West Central Reporter

City of Jacksonville City Council met May 12.

Here is the agenda provided by the council:

The Jacksonville City Council Meeting was called to order at 7:17 p.m. by Mayor Andy Ezard in the  Council Chambers of the Municipal Building. The meeting was publicly announced by posting and by  written notice to the local newspaper and radio stations. 

ROLL CALL: The following answered present: Aldermen Don Cook, Terrisa Heape, Brett Henry, Joe  Lockman, Lori Large Oldenettel, Alison Rubin de Celis, Aaron Scott, Darcella Speed, Mary Watts and  Eren Williams; Mayor Andy Ezard; City Attorney Dan Beard; and Deputy City Clerk Susan Thomas.  Absent was City Clerk, Angela Salyer. A quorum was declared. 

MINUTES: Motion was made by Oldenettel, seconded by Cook, to accept the April 14, 2025 Minutes as  presented in advance. By voice vote, motion carried. 

PETITIONS: No discussion. 

COMMUNICATIONS: No discussion. 

CLAIMS: 

Motion was made by Lockman, seconded by Rubin de Celis, to pay claims when funds are available. By  voice vote motion carried. 

Mayor Ezard adjourned the Council Meeting at 7:18 p.m. and reconvened at 7:27 p.m. 

MAYOR’S REPORT: 

1. Reappointment of Jenny Barker-Devine to the Governor Duncan Association, term expires May  1, 2028. Motion to accept the Mayor’s reappointment made by Scott, seconded by Oldenettel. By voice  vote, motion carried. 

2. Reappointment of Kevin Heitz to the Firemen’s Pension Board of Trustees, term expires May  10, 2028. Motion to accept the Mayor’s reappointment made by Scott, seconded by Oldenettel. By voice  vote, motion carried. 

3. Reappointment of Brian Nyberg to the Policemen’s Pension Fund Board of Trustees, term  expires May 13, 2027. Motion to accept the Mayor’s reappointment made by Rubin de Celis, seconded  by Lockman. By voice vote, motion carried. 

4. Appointment of Kathy Elliott to the Cemetery Board of Managers, term expires January 1,  2027. Motion to accept the Mayor’s appointment was made by Scott, seconded by Watts. By voice vote,  motion carried. 

5. Appointment of Amberly Kane to the Historic Preservation Commission, term expires  December 1, 2025. Motion to accept the Mayor’s appointment was made by Scott, seconded by Watts.  By voice vote, motion carried. 

6. Resolution accepting proposal for a matching fund contribution to the Jacksonville Area  Museum. Motion was made by Williams, seconded by Scott to approve the resolution as presented. CA  Beard read the resolution as proposed; 

2025-R-064 Be it resolved by the City Council of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois that a  RESOLUTION ACCEPTING PROPOSAL FOR A MATCHING FUND CONTRIBUTION TO THE JACKSONVILLE AREA MUSEUM, is hereby  approved. (Year 1 - $7,500, Year 2 - $9,000, Year 3 - $11,250, Year 4 and beyond - $15,000 annually) 

Mayor Ezard asked for discussion and there was none. 

ROLL CALL: 10 Yeas; 0 Nays 

Motion carried 10-0. 

CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT:  

1. First Reading of an Ordinance amending the Jacksonville Municipal Code, Chapter 3  Alcoholic Beverages, Article II, Retail Sale, Division 2. Licenses, Section 3-64 Location;  change of location; limitations on number issued – Decrease class A, AA, B, BB, C, CC,  Club and Bowling Alley licenses by one, total 45 and Increase Class D, DD, E, EE, and BH  licenses by one, total 19. (Guse’s Pub and Eatery Classification Change). Motion was made by  Scott, seconded by Henry to approve the first reading of the ordinance as presented. CA Beard read the  ordinance as proposed. 

