O'Fallon City Council approves radio dispatch pact, subdivision and FY2027 budget; executive session set on union contracts

The O'Fallon City Council on April 20 approved a series of resolutions and ordinances including an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Shiloh to provide radio communications and computer-aided dispatch, a minor subdivision for the O'Fallon Business Park, a jurisdictional transfer of Salem Place frontage road and the city's FY2027 budget ordinance.

The meeting opened with a public hearing on the FY2027 municipal budget; no members of the public spoke during that hearing. During public comment, Doug Gaines (Ward Five) criticized rising property taxes and called for “zero-based budgets” and freezes on new levies. Vern Lawyer (Ward Three) questioned whether the Local 100 labor agreement applies to full-time and part-time positions and reviewed recent warrant spending for turf, signage and construction work.

Councilmember Blackburn moved the resolution authorizing the mayor to enter an intergovernmental agreement with Shiloh for radio communications and computer-aided dispatch; the motion received a second, was put to roll call and carried. Councilmember Parchman moved a resolution supporting the Illinois Municipal League model municipal housing authority resolution; that motion also carried. Councilmember Lots moved to approve a minor subdivision for 1730 East Highway 50 (Second Addition of O'Fallon Business Park, 5.37 acres, parcel ending in 207-002); she noted and corrected a typographical error in the resolution that listed “West” Highway 50 where “East” is correct, and the motion carried.

On the consent and ordinance calendar, council approved on second reading an ordinance transferring jurisdiction of the Salem Place frontage road from Old Commonville Road to Venita Drive and approved on second reading the ordinance budgeting for all corporate purposes for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2026 and ending April 30, 2027. Finance moved and the council approved warrant number 581 in the amount of $2,172,623.26.

City Administrator Grant Litkin responded to public questions, confirming that the Local 100 labor agreement covers full-time public works, streets, sewer and parks maintenance labor positions; he further explained that turf replacement work was imminent for Gary Graham Field, that custom uniform printing costs are covered through enrollment fees and that the newly purchased soccer goals were funded largely by a donation from Metro Alliance. Litkin also said the black bypass pipe mentioned during public comment was a temporary bypass used during a Woodstream sewer construction project.

The council announced it would go into executive session to discuss personnel and property matters tied to agenda items 7.4 and 7.5 (union contract items). Members said votes on those items would be taken after returning from the closed session; the public livestream was disconnected before the executive session began.

Actions at a glance: the council approved the intergovernmental agreement with Shiloh (resolution 7.1), supported the IML municipal housing authority model resolution (7.2), approved the minor subdivision for O'Fallon Business Park (7.3), approved the Salem Place jurisdictional transfer ordinance (9.1), adopted the FY2027 budget ordinance (9.2), approved a special event permit for "O'Fallon Celebrates America's 250th" (12.2), and approved warrant #581 totaling $2,172,623.26 (16.1). Items 7.4 and 7.5 were the subject of executive session and were to be voted on after the closed session.