East Central Reporter

City of Gilman City Council met Feb. 12.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The regular meeting of the city council was called to order by Mayor Theesfeld. Council responding to roll call were: Eimen aye, McGehee aye, Kraft aye, Bachman aye, Elliott aye, and Fancher aye. Clerk Kraft and Treasurer Morris were also present along with Jody Munsterman.

Moved by McGehee Seconded by Elliott

to approve the minutes from the regular meeting held on January 8, 2024. All aye.

Moved by McGehee Seconded by Fancher

to approve the transfer of $10,000.00 from the general fund to the road & bridge fund. All aye.

Jody Munsterman introduced herself as a candidate for Iroquois County Board in the upcoming March 19, 2024 primary election. She lives outside of Crescent City and is a retired teacher from the Crescent City School District. If elected she has offered to periodically attend the City of Gilman monthly meetings and bring any concerns back to the county board.

Moved by McGehee Seconded by Bachman

to approve payment to Tenco Excavating, Inc. of $225,471.96 for the 3rd & Maple Roadway Improvements pay estimate #4. All aye.

Moved by Elliott Seconded by Kraft

to approve a donation of $250.00 to the Iroquois West Post Prom Committee. All aye.

Mayor Theesfeld addressed the council regarding the need to upgrade the water main and sanitary sewer in the alley between Hartwell and Maple streets. The current sewer project at the north end of town has had problems as the old lines collapsed and required a new manhole. The tile was so brittle off the 5th St. sewer that this needed to get done. The old lines ran 18’ to 20’ underground so that section was hard to get to. The new piping is larger and will get to the plant easier. To keep the sewer from backing up, 4-5 big pumps were brought in to keep the sewer lines clear. During this time John McBride reported all issues to the EPA and sent water samples to them. The boring under the railroad tracks will be starting soon.

Neil Piggush’s proposal to reconstruct the lines will have them loop under the Gilman ditch. This includes that the streets, Maple and Hartwell will tie back into 3rd and 4th street lines and from Hartwell to almost 6th St. It will also include lines on Third St. and Maple St. A water service line is shared between 322 E. Fourth and 343 E. Fourth which will need to be addressed and a possible line looped and tied into the Fourth St. line.

The estimate from Neil Piggush on this project is close to 1.4 to 1.5 million dollars but is a big project that will need to be done.

After these future projects are done it will be the end of all trunk lines in town that need to be upgraded. The south side of town also had these issues and those lines were replaced in 2017.

The line replacement project could possibly start in the fall of 2024 or after, and could possibly be considered as a future TIF project. Neil Piggush is gathering information on future projects for the city to help create a new TIF.

Moved by Kraft Seconded by McGehee

to approve the Piggush Engineering Proposal of $151,220.00 for the Water Sewer Improvements Project. All aye.

Mayor Theesfeld addressed the council regarding the sewer line that affected 6 houses from W. Second to W. Third streets. Tom Fairley from Miller Septic kept the sewer lines pumped out until Iroquois Paving Corp. was able to do an emergency repair on the lines. The cost for the project was for time and material. Time did not allow for new manhole covers to be constructed.

He also stated that Neil Piggush should have a proposal for the 3rd and Main Roadway Improvement project by the March meeting to add parking along Third St. and add drainage improvements.

Neil and Mayor Theesfeld discussed the need to either move the ditch that goes under the schools or possibly build a structure underground in that area. Neil proposed helping the city get out of the floodplain which would help the schools if they chose to build in that area as well as relieve residents of having to buy expensive flood insurance policies. The application fee is $2,700 to start the process of getting out of the floodplain. Piggush Engineering helped the town of Forrest to get out of the floodplain with a ditch running through their town.

Alderman Eimen had nothing to discuss.

Alderman McGehee had nothing to discuss.

Alderman Kraft had had nothing to discuss.

Alderman Bachman had nothing to discuss.

Alderman Elliott had nothing to discuss.

Aldermen Fancher had nothing to discuss.

Moved by McGehee Seconded by Bachman

to approve the bills as they were presented, and to approve the Balance Sheet, and Profit and Loss Statement dated February 12, 2024 as presented. All aye.

Moved by Fancher Seconded by Elliott

to adjourn the regular meeting at 7:45 p.m. All aye.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lhZ6R45pKlC2__cYcxehcEQeyCXc8ao2/edit