2025-O-005 Be it ordained by the City Council of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois that an ORDINANCE AMENDING THE JACKSONVILLE MUNICIPAL CODE,  CHAPTER 3 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, ARTICLE II RETAIL SALE,  DIVISION 2 LICENSES, SECTION 3-64 LOCATION; LIMITATIONS ON  NUMBER ISSUED – DECREASE (Decrease Class A, AA, B, BB, C, CC, Club &  Bowling Alley Licenses by one, total 45 and Increase Class D, DD, E, EE, and BH  licenses by one, total 19 for Guse’s Pub & Eatery Classification Change) is hereby  approved. 

Mayor Ezard asked for discussion. Ald. Heape questioned what this change means. Mayor Ezard replied  that Guse’s is more of a restaurant than a tavern. With this change in classification, the servers can be 18  instead of 21. 

ROLL CALL: 10 Yeas; 0 Nays 

Motion carried 10-0. 

CITY CLERK’S REPORT:  

1. Community Development Department Report – April 30, 2025. 

2. City Clerk’s Cash Receipts Report – April 30, 2025. 

3. City Clerk’s General Fund – Budget Report – April 30, 2025. 

4. City Clerk’s General Fund – Revenue Analysis Report – April 30, 2025.  

PUBLIC COMMENT:  

Attorney Brad Wilson spoke regarding the unhoused camping ordinance. He commended the Council for  their willingness to address the issue. This ordinance is regulation of public space. He explained there is  a designated space for driving, parking, camping etc. This ordinance does not say it is illegal to be  homeless or poor. This will take a lot of private and public partnerships to resolve this issue. 

CONSENT AGENDA 

CONSENT AGENDA: (Items addressed under the Consent Agenda are routine or are brought forward at  the direction of the Council and are enacted with one motion. If discussions were desired, that item  would be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately under the Committee Reports.)

FINANCE/IT/PERSONNEL:  

1. City Treasurer’s Report – March 31, 2025. City Treasurer Beth Hopkin’s report April 30, 2025, in  which totals for cash receipts, cash disbursements, investments and balances for all City bank and  investment accounts were given. 

2025-R-065 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING VARIOUS PAYMENTS FROM THE CAPITAL  IMPROVEMENT FUND FOR CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS - $31,656 (Westown Ford) 

2025-R-066 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PAYMENTS FROM THE GENERAL FUND  FOR SERVICES RENDERED - $3,358 (Bellatti, Fay, Bellatti & Beard, LLP - $2,208 (City Attorney fees), Bellatti, Fay, Bellatti & Beard, LLP - $1,150 – Administrative Adjudication) 

2025-R-067 RESOLUTION APPROVING APPLICATION FOR LOAN; AND  AUTHORIZING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOAN FROM THE CITY OF  JACKSONVILLE REVOLVING LOAN FUND (X’s and O’s Donuts and Bakery,  Marcy Patterson and Kathleen Mann) - $25,000 

PARKS & LAKES: No discussion. 

PLANNING & PUBLIC WORKS:  

2025-R-068 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING WAIVER OF ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS;  AND ACCEPTING PROPOSALS FOR DEMOLITION OF PROPERTIES  LOCATED AT 1010 NORTH CLAY AVENUE AND 514 EAST LAFAYETTE  AVENUE – ($8,968 – Premier Waste Solutions, $8,200 – Shireman Farms  Excavating LLC) 

PUBLIC PROTECTION: 

2025-R-069 RESOLUTION DECLARING TWO JACKSONVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT  TRAILERS AND ONE TRUCK AS SURPLUS PROPERTY AND AUTHORIZING  THE MANNER OF SALE. 

MOTION TO REQUEST THE BOARD OF FIRE AND POLICE COMMISSIONERS TO  HIRE ONE (1) PROBATIONARY HOSEMAN TO THE JACKSONVILLE FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 

SPECIAL STUDIES: No discussion. 

