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Home My WebLink About10-07-2025 Canton City Council Regular Meeting Minutes CANTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. Historic Depot-Donald E. Edwards Way th 50 North 4 Avenue, Canton, Il 61520 A regular meeting of the Canton City Council was held on October 7, 2025 (6:30pm) at the Historic th Depot located at 50 North 4 Avenue Canton Illinois. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: Mayor Kent McDowell, City Clerk Andi Smith-Walters, Acting City Treasurer Paula Grigsby, Police Chief Mike Eveland, Deputy Fire Chief Mark Hanlin, and Public Utilities Director Joe Carruthers. OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: City Attorney Chris Jump and Comptroller Beka Shultz. MEDIA IN ATTENDANCE: Fulton Democrat MEETING CALLED TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE OPENED THE MEETING INVOCATION – Mayor Kent McDowell ROLL CALL Yes No Absent Alderperson Gossett x Alderperson Pickel x Alderperson Ketcham x Alderperson Hale x Alderperson Grimm x Alderperson Lovell x Alderperson Nelson x Alderperson x Chamberlin ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Cindy Hedges brought to the Council’s attention the safety of East Birch Street attention. There has been excessive car traffic and speeding occurring at all times of the day. There are currently stth no stop signs on Birch from 1 Avenue to 11. Hedges would like to see the control of traffic flow by adding in a stop sign or two. MAYORAL COMMUNICATIONS/REQUESTED ACTION: Mayor McDowell encouraged everyone to go check out the Opera House site as they are 6 days th away from the drop dead date, but it looks like it will be finished even before then. October 24 will be the grand opening. DEPARTMENT HEAD COMMUNICATIONS/REPORTS: Acting City Treasurer Paula Grigsby – Nothing to report. Police Chief Mike Eveland – Eveland thanked Cindy for coming to the meeting to address her concerns with the council. Eveland is performing studies on the street and providing data to Keith Plavec to look at. There needs to be a certain amount of studies executed before they can articulate a plan to move forward. th The First Responder Trunk or Treat is October 25 from 5pm-8pm. Eveland has been in contact with all the downtown business owners except for the theatre and Georgia Ray’s, but he hopes there will not be to many complaints this year. Eveland thanked Joe Carruthers and his crews for helping out with the recent parades. Eveland wanted to praise the police department for their work on a homicide investigation in early September. With the help of the state police and the sheriff’s department they were able to make an arrest.. The offender is currently sitting in jail awaiting trial. Keaton Canevit and Josh Twidwell put in substantial effort and deserve recognition as well as Deputy Chief Corey Miller. This past Saturday there was a home invasion and an unlawful restraint/domestic situation. The male was waiting for his ex-girlfriend who had an OP against him. The female was able to get away from him and go over to the neighbors. About 45 minutes later they were able to find the males vehicle at the tennis courts and officer Shippert used his K-9 to locate the mans cellphone in the woods behind Van Dyke. About 5 minutes after that he was able to locate the male under a brush pile and is currently sitting in jail with two class x felonies. Earlier this summer also around Van Dyke there was an elderly woman who wandered away from her home in the early morning hours who got lost and Shippert went out with his K-9 and an article of clothes and was able to locate the lady. Deputy Chief Mark Hanlin – Hanlin stated the fire department had a good turnout for the open house that was held last week and wanted to thank the community. Public Utilities Director Joe Carruthers – Nothing to report CITY CLERK COMMUNICATIONS/REQUESTED ACTION: CONSENT AGENDA: APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2025. APPROVAL OF CLOSED MEETING MINUTES ON 2/18/25, 3/4/25, 3/18/25, 4/15/25, 4/29/25, 5/20/25, 7/15/25, 8/5/25, 8/19/25, 9/2/25, 9/16/25. BILL LIST Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Gossett/Ketcham to approve the consent agenda. ROLL CALL Yes No Absent Alderperson Gossett x Alderperson Pickel x Alderperson Ketcham x Alderperson Hale x Alderperson Grimm x Alderperson Lovell x Alderperson Nelson x Alderperson x Chamberlin The motion carried. RESOLUTION AS TO WHETHER (1) THE NEED FOR CONFIDENTIALITY STILL EXISTS AS TO ALL OR PART OF THE CLOSED MINUTES OR (2) THAT THE CLOSED MEETING MINUTES OR PORTION THEREOF NO LONGER REQUIRE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT AND ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION. The council was provided with a draft resolution, and this is typically done semiannually. This is dating from January 7, 2025, through October 7, 2025. It is recommended that confidentiality still exists. