West Central Reporter

City of Jacksonville City Council met Sept. 8.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The Jacksonville City Council Meeting was called to order at 6:18 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 and Mary Watts; Mayor Andy Ezard; City Attorney Dan Beard; and Deputy City Clerk Sue Thomas. Absent were City Clerk Angela Salyer and Aldermen Eren Williams. A quorum was declared.

MINUTES: Motion was made by Scott, seconded by Heape, to accept the August 25, 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’S REPORT:

1. Resolution authorizing proposal from Fehr Graham for groundwater well installation and abandonment services at Jacksonville Municipal Landfill 3. Motion was made by Scott, seconded by Watts to approve the resolution as presented. CA Beard read the resolution as proposed.

2025-R-131 Be it resolved by the City Council of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois that a RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING WAIVER OF ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS AND ACCEPTING THE PROPOSAL FROM FEHR GRAHAM ENGINEERING & ENVIRONMENTAL FOR LANDFILL 3 GROUNDWATER WELL

INSTALLATION, is hereby approved. ($40,900)

Mayor Ezard asked for discussion and there was none.

ROLL CALL: 9 Yeas; 0 Nays; 1 Absent (Williams)

Motion carried 9-0-1.

CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT:

1. Resolution Authorizing payment reimbursement to Jacksonville Memorial Hospital for electric vehicle charging stations. (Ameren Illinois Grant). Motion was made by Lockman, seconded by Henry to approve the resolution as presented. CA Beard read the resolution as proposed.

2025-R-132 Be it resolved by the City Council of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois that a RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PAYMENT REIMBURSEMENT TO JACKSONVILLE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS (AMEREN ILLINOIS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & CONSULTATION PROGRAM), is hereby approved. ($23,800)

Mayor Ezard asked for discussion and there was none.

ROLL CALL: 9 Yeas; 0 Nays; 1 Absent (Williams)

Motion carried 9-0-1.

CITY CLERK’S REPORT:

1. Community Development Department Report – August 31, 2025.

2. City Clerk’s Cash Receipts Report – August 31, 2025.

3. City Clerk’s General Fund – Budget Report – August 31, 2025.

4. City Clerk’s General Fund – Revenue Analysis Report – August 31, 2025.

PUBLIC COMMENT: No discussion.

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:

2025-R-133 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING VARIOUS PAYMENTS FROM THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND FOR CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS - $25,523.63 (Hutchison Engineering - $2,215. Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning - $13,450, Turfwerks - $9,858.63)

2025-R-134 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PAYMENTS FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR SERVICES RENDERED - $9,147 (Bellatti, Fay, Bellatti & Beard, LLP - $4,980.50 for legal services, Bellatti, Fay, Bellatti & Beard, LLP - $4,166.50 for Administrative Adjudication)

PARKS & LAKES:

2025-R-135 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PROCEEDING WITH APPLICATION FOR OSLAD GRANT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF PICKLEBALL COURTS.

This item has been moved to Committee Reports.

PLANNING & PUBLIC WORKS: No discussion.

PUBLIC PROTECTION: No discussion.

SPECIAL STUDIES: No discussion.

UTILITY:

2025-R-136 RESOLUTION ACCEPTING BID FOR CLEANING AND PAINTING THE SOUTH 1.6 MILLION GALLON SLUDGE STORAGE TANK PROJECT RE: RECOMMENDATION FOR ACCEPTANCE OF BID BY TURNER PAINTING & CONSTRUCTION. - $274,000.

2025-R-137 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 - $667,847.

2025-R-138 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PAYMENT TO LAYNE CHRISTENSEN COMPANY RE: CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE RANNEY WELL CLEANING PROJECT FROM THE WATERWORKS & SEWERAGE PROJECTS FUND - $258,750.

2025-R-139 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING VARIOUS PAYMENTS FROM THE WATERWORKS & SEWERAGE PROJECTS FUND FOR CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS - $71,435.68 (Benton Engineering - $4,632.50, Benton Engineering - $1,350, Benton Engineering - $2,656, Benton Engineering - $1,029, Benton Engineering - $1,601.03, Benton Engineering - $30,117.90, Benton Engineering - $16,500, Benton Engineering - $7,427.60, Benton Engineering - $6,121.65)

Motion was made by Watts, seconded by Scott 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 and there were none.

ROLL CALL: 9 Yeas; 0 Nays; 1 Absent (Williams)

Motion carried 9-0-1.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

FINANCE/IT/PERSONNEL: No discussion.

PARKS & LAKES:

1. Resolution authorizing proceeding with application for OSLAD Grant for construction of pickleball courts. Motion was made by Oldenettel, seconded by Henry to approve the resolution as presented. CA Beard read the resolution as proposed.

2025-R-135 Be it resolved by the City Council of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, that a RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PROCEEDING WITH APPLICATION FOR OSLAD GRANT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF PICKLEBALL COURTS, is hereby approved.

Mayor Ezard asked for discussion.

Ald. Heape asked for clarification if this grant is for both pickleball and tennis Courts. CA Beard said the final details have yet to be determined. Ald. Heape will be voting no tonight because she believes we are rushing this due to the September 30, 2025, grant deadline and would like to know more about funds being raised by the pickleball community.