UTILITY: 

2025-R-070 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING WAIVER OF ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS;  AND ACCEPTANCE OF PROPOSAL FROM ROULAND TRUCKING &  CONSTRUCTION, RE: THE SERVICE LINE INVENTORY POTHOLING  PROJECT FROM THE WATERWORKS & SEWERAGE PROJECTS FUND – $40,996 

2025-R-071 RESOLUTION APPROVING CONTRACT CHANGE ORDER #3 WITH  PLOCHER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. RE: WWTP  IMPROVEMENTS – PHASE 1 HEADWORKS PROJECT - $88,684.47

2025-R-072 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PAYMENT TO PLOCHER CONSTRUCTION  COMPANY, INC. RE: CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE  WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT PHASE 1 IMPROVEMENTS – HEADWORKS PROJECT FROM THE WATERWORKS & SEWERAGE  PROJECTS FUND - $729,300 

2025-R-073 Pulled Item Moved to Committee Reports

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PAYMENT TO L.W. ROULAND TRUCKING   SERVICE, INC. RE: CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE WATER MAIN REPLACEMENTS – RICHARDS STREET FROM SOUTH CHURCH STREET TO SOUTH WEST STREET & SOUTH DIAMOND STREET AT TOWN BROOK CROSSING PROJECT FROM THE WATERWORKS & SEWERAGE  PROJECTS FUND - $247,943.43 

2025-R-074 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING VARIOUS PAYMENTS FROM THE  WATERWORKS & SEWERAGE PROJECTS FUND FOR CERTAIN  IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS - $95,599.21 (Gano Electric - $31,995.41, Sprinklawn  Irrigation, Inc. - $19,600, Gano Electric - $8,058, Benton & Associates, Inc. - $3,695.30, Benton & Associates, Inc. - $32,250.50 

Motion was made by Watts, seconded by Cook to accept the Consent Agenda. Mayor Ezard asked for  discussion or if there were any items to be pulled from the Consent Agenda for further discussion. Ald.  Oldenettel asked to pull item 4 from Utility. 

ROLL CALL: 10 Yeas; 0 Nays 

Motion carried 10-0. 

COMMITTEE REPORTS 

FINANCE/IT/PERSONNEL: No discussion. 

PARKS & LAKES: No discussion. 

PLANNING & PUBLIC WORKS:  

1. First reading of an ordinance amending the Jacksonville Zoning map for property located at  2275 West Morton Avenue from B-4 to M-1. Motion was made by Scott, seconded by Watts to accept  the first reading. CA Beard read the ordinance as proposed: 

2025-O-006 Be it ordained by the City Council of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois that a  ordinance AMENDING THE JACKSONVILLE ZONING MAP FOR PROPERTY  LOCATED AT 2275 WEST MORTON AVENUE FROM B-4 TO M-1 (Light  Industrial District), is hereby approved. 

Mayor Ezard asked for discussion and there was none. 

ROLL CALL: 10 Yeas; 0 Nays 

Motion carried 10-0. 

2. First Reading of an ordinance, with emergency clause, amending the Jacksonville Zoning map  for property located at 306 North Westgate Avenue from B-1 to B-1 with Special Use. Motion was  made by Scott, seconded by Henry to accept the Emergency Clause.

ROLL CALL: 10 Yeas; 0 Nays 

Motion to accept the Emergency Clause carried 10-0. 

Motion was made by Scott, seconded by Watts to accept the second reading of the ordinance. CA Beard  read the ordinance as proposed. 

2025-0-007 Be it ordained by the City Council of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois that an  ordinance AMENDING THE JACKSONVILLE ZONING MAP FOR PROPERTY  LOCATED AT 306 NORTH WESTGATE AVENUE FROM B-1 to B-1 WITH  SPECIAL USE (Neighborhood Business District with Special Use), WITH  EMERGENCY CLAUSE, is hereby approved. 

Mayor Ezard asked for discussion and there was none. 

ROLL CALL: 10 Yeas; 0 Nays 

Motion carried 10-0. 

3. First reading of an ordinance vacating an unnamed alley located between 419 East Douglas  Avenue and 415 East Douglas Avenue. Motion was made by Scott, seconded by Williams to accept the  first reading of the ordinance. CA Beard read the ordinance as proposed. 

