East Central Reporter

City of Tuscola City Council met Jan. 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The regular meeting of the Tuscola City Council was called to order with Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop, and Mayor Kleiss in attendance. Alderwoman Brace was absent. Mayor Kleiss led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Consent Agenda

Mayor Kleiss went over the items on the consent agenda:

Minutes of the December 23, 2024, meeting

Payment of bills totaling $542,249.88

Pay request of $3000.00 from K. Wohltman Construction for the maintenance building Hoey moved to approve the items on the consent agenda. Waldrop seconded. VOTE YEA* Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.

Treasurer Long pointed out approximately $250,000.00; of the bills were payment on the Meadowview water project. Day moved to approve the consent agenda for January 13, 2025. Shoemaker seconded. VOTE YEA* Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.

Mayor

Mayor Kleiss noted the city crews did a great job with snow removal during the past week. Kleiss offered condolences to the family of Captain Bill Schweighart, TFD. Schweighart was a good asset to the community and fire department for many years.

City Clerk - No Report

City Treasurer - No Report

City Attorney - No Report

City Administrator

Administrator Hoel updated council on the auto-read water meters problem with data collection. Hoel stated our vendor has supplied us with a bench tested replacement gateway device that is now working. We were able to get some meter reads today, Hoel added, and the device will be installed on top of the water tower on Thursday. Resolutions

Mayor Kleiss opened discussion on the municipal aggregation resolution for electricity. Administrator Hoel added we have participated in this program since 2012. The broker estimates somewhere the end of February bid will be placed. Agreements are to be signed the same day the bid is selected. Our current agreement was for three years and expires this June; the next agreement will likely be either two or three years. Morris moved to approve resolution 2025-R-1, a resolution authorizing execution of a service agreement with the lowest responsible bidder for the supply of electricity for residential and small commercial retail customers who do not opt out of such a program. Slaughter seconded. VOTE YEA* Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.

Mayor Kleiss presented a new firefighter roster for council approval. The roster reflects the removal of paramedic Jesse Lewsader, the retirement of Captain Bill Hemmer, and the passing of Honorary Captain Bill Schweighart. Rund moved to approve the updated firefighter roster as presented. Hoey seconded. VOTE YEA* Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop. A copy of the roster is attached, making it part of the minutes.

IL American Water has been approved by the ICC for a rate increase. Treasurer Long added the effect to Tuscola of the increase, which went into effect January 1, 2025, is 13.8%. Long proposes using the tiered rate structure we have in place and increasing rates as below:

Less than 1,000 gallons (min) increase $1 (4.26%)

Average bill usage 2,268 gallons increase $3.52 (8.06%)

IAWC average bill usage of 3500 gallons increases $6.00 (9.45%)

Overall average increase for Tuscola customer is 7.9%

Bulk water rate increase to $2.00 per 100 gallons

Fire sprinkler fee increase to $15.00

Long asked council to think about this for action at the next meeting and would like to see the new rates take effect by February 20.

Administrator Hoel reported the state has a new mandate that requires us to update various building codes. The new mandate states code cycles can be no more than nine years old. Inspector Salmon is in the process of updating our codes in hopes of adopting them in early March for an effective date of April 1, 2025.

The Post Office has requested a change to the street parking on Justice Street. Our current ordinance has no parking on the west side; however, the mailboxes for the residents on Justice Street are all on the east side making the mailboxes unavailable to postal carriers. After council and the Mayor have had a chance to assess this situation, action will be taken on whether or not a change to the ordinance is needed.

The motion to adjourn was made by Slaughter and seconded by Morris. VOTE YEA* Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.

https://tuscola.org/file/1501