City Council
Jul 20, 2026
The lede
- City Council approved second readings of electric aggregation program renewal (6-year with biennial review option) and repealed an outdated city vehicle sticker ordinance
- First readings accepted for East Point Commons Subdivision development (annexation, zoning changes to Planned Business and Planned Industrial districts, and preliminary/final plats)
- Council approved $1.6M Kishwaukee Riverfront Path extension project with state grants covering 60% ($980,000); city portion $661,255
- Appleton Road Grade Separation project advanced with IDOT joint funding agreement; city contributing $17,004.30 for preliminary engineering
Decisions & votes
Passed unanimously (10-0):
- Minutes from July 6, 2026 meeting
- General & Special Fund expenditures: $2,332,111.00
- Water & Sewer Fund expenditures: $1,270,761.42
- Committee minutes from July 13, 2026
- Ord. #772H repealing Section 110-222 (obsolete city sticker requirement)
- Resolution 2026-20 for Appleton Road Grade Separation IDOT funding agreement
- Purchase of 2021 Ford F150 XL truck for $35,000 (Capital Fund)
- Downtown Facade Improvement Grant allocation of $27,278
- Leander Construction proposal $357,000 for WWTP final clarifier gates replacement
- Baxter & Woodman proposal up to $47,940 for clarifier gates construction engineering
- Grant Agreement #24-203498 with IL DCEO for riverfront path project
- Klinefelter Drywall & Painting proposal $28,850 for City Hall interior painting (Impact Fees)
- Illinois Attorney General grant acceptance $14,800 for organized retail crime program (Flock cameras)
- St. James Catholic Church block party request July 26, 6am-6pm
Passed 9-1:
- Ord. #771H electric aggregation program renewal with NIMEC (Brereton opposed)
- Signs Now proposal $60,900 for Parking Lot #7 monument sign (Brereton opposed)
First readings (no action):
- Ord. #773H: Annexation agreement with Donald K. Busch Sr. and DMD Investment Inc.
- Ord. #774H: Annexation of territory south of US Route 20, east of Farmington Way
- Ord. #775H: Zoning change RH to PB (East Point Commons)
- Ord. #776H: Zoning change RH to PI (East Point Commons)
- Ord. #777H: Preliminary plat approval (East Point Commons)
- Ord. #778H: Final Plat 1 approval (East Point Commons)
Executive session:
- Entered 6:37pm, exited 6:53pm for collective bargaining matters (10-0)
Discussion items
Electric aggregation: Mayor noted the 6-year NIMEC contract with biennial opt-out is not the best rate historically due to difficult market conditions, but still provides $36,000 annually for city residents.
Monument sign for Parking Lot #7: Alderman Peterson raised vandalism concerns; Director Keck explained panels are replaceable in sections if damaged. Alderwoman Gramkowski asked about visibility; Keck confirmed clearance for viewing from State Street. Alderman Brereton asked about 107-109 N. State Street building plans; Planner DelRose reported owner still finishing interior renovations, no tenant yet secured despite excellent exterior work.
City Hall painting: Alderman Stevens confirmed bid includes crack repair. Alderman Albertini joked about NCIS orange color scheme. Alderwoman Gramkowski asked about color coordination with carpet; Mayor acknowledged 21-year-old facilities need updating including flooring and dated desks (made of soy resin), noted county spent millions on new buildings while city making existing facility presentable for reasonable cost using impact fees.
Appleton Road project: Mayor explained preliminary engineering funding will position project for final engineering and federal FRA approval, critical for future with Stellantis freight traffic and public safety access between north/south town.
Kishwaukee Riverfront Path: Director Keck detailed $1,641,255 total project cost: $780,000 from Senator Stadelman (three grants), $200,000 grant with Belvidere Park District, city portion $661,255 from budgeted capital funds.
Financial / operational notes
- General & Special Fund expenditures: $2,332,111.00
- Water & Sewer Fund expenditures: $1,270,761.42
- Combined total: $3,602,872.42
- Electric aggregation program generates $36,000 annually for city
- City Hall painting ($28,850) funded from Impact Fees
- WWTP clarifier gates project $357,000 from Grant Funds and Sewer Depreciation Fund
- Construction engineering $47,940 from Sewer Depreciation Line Item 61-1790
- Kishwaukee Riverfront Path: $980,000 state grants, $661,255 city match from capital funds
- Appleton Road preliminary engineering: $17,004.30 city contribution
- Parking Lot #7 monument sign $60,900 from grant funds and capital funds
- 2021 Ford F150 truck $35,000 from Capital Fund Line Item 41-5-752-8300
- Downtown Facade Improvement Grant: $27,278 allocated
- Organized retail crime grant: $14,800 accepted for Flock camera program
Public comment
No content.
Notable moments
Mayor Morris opened with invocation praying for military service members “in the war against Iran” and hoping to “finally secure a future for America and the Middle East and the entire world.”
Lighthearted exchange about City Hall paint colors, with Alderman Albertini suggesting “NCIS orange” and Mayor joking “better than blood red” and calling the color discussion “the most contentious” topic he’d heard.
Mayor defended City Hall improvements by contrasting with Boone County’s millions spent on new administration building and health department, emphasizing city’s 21-year-old facilities deserve modest upgrade, noting deteriorating desk end strips and stating “we’re not going to make it the Taj Mahal, but at least we’ll put some lipstick on it.”