Swanson reported that the roof and west side have been completed at the warehouse going up on Grove Street at the new business park on the former Halpin property. Eric and Chelsie VanDyke purchased the lot for Envy Boutique, her Main Street business that features clothing, accessories, and more. The new building will be a place for photo shoots, live sales, and merchandise for online sales, with the downtown boutique remaining open.
Swanson also talked to one of the building contractors who’s interested in purchasing a lot for a 60×200 building for a business incubator and small storage space. He’ll set up a meeting once he returns from Florida so they can discuss the potential idea and what lot to purchase.
Swanson told the council that Roger Williams is still interested in lot #1 for storage buildings and eventually his sign business. Williams offered to pay $30,000 upfront for the lot with no water or sewer services provided by the city, but no sign business.
Alderman Ryan Inskeep said they want businesses that will benefit the Prophetstown tax base, and storage facilities don’t. The council didn’t accept the sale option, and countered that if they sell him the lot, he’d have to have the sign business completed within 18 months from closing on the property. Attorney Tim Zollinger would include in the contract consequences for non-compliance. Swanson will continue working with Williams.
Work has also started on a new solar farm at the Zoe Ann Rudy property on Spring Hill Road, just outside city limits. Two other solar farms are nearing completion past Todd’s Tires & Auto Repair on Lyndon Rd.
In other action items, the council agreed to move forward with a grocery tax ordinance that will go into effect when the 1% statewide tax expires January 1, 2026. The ordinance must be passed by June 1 to go into effect that day, otherwise there’d be a gap in the Department of Revenue payments. Zollinger has already drafted an ordinance, so the council will have an official vote at the March meeting.
The council next discussed setting an amount for water and garbage rate increases. Their consensus was a 5% raise for water, sewer, garbage, though they wanted to run the numbers again. Swanson said the raises are not about making money but to have money in the accounts for maintenance and repairs to pumps, water main breaks, generators, and such. Zollinger said he would prepare an ordinance for the March meeting, though the new water and sewer rates won’t go into effect until the new fiscal year on May 1st.
Swanson announced that City Clerk Connie Jensen is not running for reelection, and no one filed to be on the ballot for the position. Zollinger said the council will have to declare a vacancy at the May meeting before the mayor makes an appointment and the council approves the appointee for a 2-year term. If any resident has an interest in the position, they can reach out to staff at City Hall.
The council also looked at employee raises for 2025, with a further request for a wage comparison chart before making any decisions. Any increases will go into effect with the new fiscal year on May 1st. The council agreed to vote on employee raises at the March meeting.
The council will vote on the revised solar ordinance and an ordinance to annex Rock River Lumber & Grain Co., 6796 Bishop Rd., into the city limits at the March 11 meeting, with the Zoning Board to meet at 6 p.m. prior to the regular meeting.
In public comments, Mike Chastain updated the council on the Winning Wheels 2025 Summer Concert Series that will start on June 6th. Local musicians and bands are lined up for every Friday night in June, July, and August from 7-9 p.m. at Eclipse Square – see the full schedule below.
Consent Agenda
The meeting minutes, financial report, bills payable, and the following building permits were approved: New building – 705 Grove St.; foundation repair, egress windows – 407 E. 3rd St.; and deck and pergola at 110 E. 3rd St.
Reports of Department Heads
Public Works Director Brian Strike’s report included repairs to a couple water main breaks and a water service box. Crews jetted some sewer lines around town and pulled a pump with the bearings going out at the Locust St. station, which is now getting repaired at Hills Electric in Rock Falls.
In streets and alleys, crews put down sand and salt a couple times for winter weather this past month, and they hauled more in to build the stockpile in the new salt shed. They suctioned out the storm drains with a street sweeper attachment. Strike met with Whiteside County Highway Dept. to review which roads need chipped and sealed this year.
For equipment, new batteries and relay were installed in the red dump truck, the hydraulic hose on the IH dump truck plow was replaced, and a new block heater was installed on the Cat 918 loader. Public Works crews also replaced some of the lights throughout City Hall and painted the walls in the seating area.
Police Chief Jerrod Reynolds reported 66 calls for service during the month of January. He’s been attending multiple meetings regarding the public safety tax and the city paying a higher amount for dispatching fees if it doesn’t pass. Officer Montanez was enrolled in his SRO certification for June.
Reynolds and Chief Brian Hawk of Erie Police Department hosted an active shooter and medical training with Tampico, Morrison, and Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office deputies attending. Special thanks was given to the Erie School District for the hands-on training in the old elementary school. PPD was also able to take some remaining office furniture since the building will eventually be demolished.
Reynolds is still working through the new countywide central square system and says the program will cost around $5,200 annually. After speaking with representatives from Farmers National Bank, the department may receive a scanner so they can check ATMs and gas pumps to prevent fraud within city limits.
The next regular meeting of the Prophetstown City Council will be on Tuesday, March 11 at 7 p.m.
Photos taken last week of work on the new solar farm at the Zoe Ann Rudy property on Spring Hill Road, and the Envy Boutique building at the former Halpin property.
One Response
Great to see progress on the business park. The city will benefit greatly as time goes by.