Prairie City Council approves wage increase, street payment and administrative changes; sports-building aid fails

The Prairie City Council met in a special session on June 26, 2025, and approved multiple routine and project-related items, including a cost-of-living wage increase for city employees and payments for street reconstruction and design work.

Mayor Chad Alleger called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Councilor Joe Disney moved to adopt the agenda; Councilor Derek Ingle seconded and the motion carried on a unanimous roll-call vote of those present (Disney, Holland, Ingle, James). No public comment was offered.

On the consent agenda — approved after a motion from Councilor Phil Holland and a second from Councilor Joe Disney — the council approved Transfers and Bill Payments Resolution 6-26-25-1; granted an alcohol license to Lucky Wife Wine Slushies; approved a PFM invoice of $6,543.40; adopted Resolution 6-26-25-2 implementing cost-of-living wage increases for city employees; and accepted the resignation of firefighter Harry Brannen.

In old business, a request from Kyle Edwards of Assured Partners seeking financial assistance for a proposed indoor sports building in Monroe was recorded but the motion to approve that request failed "for lack of action," meaning no successful motion to fund or refer the request was recorded in the minutes.

The council approved payment of an IDOT invoice for $59,156 related to the 2nd Street Reconstruction Project and directed that the payment be made from iPAIT funds after a motion by Councilor Derek Ingle and a second from Councilor Beth James; the roll-call vote was unanimous among members present. Councilor Ingle also moved to approve an MSA contract for design services for the Tennis Court Reconstruction Project, asking MSA to pursue grant funding options; Councilor Phil Holland seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

In new business, Councilor Joe Disney moved to remove City Administrator Jerry Moore and add Jadi Brown as an authorized city representative to sign documents submitted to city-approved financial institutions; Councilor Beth James seconded and the motion carried unanimously. The council also approved extraordinary-duty compensation for Sue Ponder at $30 per hour for city administrative services at city hall until the new city administrator begins, on a motion by Councilor Derek Ingle and second from Councilor Phil Holland.

The special session adjourned at 6:10 p.m. after a motion from Councilor Phil Holland and a second from Councilor Joe Disney, the vote carried unanimously.

Votes at a glance: - Transfers and Bill Payments Resolution 6-26-25-1 — approved (unanimous roll-call vote of members present). - Lucky Wife Wine Slushies alcohol license — approved (unanimous). - PFM invoice, $6,543.40 — approved (unanimous). - Resolution 6-26-25-2 (cost-of-living wage increases) — adopted (unanimous). - Resignation of firefighter Harry Brannen — accepted (unanimous). - Request for financial assistance for proposed indoor sports building at Monroe (requested by Kyle Edwards, Assured Partners) — motion to approve recorded as failed for lack of action. - IDOT invoice for $59,156 for 2nd Street Reconstruction (to be paid from iPAIT funds) — approved (unanimous). - MSA contract for tennis court design services (MSA to seek grant funding) — approved (unanimous). - Change of authorized city representative (remove Jerry Moore; add Jadi Brown) — approved (unanimous). - Extraordinary duty pay for Sue Ponder, $30/hour — approved (unanimous).

The minutes are attested by Mayor Chad Alleger and City Clerk Christie Busby.