City of Litchfield City Council met Feb. 5.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
Mayor Fleming called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Present on roll call were, Alderperson Sisson, Alderperson Sara Zumwalt, Alderperson Dwayne Gerl, Alderperson Robin Huffman, Alderperson Josh Hughes, Alderperson Bob Garcia, Alderperson Holloway, and Alderperson Ray Kellenberger. The mayor declared that a quorum was present.
Others Present: Breann Vazquez, City Administrator, Vickie Throne, City Clerk, Michael McGinley, City Attorney
Absent: None
Recognition of Visitors and Special Guest: Scott Hogue auxiliary officer.
Mayor Fleming thanked Scott Hogue for his 25 years of service as an auxiliary officer to the City of Litchfield and presented him with an award for his years of service. Mayor Fleming reported that Mr. Hogue is the only auxiliary office that is still actively participating in this program.
City Report:
None
Public Participation
Mayor Fleming reported that we have one speaker signed up for the public participation this evening. John Hanafin spoke regarding his concerns regarding not being able to find the definition of “industry” regarding water and sewer rates. He also asked what the difference was between billing to his home rates and his rates he is charged as industry for his business. Mayor Fleming reminded the council and public that we are currently having a water rate study in the works.
Appointments:
None
Other Business:
Alderperson Gerl made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Kellenberger, to approve minutes from the regular meeting held on January 22, 2026.
Mayor Fleming directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Gerl, Holloway, Zumwalt, Hughes, Garcia, Huffman, Kellenberger, Sisson
Nay: None. Absent: None Abstain: None.
Motion carried.
Alderperson Huffman made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Gerl to approve the expenditure report and payroll report for the current period.
Mayor Fleming directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Garcia, Sisson, Gerl, Zumwalt, Huffman, Kellenberger, Holloway, Hughes
Nay: None.
Absent: None.
Abstain: None
Motion carried.
Old Business:
None
New Business:
Lake
Alderperson Huffman made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Holloway, to approve an ordinance establishing requirements for hunting registration on City of Litchfield property, providing for the regulation hunting activities, registration procedures, and compliance with applicable local, state, and federal laws.
Discussion: Mayor Fleming reported that there was a public meeting held with all hunters a couple of weeks ago and the meeting went well. Alderperson Huffman and Alderperson Holloway both were in attendance and the meeting was led by the Lake Superintendent. There was discussion regarding having two stands that could be put up and left in the timber for the season. City Administrator Breann Vazquez reminded the council that this was postponed from a previous meeting, so this is the original proposal that is on the floor. Breann does agree that it should be amended to address the hunting stand issue. Heather reported that all hunters will receive a copy of the rules when they pick up their registration cards. The rules will note that they are allowed two stands. Also, there will be no confidential information on the registration card that will be displayed in the vehicle window while hunting on city property.
Breann read the amended motion as follows: The motion is to amend the ordinance to change the stand policy to all stands and blinds must be labeled with the name and phone number of said owner or hunter. Each registered hunter will receive two deer stand tags but will allow the hunter to leave those two stands out all year. Additional deer stands or blinds can be put out on the City of Litchfield property starting August 1st, and must be removed by February 1st, or they will be subject to removal seizure by lake department. The amendment will also include the addition of a guest registration policy.
Alderperson Holloway made the motion, seconded by Alderperson Huffman to amend the original motion with the added verbiage stated above by City Administrator Breann Vazquez.
Mayor Fleming directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Kellenberger, Huffman, Holloway, Gerl, Sisson, Hughes, Garcia, Holloway
Nay: Zumwalt.
Absent: None. Abstain: None.
Motion carried.
Alderperson Huffman made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Holloway, to approve the original ordinance as amended establishing requirements for hunting registration on City of Litchfield property, providing for the regulation hunting activities, registration procedures, and compliance with applicable local, state, and federal laws.
Mayor Fleming directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Huffman, Kellenberger, Holloway, Hughes, Garcia, Sisson, Gerl
Nay: Zumwalt.
Absent: None. Abstain: None.
Motion carried.
Water
Alderperson Garcia made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Kellenberger, to accept a bid from Henson & Robinson Company for the replacement of the first floor HVAC unit at the water treatment plant for an amount not to exceed $14,614.00.
Discussion: None.
Mayor Fleming directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Huffman, Kellenberger, Holloway, Hughes, Garcia, Sisson, Gerl
Nay: None.
Absent: None.
Abstain: Zumwalt.
Motion carried.
Wastewater
Alderperson Garcia made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Sisson, to approve emergency work completed in relation to the wastewater facility influent building flood.
Discussion: None.
Mayor Fleming directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Holloway, Hughes, Garcia, Sisson, Gerl, Zumwalt, Huffman, Kellenberger
Nay: None.
Absent: None.
Abstain: None.
