Grundy Reporter

City of Highland City Council met Oct. 6.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Kevin Hemann called the Regular Session to order at 6:30pm. Council members Klaus, Sloan, Bellm and Napper were present. Others in attendance were City Manager Conrad, City Attorney Kathryn Warren, Directors Cook, Gillespie, Heimburger, Hubbard, Koehnemann, and Widman, City Treasurer Nicolaides, and 8 citizens.

MINUTES

Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to approve the minutes of the September 15, 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:

Soup On The Square – Special Event Application – Jennifer Shafer requested approval of the special event application. Councilman Napper made a motion to approve Highland Community Closet’s Soup On The Square, November 7, 2025, 11am-4pm as per the special event application attached. Seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Bellm, and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Music Recital On The Square – Special Event Application – Angelina McLaughlin-Heil requested approval of the special event application. Councilwoman Bellm made motion to approve the Highland Arts Center’s request for use of the Square on Saturdays, October 11 and October 18, 2025 from 8am-2pm for Music Recitals On The Square as per the special events application attached. Seconded by Councilman Napper. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Bellm, and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Requests of Council:

No Requests

Staff Reports:

City Manager Conrad informed every one that there are several projects going on. The Glik Park parking lot is moving along nicely. Conrad believes it will be completed around October 15th. We are replacing ceiling tiles at the Weinheimer. This project should take 4 to 6 weeks to complete. 7th Street and 9th Street are completely milled and paving should start next week. We have started painting on the peripheral route. There will be crews out painting the turn lanes and everything along the peripheral route. Lastly, we will be starting to clean and scope the storm sewers.

NEW BUSINESS

Bill #25-98/ORDINANCE Amending Ordinance 3354 of the City of Highland, Illinois, Passed on October 21, 2024, Implementing a Municipal Grocery Retailers’ Occupation Tax and a Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Bill #25-98/ORDINANCE #3402 amending Ordinance 3354 of the City of Highland, Illinois, passed on October 21, 2024, Implementing a Municipal Grocery Retailers’ Occupation Tax and a Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax as attached. Seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. City Manager Conrad clarified to council that this was brought to the City’s attention while at the IML Conference that the Department of Revenue noted some language changes so that is why the ordinance was amended. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Bellm, and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #25-99/RESOLUTION Waiving Competitive Bidding Requirement and Authorizing a Construction Contract with Joiner Sheet Metal and Roofing and City of Highland – Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to approve Bill #25-99/RESOLUTION #25-10-3220 waiving competitive bidding requirement and authorizing a construction contract with Joiner Sheet Metal and Roofing and City of Highland, in the amount of $129,294.00 as attached. Seconded by Councilman Klaus. Councilman Napper asked why we authorized this without receiving bids. City Manager Conrad explained that this is the first time we used the TIPS-USA program for a construction project or a trades project. The vendor submits a bid to the TIPS-USA program and then TIPS-USA verifies that this is competitive bid. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Bellm, and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #25-100/RESOLUTION Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Professional Services Agreement with Volkert Inc. for Street and Sanitary Sewer Improvements – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Bill #25-100/RESOLUTION #25-10-3221 approving and authorizing the execution of a professional services agreement, in the amount of $69,500.00, with Volkert Inc. for street and sanitary sewer improvements as attached. Seconded by Councilman Napper. Mayor Hemann pointed out that we have used Volker in the past. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Bellm, and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #25-101/ORDINANCE Authorizing the Issuance of General Obligation Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source) of the City of Highland, Illinois to Finance Certain Street Projects – Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to approve Bill #25-101/ORDINANCE #3403 authorizing the issuance of General Obligation Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source) of the City of Highland, Illinois to finance certain street projects as attached. Seconded by Councilman Klaus. City Manager Conrad stated that these are bonds we authorized at the last meeting. This will allow us to shop all possible financial options. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Bellm, and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #25-102/ORDINANCE Approving and Authorizing Redevelopment Agreement with Sweet Stays, LLC for a Project in the Business District, and Other Actions Related Thereto – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Bill #25-102/ORDINANCE #3404 approving and authorizing redevelopment agreement with Sweet Stays, LLC for a project in the business district, and other actions related thereto as attached. Seconded by Councilman Napper. Mayor Hemann pointed out that the other day we had approval from the IDC Board. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Bellm, and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #25-103/RESOLUTION Approving Application and Awarding Certain Financial Incentives Under the City of Highland Façade Improvement Program to Denny Knebel for 2702 St. Rt. 160, Highland, Illinois – Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to approve Bill #25-103/RESOLUTION #25-10- 3222 approving application and awarding certain financial incentives under the City of Highland Façade Improvement Program to Denny Knebel for 2702 St. Rt. 160, Highland, Illinois as attached. Seconded by Councilman Klaus. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Bellm, and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #25-104/RESOLUTION Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Professional Services Agreement with Moran Economic Development for Reviewing and Updating the Zoning and Land Development Codes for the City of Highland, Illinois – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Bill #25-104/RESOLUTION #25-10-3223 approving and authorizing the execution of a professional services agreement with Moran Economic Development for reviewing and updating the zoning and land development codes for the City of Highland, Illinois as attached. Seconded by Councilman Napper. City Manager Conrad stated that this will be a several month process. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Bellm, and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #25-105/RESOLUTION Accepting Blue Cross Blue Shield for Medical Insurance, Delta Dental for Dental Insurance and VSP for Vision Insurance for 2026 – 2027 – Councilman Napper made a motion to approve Bill #25-105/RESOLUTION #25-10-3224 accepting Blue Cross Blue Shield for medical insurance, Delta Dental for dental insurance and VSP for vision insurance for 2026 – 2027 as attached. Seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Bellm, and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #25-106/ORDINANCE Authorizing the Acceptance of the Contract and By-Laws Document of the Intergovernmental Personnel Benefit Cooperative and Authorizing Membership in the IPBC by a Municipality – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Bill #25-106/ORDINANCE #3405 authorizing the acceptance of the contract and by-laws document of the intergovernmental personnel benefit cooperative and authorizing membership in the IPBC by a municipality as attached. Seconded by Councilman Napper. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Bellm, and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #25-107/ORDINANCE Declaring Personal Property of the City of Highland, Illinois, Surplus and Authorizing Its Sale and/or Disposal, Including a 2003 Ford F-150 – Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to approve Bill #25-107/ORDINANCE #3406 declaring personal property of the City of Highland, Illinois, surplus and authorizing its sale and/or disposal, including a 2003 Ford F-150 as attached. Seconded by Councilman Klaus. Mayor Hemann asked if the vehicle still runs. City Manager Conrad confirmed that it still runs. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Bellm, and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

REPORTS

Accepting Expenditures Report #1299 for September 13, 2025 through October 3, 2025 – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to accept Expenditures Report #1299 for September 13, 2025 through October 3, 2025 as attached. Seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Bellm, and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to temporarily adjourn this regular session to enter into executive session under the Illinois Open Meetings Act under the following exemption: 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of a specific employee and 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11) to discuss litigation. Seconded by Councilman Napper. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Bellm, and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried. Open Meeting temporarily adjourned at 6:55pm.

Mayor Hemann reconvened the Regular Session at 7:43pm. Council members Klaus, Sloan, Bellm and Napper were present. Others in attendance were City Attorney Warren, City Manager Conrad, Directors Heimburger and Widman.

Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to adjourn. Motion seconded by Councilman Napper. All aye, none nay. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:43pm.

https://www.highlandil.gov/City%20Council/Minutes/2025/10-06-2025.pdf?t=202510221001340