Public Comments
Beth Jacobs from the Henry C. Adams Memorial Library board provided an update on upcoming classes, including Knife Sharpening & Care with Scott Wirsing of Buttonhook Forge, Illinois Extension 4-H workshops in November for student early out days, yogurt-making in November, and a clay ornament workshop with Forge & Fiddle using the library’s new oven. The library’s after school baking and crafting clubs have 20 to 25 kids at most events.
Amanda Burger and Jenna Scifres of Prophetstown Proud reported that Ladies Night Out in September went well and they had 13 raffle baskets donated for prizes. The next Fourth Friday event is Trick or Treat on Main Street from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, with the First Lutheran Church and United Methodist Church having Trunk or Treats during those hours. Trick or treating in the city is set for 5-7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31.
The Lighted Christmas Parade is Saturday, November 28th at 5:30 p.m., with registration open at this link. The day starts with Shop Small from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., and a variety of family friendly activities from 3-5 p.m. such as visits with Santa, face painting, make & take crafts, photos, Reindeer Dash, and the Love Light Tree ceremony at 5 p.m.
Registration is also open for the annual Christmas Display contest at this link. All must be registered by December 7th, with judging on Dec. 11 and the winner announced on Dec. 12.
Items for Consideration and Possible Action
The council tabled the water payment plan agreement until next month so they could review the updated agreement provided by Attorney Tim Zollinger. They approved normal routine maintenance and repairs for the generator at Well #5 for $4,104.42 and the wet well located at 40 Locust Street for $8,263.37 by Buckeye Power Sales.
They approved the Preliminary Tax Levy as presented so it can be on file for residents to review before a vote at the next meeting. Mayor Ryan Inskeep said last year’s total extensions after TIF was $235,601, so they received $3,000 less than requested. For this year’s levy, they added that amount to last year’s total plus 4.95% ($11,662) to stay below the 5% threshold allowed before holding a Truth in Taxation hearing. The new levy amount is $247,260, compared to $237,544 from last year.
Zollinger said property taxes won’t increase by 4.95%; these are just the raw dollars the city is levying for seven accounts including corporate, IMRF, police protection, and social security. The council will vote on the levy next month so they can file it at the Whiteside County Courthouse by the second Tuesday in December.
The council also agreed to pay option #1 to the Illinois Municipal Leage Risk Management Association for the city’s insurance, which covers workers’ compensation, general liability, auto, property, and public officials’ liability. The city has been using them since the 1980s and always use option #1 to get a discount. The premium only went up $1,000 from last year to $68,683.75, and payment will be due by Nov. 13.
Items for Consideration
For the cargo container lease agreements, Public Works Director Brian Strike reported that letters have been drawn up for four businesses and will be sent out with a request to attend the next council meeting.
Mayor Ryan Inskeep reminded the council that the city’s garbage contract with Republic Services will expire on June 30, 2027 so they need to continue planning for garbage services. A few other companies have expressed interest, and the council previously discussed the municipality handling garbage services. Inskeep said they should vote on a new contractor in April at the latest. If the city takes over, they will need to purchase trucks and totes. Strike said any quotes are typically good for 30 days, and they should wait until the new year to look at new prices for their purchasing options.
The council next discussed food vendor fees for 2027, with Office Administrator Wendy Schultz saying they have lots of food and drink vendors coming into town but only one paid the $100 fee for a one-year license through the city. Attorney Zollinger suggested adding a one-time license fee of $25 that’s good for a single event, such as Friday nights in the park or coffee trucks. Schultz said the licensing includes inspection of their food sanitation license and other paperwork. Inskeep said it’s “something to think about in how we want to handle it.”
Next on the agenda was discussing the city employee holiday party versus cash value holiday bonuses. The holiday parties are subject to weather and winter illnesses, and the general consensus of city employees is to have cash. Each dinner party costs an average of $1,500 – $1,900 for the 13-16 employees. Schultz said they used to invite the Zoning Board members but gave them Shaw’s Marketplace gift cards last year and received positive feedback. Inskeep said the council can consider it and vote next month.
Schultz has been working on getting iDrop set up as another option after the city has exhausted repayment options. The program will allow the state to take money out of tax refunds and large lottery winnings to repay debts to the city. There is an administrative fee of $15 per claim, with the program to increase chance of getting money back. Zollinger noted that the city can’t put a lien on property if they’re enrolled in iDrop, and the funds are only collected when a delinquent person files their taxes and receives a refund.
