Special Called Council Meeting

City of Watseka Special Called Meeting Tuesday, May 5th, 2026 Mayor Marcier called the meeting to order at 5:30pm. Present were Alderman Muench, Dewitt, Petersen, Miller, Pence and Alderwoman Rohlfs. Alderman Brault and Barragree were absent. Public Comment-None Discussion and Possible action 911 Dispatch Fees with Jamie Bakken from Iroquois County Board: Jamie Bakken introduced herself she is the Vice Chair and Chairman of the Finance Committee with the Iroquois County Board. Jamie passed out handouts to the council and Chief Starkey. Jamie gave some background from 2023; she was under the impression that there was a contract or an agreement however there was no paperwork ever signed from what she has been told for 2024, 2024, 2025. Jamie shared on the second page of the handout you can see how much the Joint Dispatch salaries were and this included overtime in 2025 it took $600,000 to run Joint Dispatch. Jamie then read off a few numbers to the council the city paid $126,315.00 in 2025, this amount was shy of $44,506.00 this had to be taken out of the Public Safety Fund in the past this is how it has been. The Public Safety tax in the past was not supposed to be used for salaries, in the past years the county budgeted for the Public Safety Tax, salaries have gone up so it cost more. Jamie brought with her a contract for $135,000.00 this contract will end Nov. 30th, she works on her final budget in September/October she would like to sit down with the council and see what can be done to level it out equally, so funds are not being pulled from the Public Safety Fund. Mayor Marcier shared that the county does their budget before the city does, let’s mirror the county’s portion and wait and see. Alderman Miller asked about how much the Public Safety Tax is Jamie shared these amounts in 2023 $559,709.00, 2024, $621,177.00, 2025 $534,171.00. Alderwoman Rohlfs asked what the Public Safety Tax is used for, Jamie shared deputies, equipment, squad cars, and training. Jamie shared that former 911/Sheriff used the Public Safety Tax to pay salaries. Alderman Miller asked is this county wide, but this is just for the county. Jamie said she read the statue, the statue how it reads will tell you. Mayor Marcier asked about the right side of the page it lists fire, ambulance, Riverside Jamie shared those are the contracts that are in place they are billed annually, so Mayor Marcier asked for those departments who are more active they are charged more, Jamie said yes. Alderman Miller asked about a Resolution for Gilman they do not pay, Jamie shared that they are not patrolling Gilman that legally they must respond. Jamie shared that the new contract is a 3-year contract with a 10% increase. Alderman Pence suggested we mock the county we pay $135,000.00 for the remainder of the year and try and straighten it out that this has been nothing but questions. $135,000.00 4 quarterly payments of $33,750.00. Jamie wants us all to work together, it’s important for us all to be on the same page, become partners and work together as in the past the waters have been mudded. Chief Starkey mentioned that some argue how it is written, Public Safety of Iroquois County some have different ideas of what that means. A Motion was made by Alderman Pence, seconded by Alderman Dewiitt to pay $135,000.00 with 4 quarterly payments of $33,750.00. Motion passed 7-0. Mayor Marcier will sign the contract that Jamie brought tonight, and they will get a check cut Jamie will provide the Mayor with a copy. A Motion was made by Rohlfs, seconded by Muench to adjourn at 5:53pm. Motion passed 7-0. Amanda Hibbs, City Clerk