2025-O-008 Be it ordained by the City Council of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois that an Ordinance VACATING A PORTION OF AN UNNAMED ALLEY LOCATED  BETWEEN LOTS 2 AND 4 OF BIBB’S 2ND ADDITION TO THE CITY OF  JACKSONVILLE, is hereby approved. 

Mayor Ezard asked for discussion and there was none. 

ROLL CALL: 10 Yeas; 0 Nays 

Motion carried 10-0. 

PUBLIC PROTECTION: No discussion. 

SPECIAL STUDIES: No discussion. 

UTILITY:  

4. Resolution authorizing partial pay estimate #1 to L.W. Rouland Trucking Service, Inc. for  Water Main Replacements – Richards Street from South Church Street to South West Street &  South West Street & South Diamond Street at Town Brook Crossing. Motion was made by Watts,  seconded by Scott to accept the resolution. CA Beard read the resolution as proposed. 

2025-R-073 Be it resolved by the City Council of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois than a  RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PAYMENT TO L.W. ROULAND TRUCKING  SERVICE, INC. RE: CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE WATER MAIN REPLACEMENTS – RICHARDS STREET FROM SOUTH CHURCH STREET TO SOUTH WEST STREET & SOUTH DIAMOND STREET AT TOWN BROOK CROSSING PROJECT FROM THE WATERWORKS & SEWERAGE  PROJECTS FUND - $247,943.43 

Mayor Ezard asked for discussion. Ald. Oldenettel asked if this construction included a curbed road.  Supt. Hearin replied that Richards Street is not a curbed street but Diamond Street is curbed. Ald.  Oldenettel thanked Supt. Hearin for the clarification.

ROLL CALL: 10 Yeas; 0 Nays 

Motion carried 10-0. 

OLD BUSINESS: No discussion. 

NEW BUSINESS: 

Linda Brown and Melissa Hall from the Jacksonville Area Community Food Center thanked the Council  for the $10,000 they received at the end of 2024. The food programs are being cut and they are serving  more people every day. They are requesting that the City include the Food Center as a line item in the  annual budget and are asking for $100,000 per year. (Please see packet with all information) Ald.  Oldenettel asked if the Fiscal Budget could be reprinted showing the year to date expenditures and  inquired as to what grants and fundraisers the Food Center is applying for. Ms. Hall said that information  is in the grant request and DOT Food provides a grant that supplies most of the meat to the Center.  

ADJOURNMENT: With no further discussion, motion was made by Cook, seconded by Williams, to  adjourn the meeting at 8:02 p.m. 

The Meeting was reopened at 8:02 to allow for additional public comment.  

PUBLIC COMMENT: 

Janene Menke, owner of The Little Red Wagon Daycare addressed the Council requesting an  “educational exemption” from the City ordinance that does not allow roosters in the City limits. The  daycare has a STEM program. This program includes bunnies, chickens and Rooster Cogburn. The  children get to see the eggs hatch and hold the little chicks and bunnies. They also have ducks (Ducky  Lucky). Ald. Lockman noted there was a rooster in his neighborhood for a short time and he commented  on how loud the rooster was at all hours of the day and he asked what Ms. Menke would do to control the  noise. Ms. Menke said Rooster Cogburn stays inside his shed and has full reign of the yard and she owns  the neighboring property. Ald. Williams asked if Ms. Menke has ever considered a “chicken choker” to  quiet the rooster? It prevents them from crowing and does not hurt them. Ms. Menke is open to that  suggestion if it will allow her to keep the rooster. Ms. Menke has an upcoming municipal court date  regarding violation of the City ordinance. CA Beard said there is no such thing as an educational  exemption in our City Ordinance and no action can be taken at tonight’s meeting because this item is not  on the agenda.  

READJOURNMENT: 

With no further discussion, Mayor Ezard adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m. 

https://cms6.revize.com/revize/jacksonville/Government/Agendas%20&%20Minutes/City%20Council/2025%20Minutes/Council%20Minutes%2005.12.25.pdf