South Central Reporter

City of Bunker Hill City Council met June 18.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Regular Meeting Minutes of the City Council

Of the City of Bunker Hill, Municipal Bldg.,

801 S Franklin St., Bunker Hill, IL 62014

Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 7:00 p.m.

1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, and COUNCIL PRAYER: Mayor Chapman called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.

Present: Mayor John Chapman, City Clerk Heather Kraus, City Treasurer Lisa Webb, Council Members Dave Schick, Betty Phelps, Rick Girth, Glenn Bruckert, Carlos Arzuagas, and Grover Webb, Police Chief Zach Girth, Attorney Todd Parish

Absent: None

Gallery: Cherie Mortland, Sam Davis, Dwight Moore, Greg Lievers

2. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA:

A. Review and Approval of Minutes and Reports: Police Comm. Mtg. Min., May 7, 2025; Ord. Comm. Mtg. Min., May 7, 2025; Reg. Mtg. Min., May 14, 2025; Special Mtg. Min., May 21, 2025; Police Comm. Mtg. May 30, 2025; CotW Min. June 5, 2025; PW Comm. Mtg., June 11, 2025-NO MINUTES SUBMITTED; Public Hearing USDA-RD Min., June 11, 2025; Gaming Report-pg.14; Hall Rentals-pg. 15; UTV Licenses-pg. 17

B. Deputy Clerk Reports: May, 2025

C. Water Dept. Reports: May, 2025

D. Treasurer’s Reports: May, 2025:

The motion was made by Council Member Bruckert to approve the Consent Agenda. The motion was seconded by Council Member Girth.

Roll Call

Ayes: Schick, Phelps, Girth, Bruckert, Arzuagas, Webb

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion carried.

3. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES: May 14, 2025. The motion was made by Council Member Bruckert to approve the Executive Session minutes of May 14, 2025. The motion was seconded by Council Member Phelps.

Roll Call

Ayes: Schick, Phelps, Girth, Bruckert, Arzuagas, Webb

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion carried.

4. OLD BUSINESS:

A. Non-Home Rule Sales and Tax Ordinance: Reminder for consideration.

B. Peddler’s and Solicitor’s License Ordinance Update: tabled pending recommendation from Ordinance Committee.

C. Approval of Ordinance 2025-04 Worth Ave. Annexation: Council Member Bruckert made the motion to approve Ordinance 2025-04. Council Member Webb made the second.

Roll Call

Ayes: Schick, Phelps, Girth, Bruckert, Arzuagas, Webb

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion carried.

D. Approve Resolution 25-07 Remote Attendance Rules: Council Member Bruckert made the motion to approve Resolution 25-07. Council Member Girth made the second.

Roll Call

Ayes: Schick, Phelps, Girth, Bruckert, Arzuagas, Webb

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion carried.

E. Approve Ordinance 2025-05 Council Meeting Date Change: Council Member Bruckert made the motion to approve Ordinance 2025-05. Council Member Arzuagas made the second.

Roll Call

Ayes: Schick, Phelps, Girth, Bruckert, Arzuagas, Webb

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion carried.

F. Approve City Shed Bid: Council Member Schick made the motion to approve the bid by Bill Farris for repairs to the city shed contingent upon the insurance company paying the same bid amount or the approval is void. Council Member Bruckert made the second.

Roll Call

Ayes: Schick, Phelps, Girth, Bruckert, Arzuagas, Webb

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion carried.

G. Approval of Pay Raise for City Collector: Council Member Bruckert made the motion to approve a $1/hr (total $18/hr) for 20 hrs/week for the City Collector position. Council Member Phelps made the second.

Roll Call

Ayes: Schick, Phelps, Girth, Bruckert, Arzuagas, Webb

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion carried.

5. NEW BUSINESS:

A. Road Closure Request: Lindsay Hill did not appear to support her request. After considerable discussion, the Council tabled the request pending clarification.

B. Cloud 9 Bethalto Sports League: After Considerable Discussion, Council Member Phelps made the motion to approve the use of MWP on August 16 from 3:00 pm to dusk for a Flag Football Tournament sponsored by the Cloud 9 Bethalto Sports League pending proof of insurance, arrangements of concessions with Joe and Katie Badalato, request for donation, and conducting a closing inspection of the park. Council Member Arzuagas made the second.

Roll Call

Ayes: Schick, Phelps, Girth, Bruckert, Arzuagas, Webb

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion carried.

C. Approval of HMG Engineering: Council Member Schick made the motion to hire HMG Engineering to design and complete a road maintenance plan at approximately $9,000 per block to be financed with the remaining ReBuild IL Funds and MFT Funds. Council Member Bruckert made the second.

Roll Call

Ayes: Schick, Phelps, Girth, Bruckert, Arzuagas, Webb

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion carried.

D. Approve Leave of Absence: Council Member Phelps made the motion to approve a continuing leave of absence (April 28, 2025-July 16, 2025) for Tracy Eardley pending her release to full duty by her doctor. Council Member Bruckert made the second.

