Grundy Reporter

City of Highland City Council met Feb. 3.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Kevin Hemann called the Regular Session to order at 6:30pm. Council members Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper were present. Others in attendance were City Manager Conrad, City Attorney Kathryn Warren, Director Gillespie, Supervisor Pinsker, Patrol Officer Bogard, Coordinator Hubbard, Treasurer Nicolaides, Deputy City Clerks Hediger and Flake, City Clerk Bellm, and Council Candidate Garry Klaus, and 11 citizens.

MINUTES

Councilman Frey made a motion to approve the minutes of the January 21, 2025 Regular Session as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

PUBLIC FORUM

Citizens’ Requests and Comments:

2025 Highland Farmers’ Markets – Lucas Pinsker, Sports, Leisure & Facilities Manager, requested permission to start up the Farmers’ Market, again, this summer. This will be our third year. It will be on Tuesday nights. Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve the 2025 Highland Farmers’ Markets at the Highland Square as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Napper. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Rusty Rodz Car Club – Rusty Rodz Car Cruse – Russell Huelsmann, Representative, requested permission to use the streets around the downtown square for their car cruises the last Saturday of each month, May through October. Councilman Napper made a motion to approve the request of Rusty Rodz Car Club to hold their 2025 cruise-ins on the downtown square, the last Saturday of each month, for the months of May through October per the Special Events Application. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Jason Weis stated I have been helping the Highland Quarterback Club with the lighting project they have been working on getting done for the last six years. We appreciate the city’s assistance with getting the lighting through their sourcing. At $170,000, the city will be responsible for roughly forty percent of the cost. The Highland Quarterback Club and several business people have been working to raise funds for the balance of the cost, including donation of labor to the project. With me, here, tonight, is Gayle Frey, Aaron Gelly, and Tim Warnecke. I am helping with this project as a life-long Highland resident. As I have traveled around, I see how fortunate we are to have such a supportive community.

Tim Warnecke, Highland Quarterback Club, stated I am proud to serve as president and one of the coaches. I want to express my heartfelt appreciation of the community’s support of the program. Over the last four years, our club has seen tremendous growth, from zero to 150 cheerleaders, and from 150 to 250 players. Thanks to Jason Frey’s generosity, we have been able to acquire these lights at a considerable discount. With the lights, we will be able to allow the kids to take the field at night. It all makes for a more memorable experience for the kids and it allows us to expand our program. Studies show that kids that participate in sports are 15% more likely to graduate high school and engage in better life choices. Help us to inspire the kids to reach new heights. Mayor Hemann acknowledged this has been an extensive project. I was out there when there was not enough lights. Last year, there was not enough parking spaces; so, we provided the material and Aaron provided the equipment to get it done. We are not Edwardsville or O’Fallon; but, when we do it, we do it right.

Requests of Council:

Mayor Hemann expressed thanks to the staff for the awards party, this past weekend. It was a very nice and well-attended evening.

Staff Reports:

City Manager Chris Conrad stated there was no reports.

