CITIZEN’S/CARROLL PARK DURING THE GENOA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE GREAT GENOA DUCK RACE EVENT ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2025

7. THE USE OF THE MUNICIPAL PARKING LOT AND USE AND CLOSURE OF SOUTH GENOA STREET AND MONROE STREET DURING THE GENOA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2025 CELEBRATE THE SEASON DOWNTOWN EVENT DECEMBER 5, 2025

8. THE USE OF THE MUNICIPAL PARKING LOT DURING THE G-K FIRE DISTRICT ANNUAL GENOA DAYS EVENT FROM MAY 27 TO JUNE 1, 2025

9. THE CLOSURE AND USE OF NORTH GENOA STREET, NORTH MONROE STREET, AND NORTH EMMETT STREET, AND SOUTH EMMETT STREET FROM ROUTE 72 TO THE EAST AND WEST BOUND ALLEYS DURING THE G-K FIRE DISTRICT ANNUAL GENOA DAYS EVENT MAY 27 TO JUNE 1, 2025

10. THE USE OF CITIZEN’S/CARROLL PARK DURING THE EGGAPALOOZA EVENT ON APRIL 26, 2025

11. THE USE OF CITIZEN’S/CARROLL PARK DURING THE KISHWAUKEE VALLEY WANDERERS KAYAK & CANOE THE KISH EVENT ON JULY 12, 2025

12. THE USE OF CITIZEN’S/CARROLL PARK FOR THE VOLKSFEST EVENTS SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2025

13. THE USE OF THE MUNICIPAL PARKING LOT BY AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE FOR A CUSTOMER APPRECIATION LUNCH ON JUNE 21, 2025

14. THE USE OF THE MUNICIPAL PARKING LOT AND CLOSURE AND USE OF SOUTH EMMETT STREET AND SOUTH GENOA STREET DURING HARVEST FESTIVAL ON OCTOBER 4, 2025

NEW BUSINESS:

APPROVE AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GENOA, ILLINOIS TO AMEND PRIOR ORDINANCE NUMBER 2024-26

Alderman Hughes made a motion to approve an ordinance to amend prior ordinance number 2024-26, seconded by Alderman Winter. No further discussion. Aldermen Wesner, Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Braheny, Hughes and Roca voted yes. Motion carried.

APPROVE AN ORDINANCE IMPLEMENTING A MUNICIPAL GROCERY RETAILERS’ OCCUPATION TAX AND MUNICIPAL GROCERY SERVICE OCCUPATION TAX FOR THE CITY OF GENOA

Alderman Pulley made a motion to approve an ordinance implementing a municipal grocery retailers occupation tax and municipal grocery service occupation tax, seconded by Alderman Roca. Mayor Brust explained that this is not any kind of additional tax for residents, it’s just replacing a tax that the state previously implemented. Previously, the state taxed the groceries and then sent the funds back to the municipalities. As of January 1, 2026, the state will no longer collect the tax, and it will be up to each municipality if they want to continue collecting the tax and receive those funds. No further discussion. Aldermen Wesner, Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Braheny, Hughes and Roca voted yes. Motion carried.

APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TO PURCHASE AN F-550 WITH THE SNOW FIGHTER UPFITTING PACKAGE FROM KUNES AUTO GROUP, NOT TO EXCEED $128,605

Alderman Wesner made a motion to approve and authorize the public works director to purchase an F-550, seconded by Alderman Stage. No further discussion. Aldermen Wesner, Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Braheny, Hughes and Roca voted yes. Motion carried.

APPROVE A SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE MATERIALS MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT FOR DISPOSAL OF MUNICIPAL BIOSOLIDS FOR GENOA, IL WASTEWATER AUTHORITY WITH SYNAGRO CENTRAL, LLC

Alderman Wesner made a motion to approve a second amendment to the materials management agreement for disposal of municipal biosolids, seconded by Alderman Stage. There was a brief discussion based on previous years’ increases compared to this increase. No further discussion. Aldermen Wesner, Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Braheny, Hughes and Roca voted yes. Motion carried.

APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE CRACK ROUTING AND FILLING SERVICES WITH SKC CONSTRUCTION INC., NOT TO EXCEED $23,000

Alderman Stage made a motion to approve and authorize the public works director to execute crack routing and filling services, seconded by Alderman Wesner. Public Works Director Smith explained which streets will be prioritized for this, mainly being in the Oak Creek subdivision. No further discussion. Aldermen Wesner, Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Braheny, Hughes and Roca voted yes. Motion carried.

APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TO CONTRACT FOR STREET PATCHING OF VARIOUS CITY STREETS WITH CURRAN CONTRACTING, NOT TO EXCEED $12,715

Alderman Hughes made a motion to approve and authorize the public works director to contract for street patching of various city streets, seconded by Alderman Braheny. No further discussion. Alderman Wesner, Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Braheny, Hughes and Roca voted yes. Motion carried.

AUTHORIZE THE UTILITY BILLING CLERK TO WRITE OFF OUTSTANDING BALANCES FROM CLOSED UTILITY ACCOUNTS, NOT TO EXCEED $2,844.61

Alderman Braheny made a motion to authorize the utility billing clerk to write off outstanding balances, seconded by Alderman Pulley. There was some discussion on why these balances are being written off. Public Works Director Smith explained that the fines are all very small and go back as far as 2018. He explained that the city is paying more money to try to track people down, send letters, and send things to collections, than they would just writing them off. No further discussion. Aldermen Wesner, Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Braheny, Hughes and Roca voted yes. Motion carried.

RECOGNITION OF ALDERMAN FREUND AND ALDERMAN HUGHES UPON THEIR RETIREMENT

Mayor Brust and the city council recognized Alderman Freund and Alderman Hughes upon their retirement as aldermen. Mayor Brust thanked them for their years of service to the city and expressed his gratitude for all the work they have done.

FUTURE ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION – Alderman Hughes encouraged the council to continue looking into Earth Cam upon his retirement.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS:

FINANCE:

Finance Director Tures explained to the council that there are going to be big changes in the city’s state incomes that are going to affect the budget. There will be a monthly treasurer’s report given to the city council to help track these changes. She also announced that the finance department received the fiscal responsibility award for the 19th year in a row.

PUBLIC WORKS:

Public Works Director Smith told the council that they completed their zone 2 sanitary sewer cleaning, removing two blockages. They will also be doing water system flushing on the north side of 72. Additionally, he announced that they received their 31st consecutive award from Tree City USA.

ADMINISTRATION:

City Administrator Seguss told the council that liquor licenses will be going out to businesses this week as the current licenses expire April 30th. There were no new licenses, only renewals. She also told the council that they have begun negotiations with the Metropolitan Alliance of Police as their contract is ending soon.

POLICE:

Chief Hathcoat announced that the new eligibility list has been finalized. He also told the council that the department will be participating in Cop on a Rooftop with Dunkin Donuts on May 16th. Chief also explained that they had their first National Night Out planning meeting for the event in August.

MAYOR:

Mayor Brust announced that next meeting the new aldermen will be sworn in. There will, however, be a vacancy for Ward 2.

ANNOUNCEMENTS – Alderman Winter mentioned planning a pickleball tournament for sometime in September.

Motion to adjourn the meeting of the City Council was made by Wesner, seconded by Alderman Pulley. Voice vote was taken, all voted yes. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:12pm.

https://www.genoa-il.com/media/3881