Rock Island Today

City of East Moline City Council met July 7.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

PLEDGE:

Mayor Reggie Freeman led the City Council and all those present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

ROLL CALL

Mayor Freeman called the meeting to order and directed Acting City Clerk Katelyn Roberts to call the roll. The following Alderpersons were present: Olivia Dorothy, Jeffrey Deppe, Larry Jones, Rhea Oakes, Lynn Segura, and Jose Rico. Absent: Adam Guthrie.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Robyn Seals 4042 4th Ave A, East Moline – Ms. Seals had originally come in May 2025 and asked about tree removal from the property of 4131 4th Ave A, East Moline. Ms. Seals was here because of her mother who is 91 years old and lives on the property. Trees are leaning and have fungus, seeping and broken limbs. Ms. Seals is requesting someone to take care of the easement before the trees fall on her house or garage. If the limbs fall on her property, it will be catastrophic to her. She does not have the funds to fix the house, garage, or anything else. Ms. Seals feels this needs to be addressed. Ms. Seals would appreciate it if someone would investigate this issue.

Mayor Freeman stated that he would be contacting staff tomorrow and someone would be contacting her before the end of the week.

PRESENTATIONS and/or PROCLAMATIONS

None

CONSENT AGENDA:

Katelyn Roberts, Acting City Clerk, read the Consent Agenda that included the following:

a. Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes of June 16, 2025.

b. Approval of the Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes of June 16, 2025.

c. Approval of Salaries as of June 20, 2025, totaling $488,805.23.

d. Approval of Overtime as of June 20, 2025, totaling $16,726.29.

e. Approval of Salaries as of July 4, 2025, totaling $495,513.23.

f. Approval of Overtime as of July 4, 2025, totaling $17,242.62.

g. Approval of Bills as of July 7, 2025, totaling $2,193,785.60.

A motion was made by Alderperson Rico, seconded by Alderperson Oakes, to approve the Consent Agenda. Upon the roll call, the following voted in favor: Dorothy, Deppe, Jones, Oakes, Segura, and Rico. Motion carried.

ATTORNEY ROGER L. STRANDLUND - PRESENTED THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:

ORDINANCES – 2nd Reading

None

ORDINANCES – 1st Reading

25-10 Code Amendment to Correct Codification Numbering Error

RESOLUTIONS

25-53 Purchase of Flow Meters for Water Filtration Plant

A motion was made by Alderperson Rico, seconded by Alderperson Deppe, to approve Resolution 25-53. Upon the roll call, the following voted in favor: Dorothy, Deppe, Jones, Oakes, Segura, and Rico. Motion carried.

25-54 Purchase of Sodium Hypochlorite Storage Tanks for Water Filtration Plant

A motion was made by Alderperson Deppe, seconded by Alderperson Rico, to approve Resolution 25-54. Upon the roll call, the following voted in favor: Dorothy, Deppe, Jones, Oakes, Segura, and Rico. Motion carried.

25-55 Railroad License for Pedestrian Crossing (12th Avenue – Rust Belt Project)

A motion was made by Alderperson Segura, seconded by Alderperson Dorothy, to approve Resolution 25-55. Upon the roll call, the following voted in favor: Dorothy, Deppe, Jones, Oakes, Segura, and Rico. Motion carried.

CITY STAFF COMMUNICATIONS:

Each City Staff member present was given the opportunity to inform the City Council, and those in attendance, of events in their departments:

Mark Rothert, City Administrator – Mr. Rothert offered thanks to the City Staff that helped work and volunteer with the 4th of July events this past week. A lot of people attended.

Tim Kammler, Engineering Director – Mr. Kammler, regarding the W.D. Laud Invoice, will be sending an email to the City Council explaining the $28,131.79 bill. In the water bill everyone received last month, there was a qr code. That is a quick way to sign up for text messaging for emergency alerts, water main breaks, street closures, or inclement weather. On July 2, 2025, a pre-construction meeting regarding the Raise Project. A tentative start date has been scheduled for July 21, 2025.

Tim Wymes, Community Development Director – Mr. Wymes thanked everyone that volunteered during the 4th of July events.

Brianna Huber, Water Filtration Director – Ms. Huber informed the City Council that due to the excessive scaling being put on the pipes, the size of the pipe leading into the Clearwell has decreased significantly. It is a 24” pipe that is now about 10” on the interior. This is significantly restricting flow. For this reason, we need to replace the pipe on an emergency basis. CMT is already working on preliminary Clearwell design since they are creating our IEPA project plan for the new Clearwell. We intend to put the new pipe leading to the new Clearwell outside of the building. We can do this, putting a cap on the end that will eventually lead to the new Clearwell, and then teeting it back into the building to our current Clearwell as well. Therefore, fulfilling both needs with one new pipe. The expense will be covered by using the money budgeted for 2025 for the new Clearwell.

Alderperson Rico asked James Graham, Maintenance Director, about the holes in the building that holds the salt that is put on roads in the winter.

James Graham, Maintenance Director stated that Insurance came to exam the holes which occurred after the storm. Requesting bids at the present time.

Mayor Freeman attended the funeral of Officer Robert Butcher. Mayor Freeman requested a moment of silence for the service he provided to the City of East Moline.

Mayor Freeman thanked everyone for volunteering and helping during the holiday weekend.

ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by Alderperson Oakes, seconded by Alderperson Rico, to adjourn the City Council meeting. A voice vote was taken. Motion carried. 6:48 p.m.

https://www.eastmoline.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07212025-1121