“It’s a pretty decent program that the state runs,” said Zollinger, adding that the administrative cost is for paperwork for the comptroller. The council would need to designate a chief officer and alternative, and they just need to send the state their meeting minutes to be enrolled. Only utility billing and ordinance violations relating to property maintenance code will be eligible, with the council to vote next month.
Consent Agenda
Approved as presented were the September 8th meeting minutes, financial report, bills payable, and the following building permits:
- Herbert Gehres, roof mounted solar, $14,625
- Michael Vasquez, fence, $3,500
- Jason Wisely, windows, close-in carport, $3,500
- Lester Wilson, roof, $30,532.88
- Alaina Bartlow, roof, $12,390
- Barry Morphew, roof, $11,000
Reports of Department Heads
Police Chief Bruce Franks reported that 21 verbal warnings, 25 written warnings, one city ordinance, and 19 state citations were issued in September, and one accident and 195 calls for service were logged.
Officers Jered Cross and Jason Brubaker will be working alone and taking on calls starting in October; both men show advanced growth and are very competent in their job duties. Franks will present their annual Halloween safety talk at the elementary school in October. The Police Department performed an intruder alert drill at PES on Sept. 15 and all went well. They also attended the September meeting of the United Christians of Prophetstown, where he introduced the new officers. Franks, Cross, and Brubaker are now handling property maintenance duties since Officer VanDellen has used up all his allowed work hours. The officers will be participating in the Fourth Friday Halloween event on Oct. 23.
Public Works Director Strike reported that hydrant flushing will occur October 28-30, with a map of the flushing route posted on the city’s website. Residents should be aware that hydrant flushing may temporarily cause discolored water or changes in water pressure in affected areas. If discoloration occurs, residents should run cold water until it clears before using it for laundry.
Crews are preparing for the Christmas parade and the new chairlift for the Masonic Lodge, which is currently being built. They installed a new jetter hose on the vacuum truck due to multiple damaged areas and serviced the auxiliary engine to help maintain the equipment’s reliability and performance. They replaced a defective streetlight across from Frary’s Lumber.
Crews cut and cored out roadway patches at 511 Locust Street and 605 Locust St., along with a section of Ferry St. where a water main break repair was completed; Stichter Construction will perform the blacktop repairs. Trees were trimmed along W. 2nd St. from Grove St. to Johnson Drive. The branches were interfering with equipment and creating clearance concerns for school buses. With assistance from the State Park and Public Works, trees were cut down and trimmed along the north side of E. 3rd St. from the old salt shed to Lyndon Rd. The remaining stumps were sprayed to help prevent potential regrowth.
Crews installed school banners on the Main Street light poles and painted the ADA ramp handrails, except for one business which will complete its own painting because it requested a different color than the one specified under the city’s maintenance agreement with IDOT.
Public Works hauled in five loads of road rock and one load of utility patch mix to replenish the department’s stockpile for upcoming maintenance and road repairs. They installed a new concrete top on a storm drain along Route 78 to replace a damaged one. They cleaned up overgrown weeds and unwanted volunteer trees behind City Hall to improve the property’s appearance and maintenance.
For sewer and storm drain maintenance, the Illinois Rural Water Association performed push-camera inspections on two locations to evaluate the condition and operation of underground infrastructure. The Tree Lane storm drain and pipe were inspected and found to be in working order. A separate section of sewer main identified root intrusion, so staff used the vacuum truck and root cutter to correct the issue.
Old Business
Mayor Inskeep reported that on Sept. 24, the city received certified mail from Hartig Drug referencing their lease initially signed in June 2006 and a notice of mutual termination for the city-owned property at 316-318 Washington St. The letter communicated that closing was a hard decision, but necessary due to the loss of pharmacists and tech staff. The company will vacate and surrender the premises on Oct. 31, leaving it clean, switching over utilities, and delivering keys and access to City Hall. Inskeep said there is possible interest in the building from a pharmacist but he’s waiting for a decision.
Attorney Zollinger noted that a revolving loan fund payment is due in November from a defunct business whose owners have already relocated to Colorado, and asked if the city should seek total repayment of the $5,000 loan.
Inskeep said the city loaned to the business hoping to help, and suggested working with Zollinger to simply write off the costs and provide a 1099-C form to the IRS for debt forgiveness. Zollinger said the city would probably spend more to collect the debt, even if the city wins a judgement. Schultz reported that the new business owner paid the past due water bill. The council agreed to file the IRS form and forgive the loan.
Mayor Inskeep also reported that recent tests for lead/copper lines at schools, daycares, and a sample of homes showed safe levels.
The next regular meeting of the Prophetstown City Council will be on Tuesday, November 10th at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