Roll Call

Ayes: Schick, Phelps, Girth, Bruckert, Arzuagas, Webb

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion carried.

E. Approval of Authorized Representatives for CEJA-ETCG: Council Member Phelps made the motion to approve Mayor John Chapman and City Clerk Heather Kraus as authorized representatives for the CEJA-ETCG program retroactive to Jan 1, 2024. Council Member Girth made the second.

Roll Call

Ayes: Schick, Phelps, Girth, Bruckert, Arzuagas, Webb

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion carried.

F. Letter of Intent: Mayor Chapman presented the LOI of Bunker Hill for the CEJA-ETCG 2025 program to the Council.

G. Approve Ordinance 2025-03 FY26 Appropriations: Council Member Bruckert made the motion to approve Ordinance 2025-03 FY26 Appropriations. Council Member Schick made the second.

Roll Call

Ayes: Schick, Phelps, Girth, Bruckert, Arzuagas, Webb

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion carried.

H. Announce Water Rate Increase: Mayor Chapman announced a water rate increase of approximately 15% effective July 1, 2025 passed on to Bunker Hill from Fosterburg Water. There will be a Public Hearing June 30, 2025 at 6:00 pm with a Special Meeting following immediately after.

I. Water Meter Tampering Fine: Council Member Schick made the motion to set the fine for tampering with city water meters at $500. Council Member Bruckert made the second. There will be further discussion concerning charges.

Roll Call

Ayes: Schick, Phelps, Girth, Bruckert, Arzuagas, Webb

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion carried.

J. Update Park Policies: The Clerk requested that the Park Committee address several issues concerning camping fees, site locations, signs, bathroom vandalism, hours of operation for the parks and bathrooms, developing an Engineering Plan. Council Member Girth responded that he would call a committee meeting to discuss the issues.

K. 716 S. Hickory St.: Attorney Parish offered a suggestion to consider a quick condemnation for an abandoned property. He quickly summarized the procedure as post a sign in the yard and publish a notice in the paper of court action; if the property owners do not appear in court, the city can seize the property and raze the property and put a lien on the property. Declaring the house as a nuisance does not clean up the property. Mr. Parish said the quick condemnation process can take effect in a matter of months to clean up the property. The city does not own the property, but does have a lien on it for the cost of cleaning it up. The city can then foreclose the lien to obtain it for redevelopment. Council Member Schick made the motion to proceed with the quick condemnation option. Council Member Arzuagas made the second. Mr. Parish did caution the Council to make sure they were willing to bear the cost of the process. The Council instructed the attorney to proceed with contacting the property owners and start the process.

Roll Call

Ayes: Schick, Phelps, Girth, Bruckert, Arzuagas, Webb

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion carried.

L. Discussion of Personnel Issues: This item was referred to Executive Session per IL 120/2 (c) (1).

6. EXECUTIVE REPORTS:

Public Works: Mayor Chapman summarized that the Public Works employees were busy with mowing, patching, weed control, etc. The Alton St. pumps have arrived as they are waiting on installation. Dwight Moore gave an update on the removal of the cover and the installation of the sewer balls. Everything went smoothly and the actual cost of the installation came in at about $60K lower than projected. Mr. Moore projected a worst-case scenario and it was not needed.

A. Police Department: Chief Girth summarized his reports. One hundred ninety-two service calls were made. Regular Business checks were conducted. In one night, there were about ten vehicles vandalized and one stolen. The Chief encouraged people to keep valuables out of the cars and keep them locked. They were able to apprehend one member of the group that came through. Three warrant arrests made, multiple domestic calls answered and about forty citations were given. The vehicle computers are installed.

B. City Clerk: 2024 CEJA money may be released in August. Royal Lake is going to join the Bunker Hill group. The Police Equipment Funds have not been released; the Clerk will contact them to find the status. Lisa and Grover Webb are continuing with T Mobile grant work. The statutory certifications need to be completed. The Clerk summarized the OMA, sexual harassment, and cybersecurity trainings need to be completed.

C. Committee Reports: None

7. ATTORNEY REPORT: None

8. COMMENTS FROM VISITORS: Greg Lievers inquired about which properties on Worth Ave. were being annexed. He was reassured that they were not his. Discussion turned to road conditions that were affected by sewer work on Worth Ave.

9. ROLL CALL FOR CONCERNS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS: None

10. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Mayor Chapman asked for a motion to dismiss to Executive Session to discuss personnel per 5 ILCS 120/(c)(1). Council Member Bruckert made the motion to adjourn and Council Member Phelps made the second. The Regular Session of May 14, 2025 adjourned to Executive Session at 8:40 pm.

11. AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION ACTION: None

12. ADJOURN: After returning from Executive Session, Council Member Bruckert made the motion to adjourn the Regular Session. Council Member Schick made the second. Unanimous Voice Vote carried the motion. The Regular Council Meeting of the City of Bunker Hill of June 18, 2025 was adjourned at 9:11 pm.

https://cityofbunkerhillil.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025.06.18-Reg.-Mtg.-Min.pdf