City Council

TOWN OF CICERO TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2024 at 7:00 PM Call to Order: President Lutz called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Ms. Gary gave the prayer. Mr. Lutz called for roll call. Members of the Cicero Town Council were present or absent as follows: Present: Joseph Cox Absent: Eric Hayden Dennis Johnson Christopher Lutz Emily Pearson Declare a Quorum Present: President Lutz declared a quorum with four members present. Others Present: Rhonda Gary, Clerk Treasurer Jeff Rednour, Police Chief Lance Overholser, Fire Chief Frank Zawadzki, Cicero/Jackson Township Plan Commission Director Terry Cooper, Street & Utilities Director Jim Hunter, Parks Superintendent Aaron Culp, Town Attorney Keith Bryant, Town Engineer Bruce Freeman, Storm Water Management Board President Dan Strong, Project Coordinator Approval of Agenda: Mr. Cox made a motion to approve the agenda as amended. Mr. Johnson seconded, motion carried 4-0. Chief Overholser gave a brief presentation concerning the progress/status of live streaming/transmissions of public meetings. Approval of Prior Minutes: Town Council Meeting Minutes, December 3, 2024, 7:00 PM Mr. Cox made a motion to approve the minutes listed above. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 4-0. Approval of 12/17/2024 Claims: Mr. Cox made a motion to approve the claims dated 12/17/24. Mr. Johnson seconded, motion carried 4-0. Council Committee Reports: 1. OTC Report – Ms. Pearson had no report. 2. EDC Report – Mr. Cox had no update. 3. SWU Management Board Report – SWU President Freeman had nothing to present. 1 Legal Counsel Report – Mr. Culp stated that he has presented the recoupment fee ordinance for council consideration and asked for approval this evening. After a brief discussion, Mr. Johnson made a motion to approve Recoupment Fee Ordinance 12-17-2024-02. Mr. Cox seconded, motion carried 4-0. Cicero/Jackson Township Plan Commission – Mr. Zawadzki had nothing to report. Town Engineer Report – 1. Tamarack – Mr. Bryant stated that there has been no change in Section 4 completion as he has spoken with Mr. Howard and there is another list of items to complete. Mr. Bryant will reinspect when weather allows. 2. Water – Mr. Bryant said that he has nothing new to report. 3. Wastewater – Mr. Bryant reported that construction of the oxidation ditch and piping continues with Reynolds. Reynolds Construction will not be working the last two weeks of December. 4. Jackson Street CCMG – Mr. Bryant relayed that he is waiting to hear back from Midwest Paving concerning the preconstruction meeting. He hopes to be on their calendar sometime in January. 5. 2025 CCMG – Mr. Bryant reviewed the estimates that he emailed concerning Catherine Street and Morse Landing Drive extending to Lions Wood Drive. After discussion, council consensus was to move forward with both projects and move forward with the application in January. Mr. Strong and Ms. Gary will put that together. Old Business: a. Community Crossings Matching Grant (CCMG) 2025 Funds – Ms. Gary stated that there are funds available for the 2025 CCMG. b. Dock Fees – Mr. Johnson, after brief comments, made a motion to rescind the part of the motion made during the 111924 Town Council Meeting. That part stated that the Cicero Parks Board would have a recommendation for the 2026 dock fees to the council no later than June 2025. The rest of the motion would stay as stated. Mr. Cox seconded, motion carried 4-0. New Business: a. Employee Handbook Amendment – Mr. Johnson made a motion to approve the amendment to the employee handbook. Mr. Cox seconded, motion carried 4-0. b. Transfer Resolution 12-17-2024-01 – Mr. Cox made a motion to approve Resolution 12- 17-2024-01. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 4-0. c. Plan Commission Appointment – Council President Appointment – President Lutz deferred this appointment until the next council meeting as there will be a new president. d. Water Tampering Ordinance 12-17-2024-03 – After discussion concerning the water tampering ordinance, Mr. Cox made a motion to approve Ordinance 12-17-2024-03. Mr. Johnson seconded, motion carried 4-0. e. Reduced Tax Rate Bonding – President Lutz’ presentation touched on what impacts tax rates, how they are divided between entities and the town’s options to increase Cicero’s tax rate to name a few. President Lutz also presented information concerning how financially conservative the town has been over the last few years. President Lutz 2  encouraged the council to consider bonding and how Cicero would benefit from it. President Lutz asked Ms. Gary to continue to explore additional options. Miscellaneous: There was nothing. Comments by Citizens: Cicero resident, Mr. Hahn, inquired about spending. It was unclear to President Lutz what Mr. Hahn was asking. Discussion ensued. Questions were addressed by President Lutz and Mr. Culp. President Lutz stated that we can discuss further once it becomes public record and should not be discussed further this evening. Motion to Adjourn: Mr. Cox made the motion. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 4-0. Signatures on Official Documents! Signatures of Cicero Town Council AYE NAY Christopher J Lutz Joseph R Cox Eric C Hayden Dennis D Johnson Emily K Pearson Attested: Rhonda Gary, Clerk Treasurer The Next Cicero Town Council Meeting will be on December 30, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Cicero Town Hall. 3