East Central Reporter

City of Tuscola City Council met March 10.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

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

Consent Agenda

Mayor Kleiss went over the items on the consent agenda:

Minutes of the February 24, 2025, meeting

Payment of bills totaling $271,457.77

A pay request from Grunloh Building for the master meter station in the amount of $70,221.29. This is included in the bill total

Community Building lease request with alcohol from Becky's Buddies for Glo Bingo on April 12

Request from the Prairielands Council for a Cub Scout camp out at Wimple Park July 11-12

Hoey moved to approve the items on the consent agenda. Shoemaker seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop. Rund moved to approve the consent agenda for March 10, 2025. Waldrop seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.

Mayor

Mayor Kleiss congratulated the TCHS boys' basketball team on a great season!

City Clerk - No Report

City Treasurer - No Report

City Attorney - No Report

City Administrator

Administrator Hoel announced a Public Hearing will be held at 6:45 pm before the March 24 meeting. The hearing is for the DCEO water main grant close-out. Also, the pay request just approved for Grunloh for the water main building will be reimbursed from the IEPA loan proceedings. Mayor Kleiss reminded everyone of the budget meetings beginning next week. Ordinances

1. Slaughter moved to approve ordinance 2025-0-2, an ordinance authorizing the ceding of private activity bonding authority. Brace seconded. This ordinance makes it possible for our home rule community to transfer our allocation of $599,820.00, to another jurisdiction. This year's amount will transfer to the Eastern IL Economic Development Authority. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.

2. Several code updates were acted upon in order to comply with the State requirement that codes not be more than nine years old. Hoey moved to approve ordinance 2025-March 10, 2025 O-3, an ordinance adopting by reference the International Building Code (2021), the International Residential Code (2021), the International Existing Building Code (2021), and the International Swimming Pool Spa Code (2021); repealing ordinance 2019-0-6 and amending section 150.01 of the City of Tuscola's code of ordinances. Day seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.

3. Morris moved to approve ordinance 2025-O-4, an ordinance adopting by reference the National Electric Code (2020); and repealing ordinance 2019-0-7; and amending section 151.01 of the City of Tuscola code of ordinances. Slaughter seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.

4. Shoemaker moved to approve ordinance 2025-0-5, an ordinance adopting by reference the International Mechanical Code (2021) and the International Fuel Gas Code (2021); repealing ordinance 2019-0-8 and amending section 152.01 of the City of Tuscola code of ordinances. Brace seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.

5. Day moved to approve ordinance 2025-O-6, an ordinance adopting by reference the International Fire Code (2021); repealing ordinance 2019-0-9 and amending section 91.01 of the City of Tuscola code of ordinances. Rund seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.

Contracts and Agreements:

American Patriot Pyro has presented a contract for fireworks display for our annual Sparks in the Park planned for July 5. Waldrop moved to approve this contract with American Patriot Pyro in the amount of $30,414.49. A 50% payment is required at contract signing. Morris seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.

Other

Slaughter moved to approve the attached updated fire department roster, which reflects the retirement of Shane Gould as engineer. Shoemaker seconded. Mayor Kleiss noted Gould has been a valued member of the TFD and community for many years. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.

Mr. James Young, Tuscola resident and retired businessman, addressed council about a newly established mentorship program focusing on the youth in Douglas County. This is a community program to support children, Young stated. According to surveys, 50% of the children in the county are either clinically depressed or suffer from anxiety. The advisory board is looking for volunteers to act as mentors for children seeking help. An informational meeting is planned for Saturday, March 29 at the Hometown Grounds Coffee Shop. Young went on to say, the advisory board hopes to get all cities in the county on board with this program and will be asking them to pass a resolution stating March 29 as 'Mentorship Day'. The motion to adjourn was made by Morris and seconded by Slaughter. VOTE YEA**Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.

https://tuscola.org/file/1534