Quincy Reporter

City of Quincy City Council met Feb. 24.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The regular meeting of the City Council was held this day at 7:00 p.m. with Mayor Michael A. Troup presiding. The following members were physically present: Ald. Fletcher, Entrup, Bergman, Bauer, Hultz, Mays, Farha, Sassen, Rein, Ebbing, Reis, Reed, Uzelac, Holtschlag. 14.

The minutes of the regular meeting of the City Council held February 18, 2025, were approved on a motion of Ald. Entrup. Motion carried.

Legal Counsel: Corporation Counsel Lonnie Dunn.

QUINCY FIRE DEPARTMENT SWEARING IN

Andrew Stegeman, Kyle Vandermaiden

Fire & Police Commissioner Barry Cheyne introduced Andrew Stegeman and Kyle Vandermaiden. Fire Chief Bernie Vahlkamp swore in Andrew Stegeman and Kyle Vandermaiden as Quincy Firefighters.

QUINCY FIRE DEPARTMENT RETIREMENT RECOGNITION

Fire Chief Bernie Vahlkamp - 27 Years

Deputy Chief Steve Salrin presented retiring Fire Chief Bernie Vahlkamp a challenge coin and a recognition certificate from the Illinois Fire Chief Association. Fire & Police Commissioner Barry Cheyne presented retiring Fire Chief Bernie Vahlkamp a plaque for his service. Mayor Mike Troup presented retiring Fire Chief Bernie Vahlkamp a gift recognizing his 27 years of service.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Steve Homan stated that when the City hires employees there needs to be more research done and to stop wasting mon ey.

Wills Nixon stated that there needs to be less waste, less burden on the tax payer and more accountability.

PETITIONS

By South Side Boat Club requesting permission to conduct a raffle and have the bond requirement waived from February 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026. The City Clerk recommends approval of the permit.

Ald. Holtschlag moved the prayer of the petition be granted. Motion carried.

Special Event Application from Scott Moore of the Early Childhood and Family Center, 401 South 8th Street, request ing permission to hold its annual student parade in recognition of the “Week of the Young Child” at 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Monday, April 7, 2025. He requests the closure of 8th Street, Kentucky to State Streets; 9th Street, Kentucky to State Streets; Kentucky Street, 8th to 9th Streets and State Street, 8th to 9th Streets for approximately twenty-five (25) minutes for each parade and the City provide barricades and assist with closing the intersections. The applicant has submitted all required documentation and approval is recommended by the Department of Utilities & Engineering. Ald. Uzelac moved the prayer of the petition be granted and the proper authorities notified. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the City of Quincy still utilizes an employee handbook from 2020; and,

WHEREAS, the HR Director has discussed with the Personnel Committee changing the vacation policy for non-union employees, and,

WHEREAS, the current vacation policy requires new employees to receive two (2) weeks of vacation but must work one (1) year before taking any vacation and must also remain employed eight (8) years before receiving an increase to three (3) weeks’ vacation, and,

WHEREAS, to align with other businesses in town, the HR Director is requesting the Vacation Policy be updated prior to the Employee Handbook being updated to allow employees to accrue two (2) weeks’ vacation beginning with the first date of hire but wait 90 days to use any accrual an receive three (3) weeks’ vacation after working five (5 years for the City. In addition, employees will be able to earn 5 weeks of vacation after 25 years of service versus the current 30 years; and

WHEREAS, the following schedule be updated to reflect the change; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the HR Director and the Personnel Committee recommend Council ap proval of a new Vacation Policy as stated above to be updated effective January 1. 2025.

Ald. Reed moved for the adoption of the resolution, seconded by Ald. Uzelac, and on the roll call each of the 14 Aldermen voted yea. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION

Public Works Director and Utilities Committee recommending approval of the bid in the amount of $4,038,430.00 from Wiemelt Plumbing and Excavating, Inc. of Quincy, IL. for the 2025 Lead Service Line Replacement Project replacing up to three hundred forty (340) lead water service lines between Cherry and Locust Streets, 2nd to 5th Streets.

Ald. Bayer moved to table the resolution for one week, seconded by Ald. Sassen. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION

Ald. Sassen moved for the adoption of the resolution, seconded by Ald. Holtschlag, and on the roll call each of the 14 Al dermen voted yea. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, on October 28, 2024, the Quincy City Council approved a resolution awarding a contract for the 2024 Al ley and Capital Improvements Project to Diamond Construction Company of Quincy at the bid price of $1,579,136.00, and allowing an additional ten (10) percent contingency in the event that project changes or modifications were required; and,

WHEREAS, following the award of the contract, additional improvements have been added to the project’s scope of work by the Engineering Department and members of the City Council; and,

WHEREAS, the total cost of the additional improvements exceeds the additional ten (10%) percent contingency allow ance that was approved on October 28, 2024; and,

WHEREAS, the Department of Utilities and Engineering requests approval for additional spending in the amount of $188,896.00 for all costs associated with the additional project improvements; and,

WHEREAS, funding for the project change order is available in the 2024/2025 Capital Fund fiscal year budget. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Director of Public Works, Engineering Manager, and Central Ser vices Committee recommend to the Mayor and Quincy City Council that the change order requiring $188,896.00 in addi tional spending for the 2024 Alley and Capital Improvements Project be approved.

Steve Bange, P.E.

Engineering Manager

Ald. Sassen moved for the adoption of the resolution, seconded by Ald. Holtschlag, and on the roll call each of the 14 Aldermen voted yea. Motion carried.

ORDINANCE

Adoption of an Ordinance entitled: An Ordinance Implementing A Municipal Grocery Retailers’ Occupation Tax and a Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax For The City of Quincy.

Ald. Entrup moved for the adoption of the ordinance, seconded by Ald. Uzelac.

Ald. Sassen moved to table for two weeks, seconded by Ald. Rein. Motion carried.

ORDINANCE

Adoption of an Ordinance entitled: An Ordinance Amending The District Map Which Is Made A Part Of Section 162.002 Of The Municipal Code Of The City Of Quincy Of 2015. (504 North 54th Street, change the present RU1 (rural/ agricultural) to C2 (general commercial).)

Ald. Mays moved for the adoption of the ordinance, seconded by Ald. Hultz, and on a roll call each of the 14 Aldermen voted yea.

The Chair, Mayor Michael A. Troup, declared the motion carried and the ordinance adopted.

REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE

Mike Rein

Jack Holtschlag

Anthony E. Sassen

Eric Entrup

Richie C. Reis

Finance Committee

Ald. Rein, seconded by Ald. Sassen, moved the report be received and vouchers be issued for the various amounts and on the roll call each of the 14 Aldermen voted yea. Motion carried.

NEW BUSINESS

Ald. Bauer moved to close the street at 17th and Oak starting at the alley to the corner of 17th and Elm from 8:20 a.m. thru 12:30 p.m. for the St. Francis School picnic on May 21st, 2025, with barricades. Motion carried. Ald. Rein stated that Harrison Street, east of 24th Street, will be closed starting March 10th for several months. Ald. Reis want to see the cold patch truck out filling potholes.

Ald. Holtschlag referred to the Traffic Commission a light pole between 4th and 5th Maiden Lane, south side, mid block. Motion carried.

Ald. Holtschlag moved to allow two parking spaces in front of 644 Maine to be closed for re-tuckpointing starting March 1st for three weeks. Motion carried.

The City Council adjourned at 7:56 p.m. on a motion of Ald. Holtschlag. Motion carried.

https://www.quincyil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/8210/638786000165670000