East Central Reporter

City of Neoga City Council met Feb. 10.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Pro-Tem Schabbing. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Those present were Commissioners Williams, Edwards, Letizia, and Mayor Pro-tem Schabbing. Others present were City Administrator / Clerk Brenda Evans, City Treasurer Diana Foor, Superintendent Shawn Durbin, Police Chief Andy Schabbing, Billie Chambers, Mel Workman, and Eric Fritts.

MINUTES

After reviewing the regular session minutes from January 27, 2025, Commissioner Letizia made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Williams. Ayes, Commissioner Letizia, Williams, Edwards, and Mayor Pro-Tem Schabbing. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

No public comments were heard.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS, MAYOR HELM

ERIC FRITTS – JENNINGS AVENUE UPDATE

Eric Fritts, property owner of Lot 1 in the Walk Subdivision 1st Addition, updated the council on the house under construction. Fritts said that the house is done other than the shower door is on backorder and the countertop contractor has not installed the counters yet. The only other thing that needs to be done is the landscaping. Fritts said he spoke with the Cumberland County Assessor, and the property is on the tax rolls as of September 2024. Fritts said at this time, his daughter plans to move into the house in June of this year. The Council thanked him for the update.

MEL WORKMAN – HIRING OF ENGINEER

Mel Workman updated the Council on his buildings in the downtown area. Workman explained that everything is a little slow but moving forward. Workman said that he discovered Manteno, Illinois has the exact same downtown area as Neoga. Workman produced a map for the Council to review with both Manteno and Neoga’s downtown area. Mr. Workman asked if the Council would give him approval to hire an outside firm like Milano & Grunloh to design the downtown area like Manteno. Commissioner Edwards made a motion to approve Workman hiring an engineer if it didn’t interfere with the grant that Neoga applied for. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Williams. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Letizia, Williams, and Mayor Pro-Tem Schabbing. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

HIRING OF FULL-TIME ECONOMIC DEVELOPER

Commissioner Letizia informed the Council that members at the last Economic Development Committee meeting discussed hiring a full-time employee for the office who might be able to write grants, do marketing, economic development, and perform. Billie Chambers mentioned reaching out to Susan Beaumont from Beaumont Consulting. City Administrator Evans said she will get pricing for employment ads in the area newspapers as well as Indeed.

RESOLUTION #01-01-25 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

After reviewing the resolution, Commissioner Letizia made a motion to approve the resolution as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Edwards. Ayes, Commissioner Letizia, Williams, Edwards, and Mayor Pro-Tem Schabbing. Nay, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

FINANCE, COMMISSIONER SCHABBING

TREASURER’S REPORT

After reviewing the treasurer’s report, Mayor Pro-tem Schabbing ordered that the treasurer’s report be filed in the City Clerk’s records.

PUBLIC PROPERTY, COMMISSIONER LETIZIA

No report was given.

STREETS AND ALLEYS, COMMISSIONER EDWARDS No report was given.

HEALTH AND SAFETY, COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS Commissioner Williams informed the Council that he spoke with a Neoga resident who spoke with a representative from WATCO railroad. The representative told him that once the asphalt companies are up and running in the spring, they will add asphalt to the crossing. The railroad representative also told the resident that they are planning to put barricades up to close the crossing. City Administrator / Clerk Evans will contact the railroad to make sure they contact us if they do put barricades up.

Police Chief Schabbing reported that in the first ten (10) days of February, the department has responded to half as many CALLS as they did in January.

Superintendent Durbin told the council that the department has been working on cleaning the chlorine room at the old water plant as well as their normal duties.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Commissioner Edwards made a motion to move into executive session for Personnel Section 2 (c)(1) – Employee hiring, firing, compensation, discipline and performance at 8:34 p.m. Commissioner Williams seconded the motion. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Letizia, Williams, and Mayor Pro-tem Schabbing. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

RECONVENED AND ROLL CALL

The meeting was reconvened at 8:45 p.m. on a motion from Commissioner Edwards. Commissioner Letizia seconded the motion. Those present for roll call were Commissioners Edwards, Letizia, Williams, and Mayor Pro-tem Schabbing.

Commissioner Williams made a motion to increase Superintendent Durbin’s wages $1 per hour and time and half on overtime in extreme situations with approval and give the public works employees a $.25 increase per hour if they receive their CDL license before June 1, 2025. Commissioner Edwards seconded the motion. Ayes, Commissioner Williams, Edwards, Letizia, and Mayor Pro-tem Schabbing. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Letizia made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:47 pm. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Williams. Ayes, Commissioner Letizia, Williams, Edwards, and Mayor pro-tem Schabbing. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

https://neoga.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Minutes-February-10-2025.pdf