Motion carried.
Street
Alderperson Gerl made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Zumwalt, to approve a resolution authorizing a change order to the IDOT waterline extension for deduction of $4,833.85 and an extension to the contract.
Discussion: None.
Mayor Fleming directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Kellenberger, Holloway, Hughes, Garcia, Sisson, Gerl, Zumwalt, Huffman
Nay: None.
Absent: None. Abstain: None.
Motion carried.
Alderperson Gerl made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Garcia to approve a resolution approving a change order requested by Haier Plumbing for installation of a water main at Jackson & Columbia Streets for an amount not to exceed $17,485.82.
Discussion: None.
Mayor Fleming directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Holloway, Hughes, Garcia, Sisson, Gerl, Zumwalt, Huffman, Kellenberger
Nay: None.
Absent: None.
Abstain: None.
Motion carried.
Fire
Alderperson Sisson made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Holloway to approve a resolution waiving competitive bidding requirements and authorizing the emergency repair of Squad 810 by Mid-State Fire Repair.
Discussion: None.
Mayor Fleming directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Hughes, Garcia, Sisson, Gerl, Zumwalt, Huffman, Kellenberger, Holloway
Nay: None.
Absent: None.
Abstain: None.
Motion carried.
Alderperson Sisson made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Huffman to approve an ordinance approving and authorizing the rental agreement with Mid-State Fire Repair for the rental of an engine.
Discussion: None.
Mayor Fleming directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Garcia, Sisson, Gerl, Zumwalt, Huffman, Kellenberger, Holloway, Hughes
Nay: None.
Absent: None.
Abstain: None.
Motion carried.
Economic Development
Alderperson Kellenberger made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Sisson to approve a resolution approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute a façade improvement grant agreement with the Kimberlee Davidson Revocable Living Trust for 314 N. Monroe, PIN #10-33-385-014 and other actions related thereto.
Discussion: None.
Mayor Fleming directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Sisson, Gerl, Zumwalt, Huffman, Kellenberger, Holloway, Hughes, Garcia
Nay: None.
Absent: None.
Abstain: None,
Motion carried.
Tourism
Alderperson Hughes made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Kellenberger to approve marketing funds for the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center.
Discussion: City Administrator Breann Vazquez reported that Litchfield has had an agreement for several years with the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center. That agreement expired last year, so we did a motion to approve $10,000.00 for their marketing funds and their marketing materials which have the City of Litchfield Tourism Logo. Breann reported that instead of entering a long-term agreement we would evaluate their marketing needs each year and as long as their request stays consistent each year, we would have a motion to approve their marketing funds.
Mayor Fleming directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Gerl, Zumwalt, Huffman, Kellenberger, Holloway, Hughes, Garcia, Sisson
Nay: None.
Absent: None.
Abstain: None.
Motion carried.
Executive Session
A Motion to Enter into Executive Session, as allowed under the Illinois Open Meetings Act, as found in Chapter 5 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes, Section 120, to address these certain and restricted items:
1. “Discussion of minutes of meeting lawfully closed under this Act, whether for purposes of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated by Section 2.06.” (5ILCS 120/2(2)(C)(21)
2. “The setting of a price for sale or lease of property owned by the public body.” (51LCS 120/2(2)(6)
3. “The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of the public body … ” (SILCS 120/2(2)(C)(I)
Alderperson Zumwalt made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Hughes to enter executive session at 6:55 p.m.
Mayor Fleming directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Gerl, Zumwalt, Kellenberger, Sisson, Hughes, Garcia, Holloway, Huffman
Nay: None.
Absent: None.
Abstain: None.
Motion carried.
Regular Session resumed at 8:33 p.m.
New Business
Alderperson Zumwalt made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Hughes to amend the Executive Session Minutes from the January 6, 2026, meeting.
Mayor Fleming directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Zumwalt, Huffman, Kellenberger, Gerl, Garcia, Sission, Holloway, Hughes
Nay: None.
Absent: None.
Abstain: None.
Motion carried.
Alderperson Zumwalt made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Hughes to approve the Executive Session Minutes from the January 6, 2026, meeting with the amendment that
Alderperson Zumwalt was not in attendance and did not vote on the closed session minutes for the January 6, 2026, meeting.
Mayor Fleming directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Huffman Sisson, Gerl, Garcia, Kellenberger, Hughes, Holloway, Zumwalt
Nay: None.
Absent: None.
Abstain: None.
Motion carried.
Adjournment
Having no further business Alderperson Kellenberger made a motion seconded by Alderperson Gerl to adjourn the meeting at 8:34 p.m.
Mayor Fleming directed a voice vote.
Aye: 8
Nay: 0
Absent: None.
Abstain: None.
Motion carried.
https://www.cityoflitchfieldil.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_02052026-455
