LaSalle City Council approves permits, grants, appointments and several contracts; votes at a glance

LaSalle — The LaSalle City Council voted on a series of routine and policy items at its May 1 meeting, approving permits, a redevelopment incentive grant, a police promotion, contract renewals and several city ordinances and payments.

Council members approved a request from Bethany Coleman to install a single-facing wall sign at a business location and granted a special event permit to LaSalle VFW Post 4668 to close a portion of Donahue Street for a Memorial Day car show. The council granted a variance and waiver from ordinance 2,157 to allow the owners of 395 Adar Avenue to proceed without installing a sewer ejector pump, subject to required agreements. The council also approved a redevelopment incentive program grant of $12,500 for premises at 2968 Saint Vincent Avenue.

The council accepted the recommendation of the police chief and the Fire and Police Commission to promote Officer Ray Gazzetta to sergeant. The council approved a one-year renewal of the economic development consulting contract with Global Site Location Industries for $26,000 and authorized payment of $12,960 to VJF Contracting Corporation for work completed to date on Rotary Park Phase 4 pickleball lighting. The council confirmed and ratified a straw vote to write letters of support for the community project funding program to U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood for a road bike path to Rotary Park and a sewer infrastructure rehabilitation project.

On the ordinance front the council passed a resolution for maintenance under the Illinois Highway Code, approved an amendment to chapter 34 of the municipal code to retain the 1% municipal grocery retailers/service occupation tax (consistent with Illinois Department of Revenue guidance), and adopted an ordinance fixing wages for nonunion city employees for the 2025–26 year. The council also approved payment of the bills submitted for $703,728.24.

Votes at a glance (motions moved/seconded as shown in the minutes): - Approval of minutes for 04/14/2025 — Motion: approve minutes; Mover: Alderman Reynolds; Second: Alderman Thompson; Vote: Ayes recorded (Dimas, Thompson, Patak, Reynolds, LaViere, Jepsen, Herndon, Crane); Outcome: approved. - Sign request, Bethany Coleman — Motion: approve; Mover: Alderman LaViere; Second: Alderman Thompson; Vote: Ayes recorded (Thompson, Patak, Reynolds, LaViere, Jepsen, Herndon, Crane, Dimas); Outcome: approved. - Special event permit, LaSalle VFW Post 4668 — Motion: grant permit; Mover: (recorded in minutes); Second: (recorded in minutes); Vote: Ayes recorded (Patak, Reynolds, LaViere, Jepsen, Herndon, Crane, Dimas, Thompson); Outcome: approved. - Variance/waiver for 395 Adar Avenue (ordinance 2,157) — Motion: grant request; Mover: (recorded as applicant motion); Second: (recorded as Alderman Crane); Vote: Aye votes recorded with 1 abstention (Alderman LaViere abstained; Jepsen, Herndon, Crane, Thompson, Patak, Reynolds, Dimas voted Aye); Outcome: approved, subject to required agreement and ordinance provisions. - Promotion of Officer Ray Gazzetta to sergeant — Motion: accept recommendation; Mover: Alderman (recorded); Second: Alderman Crane; Vote: Ayes recorded (Jepsen, Herndon, Crane, Dimas, Thompson, Patak, Reynolds, LaViere); Outcome: approved. - Redevelopment incentive program (RIP) grant, $12,500 to 2968 Saint Vincent Ave — Motion: approve finance committee recommendation; Mover: (recorded); Second: (recorded); Vote: Ayes recorded with 1 abstention (Crane abstained; Dimas, Thompson, Patak, Reynolds, LaViere, Jepsen, Herndon voted Aye); Outcome: approved. - One-year renewal, Global Site Location Industries, $26,000 — Motion: renew contract; Mover: (recorded); Vote: recorded as approved by roll call; Outcome: approved. - Payment to VJF Contracting Corp., $12,960 (Rotary Park Phase 4 lighting) — Motion: approve payment; Mover: (recorded); Vote: Ayes recorded (Thompson, Patak, Reynolds, LaViere, Jepsen, Herndon, Crane, Dimas); Outcome: approved. - Confirmation/ratification to write letters of support to Rep. Underwood — Motion: confirm straw vote; Vote: voice vote "Aye"; Outcome: approved. - Resolution for maintenance under Illinois Highway Code — Motion: accept resolution; Vote: roll call Aye (Jepsen, Herndon, Crane, Dimas, Thompson, Patak, Reynolds, LaViere); Outcome: approved. - Ordinance amending chapter 34 (municipal grocery occupation tax) — Motion: approve ordinance; Vote: roll call Aye; Outcome: approved. - Ordinance fixing wages for city employees (05/01/2025–04/30/2026) — Motion: approve; Vote: roll call Aye; Outcome: approved. - Approval of bills, $703,728.24 — Motion: pay the bills; Mover: Alderman Patak; Second: Alderman LaViere; Vote: roll call Aye (Dimas, Thompson, Patak, Reynolds, LaViere, Jepsen, Herndon, Crane); Outcome: approved.

The council also appointed aldermen to standing committees and made mayoral committee assignments as presented by the mayor. Several routine items passed with little discussion; items that generated more follow-up were referred to committees or staff for further work.

The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn that carried by voice vote.