Collinsville council approves budget increases, engineering and recruitment contracts; golf-cart ordinance stalls

Collinsville — The Collinsville City Council on March 10 approved a package of budget adjustments and vendor agreements and heard extended debate on a proposed neighborhood-vehicle (golf-cart) registration ordinance that was not advanced.

Comptroller Cindy Bowman told the council staff recommended an ordinance to increase the 2026 expenditure budget across several funds to cover rollovers from 2025 and some unanticipated costs. Bowman outlined requests that included $45,000 to the forfeited/seized fund for police marketing and recruitment (which Bowman said will be reimbursed by a grant), engineering and lighting work for Horseshoe Lake Road, a shared-use path project on St. Louis Road, asbestos abatement at 611 West Main, and an HVAC increase for the animal shelter. "Staff does recommend approval of this ordinance," Bowman said. The council voted to approve the ordinance by roll call.

The council also approved a professional services agreement with Oates Associates to design the Clay Street shared-use path, presented by Associate Engineer Isaiah McNeece. McNeece said the project will design a shared-use path from Seminary Street to Summit Avenue, upgrade ADA ramps and add pedestrian-scale lighting; he said design work could start in May with final plans targeted for late 2028 and construction in 2029, dependent on STP grant timing. The agreement was approved unanimously.

Police Chief Warren asked the council to authorize a two-year, $90,000 agreement with The Force Group, a marketing and recruitment firm, to produce recruitment videos, a web recruitment page and digital campaigns. Warren described recruitment as a national problem and said Collinsville is seeing far fewer applicants than in past decades. "We were once a department that was attracting 100 to 200 applicants ... and today we're lucky to get 15 to 20 quality qualified applicants," Warren said. Warren and staff said the marketing expense will be fully reimbursed by a $172,000 Department of Justice grant secured by Lt. Jackson. The council approved the agreement by roll call.

Two municipal lease agreements with local farmers — one with Keller Farms for about 13 acres at 510 and 520 South Bluff Road through Dec. 31, 2026, and a multi-year lease with Bluff View Farm for roughly 5.6 acres on United Drive through Oct. 15, 2028 — were presented by Derek Jackson and approved. Jackson said the leases provide operational savings and are structured so future city needs (for a sports complex or a fire-station site) could be accommodated.

A proposed ordinance to establish a neighborhood-vehicle registration and permitting program drew the session's lengthiest discussion. Chief Warren summarized the draft ordinance's framework: defining neighborhood vehicles, setting where and how they may operate, establishing an annual permit and inspection process conducted by the police department, and requiring drivers to carry a valid driver's license and liability insurance. He said equipment standards and operating limits (streets with posted speed limits of 30 mph or less, daytime hours to 11 p.m., and a top operating speed of 25 mph) would be part of the code.

Councilmembers asked whether downtown streets and main corridors would be restricted (they would), raised concerns about roadway speeds, parking and the town's layout, and cited experiences from nearby communities. One councilmember said Belleville's ordinance largely serves orchard areas and is not directly comparable to Collinsville's downtown conditions; another reiterated a longstanding opposition to the idea. The mayor said several neighboring communities reported few problems and proposed a one-year trial or neighborhood-limited approach, but after discussion no councilmember moved to advance the ordinance. The mayor later said the issue was "dead" for the night.

The meeting opened with an invocation by Rick Hutchinson of the Heights Church and brief staff announcements, including the introduction of newly hired Finance Director Tim Lambo and an announcement that 3,500 households will receive the city's national community survey mailings before an April 14 online launch.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (bills $1,018,372.15; payroll $845,891.06; minutes 02/04/2026): approved by roll call (all recorded 'Yes'). - Ordinance increasing 2026 expenditure budget (multiple funds, staff-recommended): approved by roll call. - Professional services agreement with Oates Associates for Clay Street shared-use path: approved by roll call. - Professional services/marketing agreement with The Force Group (police recruitment), 2026–2027, $90,000 (staff said reimbursed by DOJ grant): approved by roll call. - Keller Farms lease (510 & 520 S. Bluff Road): approved by roll call. - Bluff View Farm lease (United Drive, through 10/15/2028): approved by roll call. - Neighborhood-vehicle registration ordinance: no motion advanced; item did not pass.

What happens next Staff said the community-survey results will return to council for discussion once compiled. Design work for the Clay Street shared-use path will proceed pending grant timing; police recruitment work will proceed under the reimbursable contract. The council voted to enter closed session later in the meeting to discuss pending or threatened litigation under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11).