Belleville council approves claims, contractor agreements, event permits and a police lateral hire

Belleville — The Belleville City Council voted Feb. 8 to approve city claims and payroll, multiple contracts from the Streets committee (mostly funded from TIF or general funds), event permits for the Lincoln Theater and the parks summer concert series, and the lateral hire of a police officer.

The council convened with a quorum and, in the mayor’s absence, elected Alderman Anthony to serve as temporary chairman under a cited ILCS provision before taking routine business. Council members then approved claims and payroll and a series of committee motions reported by the Streets and Grounds Committee and by police and fire. The meeting record shows unanimous roll-call approvals on the items taken up that evening.

Why it matters: The approved motions authorize engineering, stormwater and grant-application work and permit a series of public events; several items use TIF funds or are grant-related, which affects project timelines and departmental budgets.

Key votes and approvals - Temporary chair: Council elected Alderman Anthony to preside in the mayor’s absence (motion approved by voice/roll call). - Claims/disbursements and payroll: Council approved claims and disbursements, recorded in the meeting as $1,381,681.84 for claims and payroll figures referenced in the minutes (see clarifying details for transcript ambiguities). Motion carried by roll call. - Treasurer’s report: Council approved the December 2024 treasurer’s report and statements; motion carried. - Streets & Grounds committee motions (all approved): • Horner & Shiffrin Inc., $71,858.96 for engineering services for East B Street/Illinois 161 intersection improvements (TIF 12 funds). • TWM, $14,400 to convert stormwater features from CAD to the city GIS system and provide up to three hours of on-site training (general funds). • Oates Associates, $4,500 to prepare the FY2025 CDBG grant application for South Church Street (TIF 17 and general funds). • Gonzales Companies (two items): $1,800 for FY25–26 professional services in connection with the St. Clair County MS4 co-permittee group (TIF 3) and $1,500 for FY25–26 NPDES Phase 2 stormwater sampling (TIF 3). • Installation of streetlights at two locations (9 Grand Avenue, Ward 2; 1505 Murren Boulevard, Ward 1) with ongoing monthly fees; transcript contains inconsistent monthly-fee figures (see clarifying details). - Police and fire personnel action: Council approved the lateral hire of Ashley Walker, effective Feb. 2025 (motion carried by roll call). - Event permits: The council approved multiple event requests including Lincoln Theater concert date changes and closures, City Hall and Fire Department American Red Cross blood drives, and two summer concert series (dates and city services as listed in the meeting packet); motions carried. - Motor fuel claims: Council approved motor fuel claims in the amount recorded in the meeting ($141,006.14). Motion carried. - Transfer of vacant city-owned properties: The council approved a motion to transfer vacant city-owned properties to the Public Building Commission (motion carried by roll call). - Executive session authorization: Council voted to go into executive session citing a statutory provision in the transcript (identified there as "5 I ILCS 1 20 slash 2 c 11"). The motion passed by roll call.

What council did not do: The meeting record shows approvals on the listed items; there was no ordinance, resolution or final land-use decision described in the transcript beyond the items summarized above.

Ending: Council adjourned to an executive session after routine business and committee reports.