Grundy Reporter

City of Highland City Council met July 21.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

City Clerk Barbara Bellm called the Regular Session to order at 6:30pm. Mayor Hemann was absent. Council members Klaus, Sloan, Bellm and Napper were present. Others in attendance were City Manager Conrad, City Attorney Michael McGinley, Directors Gillespie, Hubbard, Koehnemann, Ohren, Widman, and Wilken, Fire Chief Straub, Treasurer Nicolaides, Deputy City Clerk Flake, City Clerk Bellm, and 7 citizens.

ELECTION OF MAYOR PRO TEM

City Clerk Bellm asked for a motion to elect one councilperson to serve as mayor pro tem during the temporary absence of Mayor Hemann. The mayor pro tem shall perform the duties and possess all the rights and powers of the mayor and shall vote in his/her capacity as councilperson only. Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to elect Councilwoman Peg Bellm as Mayor Pro Tem. Motion seconded by Councilman Klaus. All aye, none nay. Motion carried.

MINUTES

Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to approve the minutes of the July 7, 2025 Regular Session as attached; seconded by Councilman Klaus. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Bellm, and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

PUBLIC FORUM

Citizens’ Requests and Comments:

Mayor Pro Tem Peg Bellm recognized Taylor Kesner who won the weight throw at the 2025 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. Taylor, a 2021 graduate of Highland High School, took first place out of a competitive field of 16 female athletes, all of whom are among the best weight throwers in the country. The National Championship took place at the Virginia Beach Sports Center in Virginia Beach, VA, where Taylor now holds the facility record for the women’s weight throw. Taylor also collected first-team All-American honors in the process. Her coaches at Highland High School were Tina Beyer and Doug Bradley. Councilwoman Bellm asked Taylor to explain what it is that she does. Taylor Kesner explained the weight is a twenty-pound ball on a string, which is thrown at distance using a spin and release technique. I started at Illinois State and transferred to Wisconsin my junior year. This is my fourth year; I have another year yet. I feel like every coach and team member has made me what I am to achieve this. YouTube Video: Taylor Kesner - DI Indoor Track & Field Women's Weight Throw National Champion 2025 was viewed. The IDOT recognition sign that will be put up was presented to Taylor.

John Kapp expressed thanks to the city staff for a good job with getting the power back on this weekend. The power in his area of town went out when a tree came down on the line. HCS came and fixed my TV cable today. What a concert we had at the Weinheimer on Friday night! It was moved inside due to the heat. It was so great to have it there. And, the pie auction did it again this year. A new record for the auction of $22,000. Mr. Kapp encouraged everyone to enjoy Madison County Fair this week. It is going to be hot!

Requests of Council:

Councilwoman Sloan echoed what Mr. Kapp mentioned. A thank you to our fire department and electric department for getting the tree off the line and restoring the electric. It happed right in front of my house, so I was able to watch it until 4am. Everyone worked hard together to get the power back on.

Staff Reports:

City Manager Conrad gave a follow-up report from the last meeting. The police department is doing extra patrols in the Lakeland Terrace area. We are doing traffic studies in that area as well and will be for a while.

NEW BUSINESS

Approve Mayor’s Appointment of Mark Olson and Reappointment of Jill Lawson to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission – Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to approve the mayor’s appointment of Mark Olson and reappointment of Jill Lawson to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission, both for three-year terms to expire July 31, 2028 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Klaus. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Bellm, and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Award Bid MFT Section 26-00000-00-GM, for the 2025 Motor Fuel Tax Maintenance Materials – Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to award Bid MFT Section 26-00000-00-GM, for the 2025 Motor Fuel Tax Maintenance Materials as follows: CA-6 Aggregate, to Beelman Logistics, LLC., in the amount of $13,080.00; CA-7 Aggregate, to Beelman Logistics, LLC., in the amount of $7,632.00; Grit (CM-13 Slag), Beelman Logistics, LLC, $502.50; Seal Coat Furnished & Delivered, to Beelman Logistics, LLC, $71,872.50; MC-800 Prime, Furnished & Applied, Evergreen Roadworks, LLC, $47,088.00; and, CRS-2 – Emulsion, Furnished & Applied, Seal Coat Aggregate Hauled and Spread awarded to Piasa Road Oil, LLC, $141,277.50 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Klaus. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Bellm, and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #25-86/RESOLUTION Adopting the 2025 Updated Madison County Multi-Jurisdiction All Hazards Mitigation Plan – Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to approve Bill #25-86/Resolution #25- 07-3211 adopting the 2025 Updated Madison County Multi-Jurisdiction All Hazards Mitigation Plan as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Klaus. Councilwoman Bellm asked what this is about. City Manager Conrad explained this is something the county does every ten years. It is a countywide plan of planning for the worst of the worst to happen. Chief Straub was our point of contact for collecting all of Highland’s information. This opens us up to apply for grants from FEMA and other areas. In the past, we have gotten funding for such things as the generator for the Weinheimer Center to have it designated as a cooling center and emergency gathering center. This is the third or fourth version of it. Think of it as an Emergency Management Comprehensive Plan. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Bellm, and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #25-87/RESOLUTION Waiving Competitive Bidding Requirement and Approving And Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement with EJ Equipment, Inc. for the Purchase of a 2026 Vac-Con 310/1000 Combination Sewer Cleaner Truck Under the Sourcewell Purchasing Program – Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to approve Bill #25-87/Resolution #25-07-3212 waiving competitive bidding requirement and approving and authorizing the execution of an agreement with EJ Equipment, Inc. for the purchase of a 2026 Vac-Con 310/1000 Combination Sewer Cleaner Truck under the Sourcewell Purchasing Program, in the amount of $601,994.25 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Klaus. City Manager Conrad pointed out this is a budgeted item. We have been setting money aside for it for several years. It is a very important piece of equipment. Used for hydro excavating in small areas, in addition to sewer main cleaning. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Bellm, and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

REPORTS

Accepting Expenditures Report #1294 for July 5, 2025 through July 18, 2025 – Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to accept Expenditures Report #1294 for July 5, 2025 through July 18, 2025 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Klaus. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Bellm, and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to adjourn. Motion seconded by Councilman Klaus. All aye, none nay. Motion Carried. Meeting adjourned at 6:55pm

https://www.highlandil.gov/City%20Council/Minutes/2025/7-21-2025.pdf