NEW BUSINESS

Bill #25-12/RESOLUTION Approving the Temporary Closure of IL Route 160, a State Highway in the City of Highland, IL from Walnut Street to Washington Street – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Bill #25-12/Resolution #25-02-3159 approving the temporary closure of IL Route 160, a state highway in the City of Highland, IL from Walnut Street to Washington Street as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Napper. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #25-13/RESOLUTION Approving the Temporary Closure of IL Route 160, a State Highway in the City of Highland, IL from Old Trenton Road to Cypress Street for Schweizerfest Parade – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #25-13/Resolution #25-02-3160 approving the temporary closure of IL Route 160, a state highway in the City of Highland, IL from Old Trenton Road to Cypress Street for Schweizerfest Parade as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #25-14/ORDINANCE Amending Chapter 6, of the Code of Ordinances, City of Highland, Alcoholic Liquor, to Increase the Number of “D1” Liquor License to Nine – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Bill #25-14/Ordinance #3378 amending Chapter 6, of the Code of Ordinances, City of Highland, Alcoholic Liquor, to increase the number of “D1” Liquor License to nine as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #25-15/RESOLUTION Issuing a “D1” Liquor License to Big O’s Sports Bar Highland Square LLC, Pursuant to Chapter 6, of the Code of Ordinances, City of Highland, Entitled Alcoholic Liquor – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #25-15/Resolution #25-02-3161 issuing a “D1” Liquor License to Big O’s Sports Bar Highland Square LLC, pursuant to Chapter 6, of the Code of Ordinances, City of Highland, entitled Alcoholic Liquor as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #25-16/RESOLUTION Appropriating Funds for Motor Fuel Tax Maintenance Materials (MFT Section 26-00000-00-GM) – Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to approve Bill #25-16/ Resolution #25-02-3162 appropriating funds for Motor Fuel Tax Maintenance Materials (MFT Section 26-00000-00-GM) as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #25-17/RESOLUTION Authorizing the Sole Source Purchase of Overhead Lighting For Hunsche Field at Glik Park From Cooper Lighting Solutions Under The Sourcewell Awarded Contract Program – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #25-17/Resolution #25-02-3163 authorizing the sole source purchase of overhead lighting for Hunsche Field at Glik Park from Cooper Lighting Solutions under the Sourcewell Awarded Contract Program, in the amount of $108,000.00 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Napper. Mayor Hemann asked City Manager Conrad to address the Sourcewell bid process. City Manager Conrad reported for anything over $25,000 we are required to go out for bid process. One exception to that is if you use a joint purchase contract. The state pre-negotiates pricing and provides access for government entities. Sourcewell is the largest through the Illinois Procurement Office. Pricing is extremely competitive. The highest verbal quote the Highland Quarterback Club received was almost twice this amount. It is perfectly legal for us to procure these. These will be our lights and equipment when done. Whomever uses them will pay for the electricity. The money is coming through IMEA grant funds. We have used IMEA grant funds on past projects, such as the changeover of the lights on Veterans Memorial Parkway to LED, streetlights, lighting on buildings, and the lights along Broadway. Some larger industries switched over their lights to LED and we were able to get money for those through this grant fund. At the end of the year, Dan Cook heard there was money left over; he reached out to IMEA and we were able to get obtain these funds. Mayor Hemann noted thus the importance of getting this done now. Councilman Frey inquired these are being put up on metal poles. Mr. Weis replied yes they will be on metal poles. Councilman Frey asked are these fairly maintenance free. City Manager Conrad assured Councilman Frey we will not have to do any maintenance to these within our lifetimes. Gayle Frey, pointed out that a huge thanks goes to Jason Frey, a former professional athlete and former Highland resident for the great discount on these. Councilman Napper expressed I think what is nice about this is that this becomes part of the city. City Manager Conrad joked that, with the material they are using, Gayle’s son will maybe need to do maintenance, but not us. Councilwoman Bellm pointed out what is important is to point out that it is IMEA grant money and not taxpayer money going into this. It is one of the benefits of being a part of IMEA. Jason Weis clarified these lights will not be installed by the end of April. The order has to be placed by then. We hope to have them installed by football season. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #25-18/RESOLUTION Approving and Authorizing an Agreement, Tender of Defense, Indemnity, and Hold Harmless with the Highland Quarterback Club for Installation of Overhead Lights at Hunsche Field in Glik Park – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Bill #25-18/Resolution #25-02-3164 approving and authorizing an agreement, tender of defense, indemnity, and hold harmless with the Highland Quarterback Club for installation of overhead lights at Hunsche Field in Glik Park as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Napper. City Manager Conrad noted this goes with the previous one. There are corporate donors that will be contributing to the cost of the purchase and assisting with the installation of the lighting. That is what this agreement is regarding. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

REPORTS

Accepting Expenditures Reports #1283 for Jan. 18, 2025 through Jan. 31, 2025 – Councilman Frey made a motion to accepting Expenditures Report #1283 for January 18, 2025 through January 31, 2025 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to adjourn. Motion seconded by Councilman Napper. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:00pm.

https://www.highlandil.gov/City%20Council/Minutes/2025/02-03-2025.pdf

https://www.highlandil.gov/City%20Council/Minutes/2025/02-03-2025.pdf