Council Meeting

Watseka City Council Tuesday, June 23rd. 2026 The meeting was called to order at 6:30pm by Mayor Marcier present were Alderman Brault, Muench, Barragree, Miller, Petersen, Dewitt, & Alderwoman Rohlfs. Absent Alderman Pence Public Comment-None Public Hearing on an Ordinance Providing for a Budget and Appropriation for General Corporate and other Purposes for the Fiscal Year Beginning May 1, 2026, and Ending April 30th, 2027, for the City of Watseka, Iroquois County. City Attorney Cainkar opened the Public Hearing it was posted in the newspaper and on file for the time it should have been there are no questions Public Hearing was closed. A Motion was made by Brault, seconded by Rohlfs to Approve City Council Regular Meeting Minutes from May 26th, 2026. Motion passed 7-0. Ordinances, Resolutions, Agreements & Proclamations • Ordinance #2793- An Ordinance Providing for a Budget and Appropriation for General Corporate and Other Purposes for the Fiscal Year Beginning May 1, 2026, and Ending April 30, 2027, for the City of Watseka, Iroquois County Illinois • Ordinance #2794-Amending Title 10, Water and Sewer Chapter 4, Combined Waterworks and Sewerage System Rates and Charges, By Changing Section 10-4-2, Water and Sewer Rated for Commercial Users and Section 10-4-3, Water and Sewer Rates for Residential Users, of the Watseka City Code Consent Agenda • Ordinance #2793— An Ordinance Providing for a Budget and Appropriation for General Corporate and Other Purposes for the Fiscal Year Beginning May 1, 2026, and Ending April 30, 2027, for the City of Watseka, Iroquois County Illinois • Ordinance #2794-Amending Title 10, Water and Sewer Chapter 4, Combined Waterworks and Sewerage System Rates and Charges, By Changing Section 10-4-2, Water and Sewer Rated for Commercial Users and Section 10-4-3, Water and Sewer Rates for Residential Users, of the Watseka City Code. A Motion was made by Barragree, seconded by Rohlfs Ordinance #2793— An Ordinance Providing for a Budget and Appropriation for General Corporate and Other Purposes for the Fiscal Year Beginning May 1, 2026, and Ending April 30, 2027, for the City of Watseka, Iroquois County Illinois. Motion passed 7-0. A Motion was made by Miller, seconded by Muench with no change in the water rates, typo corrections will be made Ordinance #2794-Amending Title 10, Water and Sewer Chapter 4, Combined Waterworks and Sewerage System Rates and Charges, By Changing Section 10- 4-2, Water and Sewer Rated for Commercial Users and Section 10-4-3, Water and Sewer Rates for Residential Users, of the Watseka City Code. Motion passed 7-0. Standing Committee Reports • Finance, Legal and Audit A Motion was made by Miller, seconded by Rohlfs Claims in the amount of $243,573.95. Motion passed 7-0. A Motion was made by Rohlfs, seconded by Miller Accept and place on the file the May Treasurers report. Motion passed 7-0. A Motion was made by Rohlfs, seconded by Miller Replace Locks at the Depot -Brady Marshino for $1870. Motion passed 7-0. A Motion was made by Rohlfs, seconded by Miller Cleaning Depot-1 time Deep Clean for $165. Motion passed 7-0. A Motion was made by Rohlfs, seconded by Miller Cleaning Depot once a month for $50 monthly. Motion passed 7-0. A Motion was made by Barragree, seconded by Rohlfs Advanced Computer replace 6 computers $7494 pay from 1-40-6900. Motion passed 7-0. Public Works/Water Wastewater A Motion was made by Rohlfs, seconded by Miller Ron Hepworth payrate increase of $2/hour due to getting his CDL effective 6/16/26. Motion passed 7-0. Public Safety A Motion was made by Dewitt, seconded by Rohlfs Pay Increase for FR5 to $25/ hour retro to 5/1/2026. Motion passed 6-1 with Alderman Brault abstaining. A Motion was made by Rohlfs, seconded by Muench Pay Increase for Deputy Fire Chief to $27/ hour retro to 5/1/2026. Motion passed 6-1 with Alderman Brault abstaining. Code Enforcement –None Miscellaneous Business Mayor Marcier shared the digital signs are coming together they will be done this week and shared that this is no cost to the city, the city is paying nothing Community Digital Displays is taking care of everything. Mayor also shared that the tree dump has plenty of wood and mulch available for free to anyone you do not need to be a city resident. Alderwoman Rohlfs shared the Farmers Market is doing well, they had a musician who did a nice job and a 9-year-old boy will sing the National Anthem at the July 4th market. Mayor Marcier shared they will be doing the electronic recycling event again this year on September 12th at 9am he still needs to talk to Riverside to make sure using their parking lot is ok again this year. Alderman Barragree shared the new digital signs look good and if you’re on social media to read the whole post or stay off social media. Alderman Brault shared that he had a citizen drop off paperwork at his house regarding Grant Street that this is city property, the map shows it’s the cities, IDOT says it’s the cities, but that section is in Iroquois County road repairs need done Alderman Brault asked it’s in the middle of the city who owns it, no one seems to know who owns it, the City Attorney will email Loren the IDOT website and Loren will follow up on this. Keith with Robinson shared they had the final walk through with IPC on Oak Street MFT this should get closed out, and they fixed a manhole on Cherry Street, Belmont they have the final walk through to finalize the project, MFT funds are limited so they will continue to make annual road repairs as they can. Alderman Petersen asked about the council meeting the 2nd and 3rd Tuesdays we meet and revote on things do we need to vote in committee and then revote at the full council meeting. City Attorney Cainkar shared this is how most municipalities do it, but if an item does not have support in committee, it probably should not make it to the full council agenda. Alderman Petersen then asked about $ amount that the mayor can spend, like up to a certain amount so smaller purchases are not coming through the council that the mayor could just approve those, Alderman Barragree shared if the bidding process is done the mayor could select the lowest bid. A Motion was made by Brault, seconded by Rohlfs to adjourn at 7:00pm. Motion passed 7- 0. Amanda Hibbs, City Clerk