Ald. Rubin de Celis agrees with Ald. Heape that we are rushing into this since the project would more than likely not start this year and we should wait and allow the pickleball community to raise funds.

Ald. Rubin de Celis said there are sidewalks that need to be fixed and streets to be paved. She also mentioned that New Directions is almost full and is currently housing 18 people, 10 of which are under the age of 15 and we will see those needs increase if the economy continues on the way it is going. She would like to keep the money in reserve for things that will benefit more people and give back to those in the community who need it most. For those reasons, she will be voting no.

Ald. Speed has a concern with our growing homeless population and it is getting worse. She does not dispute that pickleball is a good thing for our community but she is questioning how much revenue will be brought back to the City and how the City benefit from adding the courts.

Ald. Lockman endorses approving the application for the grant. First of all, it will beautify Nichols Park even more than what it already is and pickleball is the fastest growing sport and has been over the past four consecutive years. There are more and more people playing of all ages. Nichols Park is the perfect place to have the courts and the health and well being benefits that are gained from any sort of activity is a plus for Jacksonville.

Ald. Oldenettel said since the Parks & Lakes meeting she has had numerous people reach out to her and have asked her to vote against proceeding with the application for the OSLAD grant and one email where someone asked her to vote yes. Tonight, she will be voting against proceeding with the grant to represent her ward. She does not believe it is a bad idea but would like to put more thought and consideration into this before moving forward.

Ald. Cook shares the concerns that have been mentioned and as Chairman of the Finance Committee, it boiled down to being fiscally responsible. He has thought about this all day and has had comments from both sides and has decided to vote no.

Ald. Scott believe it is a good decision to go forward with the grant application. The City has been talking about pickleball since 2019 and here we are five and a half years later and still do not have a pickleball court. The biggest plus is taking advantage of the grant and that money may not be there in two years. He is still holding out hope that this will get approved and a large amount of money can be raised by the pickleball community to offset the City’s cost.

Ald. Speed said the thing that makes it difficult for her is that the City has so many pressing things but this grant is a wonderful opportunity if it would bring revenue into the City and she is struggling with a decision.

Lisa Galloway, a local pickleball player, said pickleball enthusiasts travel just like the baseball players that travel to Future Champions. There are hundreds of people that travel to Chatham, Pittsfield, Ashland and Virginia because they have pickleball courts. There will be revenue generated from the tournaments that would be held at the pickleball courts. She realizes there are other issues the City needs to address, but as we think about developing our parks and lakes and business and bringing people into Jacksonville this would be a good investment.

ROLL CALL: 5 Yeas; 4 Nays; 1 Absent (Williams)

Motion carried 5-4-1.

PLANNING & PUBLIC WORKS:

1. First Reading of an ordinance amending the Jacksonville Zoning map for property located between Country Club Road and Woods Lane from R-1 to M-2 with Special use. Motion was made by Scott, seconded by Oldenettel to approve the first reading of the ordinance as presented. CA Beard read the ordinance as proposed.

2025-O-012 Be it ordained by the City Council of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, that an ORDINANCE AMENDING THE JACKSONVILLE ZONING MAP FOR PROPERTY LOCATED BETWEEN COUNTRY CLUB ROAD AND WOODS LANE FROM R-1 TO M-2 WITH SPECIAL USE, is hereby approved.

Mayor Ezard asked for discussion and there was none.

ROLL CALL: 9 Yeas; 0 Nays; 1 Absent (Williams)

Motion carried 9-0-1.

2. First reading of an ordinance amending the Jacksonville Zoning map for property located between Country Club Road and Route 104 from R-1 to M-2. Motion was made by Scott, seconded by Cook to approve the first reading of the ordinance as presented. CA Beard read the ordinance as proposed.

2025-O-013 Be it ordained by the City Council of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, that an ORDINANCE AMENDING THE JACKSONVILLE ZONING MAP FOR PROPERTY LOCATED BETWEEN COUNTRY CLUB ROAD AND ROUTE 104 FROM R-1 TO M-2, is hereby approved.

Mayor Ezard asked for discussion. Ald. Lockman asked if this is for solar farm project. CA Beard answered no. This is Routt Trust Property that is directly north of the solar farm and if this property was not rezoned to M-2, there would need to be a 1000-foot setback for the solar farm. The Routt Trust was in favor of this proposal.

ROLL CALL: 9 Yeas; 0 Nays; 1 Absent (Williams)

Motion carried 9-0-1.

OLD BUSINESS: No discussion.

NEW BUSINESS:

Ald. Scott would like to call a Planning and Public Works Meeting on September 22, 2025. He is unsure if it will be at 5:15 or 5:30, he needs to talk to some department heads to see if anything needs to be added to the agenda and he will get the information out as soon as possible.

ADJOURNMENT: With no further discussion, motion was made by Cook, seconded by Lockman, to adjourn the meeting at 6:41 p.m.

https://cms6.revize.com/revize/jacksonville/Government/Agendas%20&%20Minutes/City%20Council/2025%20Minutes/Council%20Minutes%2009.08.25.pdf?t=202509261148170&t=202509261148170