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Gossett/Grimm to approve the resolution as to whether (1) the need for confidentiality still exists as to all or part of the closed minutes or (2) that the closed meeting minutes or portion thereof no longer require confidential treatment and are available for public inspection ROLL CALL Yes No Absent Alderperson Gossett x Alderperson Pickel x Alderperson Ketcham x Alderperson Hale x Alderperson Grimm x Alderperson Lovell x Alderperson Nelson x Alderperson x Chamberlin The motion carried. COMMITTEE REPORTS: PUBLIC SAFETY AND LEGAL ALDERPERSON JUSTIN NELSON, CHAIR ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A LEASE OF MUNICIPALLY OWNED REAL PROPERTY. This is for property located at 24700 East Lakeview Drive lot #4 in the Lakeview addition. This is to change the residency of the property to reflect the new owners. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Grimm/Chamberlin to approve an ordinance authorizing a lease of municipally owned real property located at 24700 East Lakeview Drive lot #4 to reflect new ownership. ROLL CALL Yes No Absent Alderperson Gossett x Alderperson Pickel x Alderperson Ketcham x Alderperson Hale x Alderperson Grimm x Alderperson Lovell x Alderperson Nelson x Alderperson x Chamberlin Mayor McDowell x The motion carried. REGULATORY AND POLICY ALDERPERSON ANGELA HALE, CHAIR APPROVAL OF A DOWNTOWN SPECIAL EVENT AND ROAD CLOSURE PERMIT FOR THE SANTA PARADE TO BE HELD DECEMBER 5. Hale stated Carol Kohler is still waiting on insurance documents but plans to have them before the parade. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Hale/Pickel for approval of a downtown special event and road closure permit for the Santa Parade to be held December 5 pending insurance. ROLL CALL Yes No Absent Alderperson Gossett x Alderperson Pickel x Alderperson Ketcham x Alderperson Hale x Alderperson Grimm x Alderperson Lovell x Alderperson Nelson x Alderperson x Chamberlin The motion carried. COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALDERPERSON JOHN LOVELL, CHAIR ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE CANTON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NO. 1 REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF CANTON, FULTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS, AND NEWBURN ENTERPRISES, TH INC., AND KIM NEWBURN, D.B.A., AMERICAN GRILLE (525 S. 5 AVE). This amendment had initially been approved with a $10,000 reimbursement incentive, but they have not finished all of the work. They plan to have it finished early next year and would like the city to grant an extension until next April of 2026 and a $7,000 reimbursement for the work that has already been done. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Lovell/Chamberlin for approval of an ordinance approving and authorizing the execution of a first amendment to the Canton business development district no. 1 redevelopment agreement by and between the City of Canton, Fulton County, Illinois, and Newburn Enterprises, Inc., and Kim Newburn, D.B.A., American Grille (525 S. th 5 Ave) for an extension until April 2026 with a $7,000 reimbursement for the work that has already been done. ROLL CALL Yes No Absent Alderperson Gossett x Alderperson Pickel x Alderperson Ketcham x Alderperson Hale x Alderperson Grimm x Alderperson Lovell x Alderperson Nelson x Alderperson x Chamberlin The motion carried. DISCUSSION ON THE FOLLOWING TIF/BDD APPLICATION AND/OR AGREEMENT REGARDING TERESA DRAUGHAN FOR FIFTH AVENUE TIRE AND AUTO (215 S. FIFTH AVENUE). Lovell is currently unsure of this and there are some questions regarding the project and what all qualifies for any type of incentive. DISCUSSION ON THE FOLLOWING TIF/BDD APPLICATION AND/OR AGREEMENT REGARDING KYLE BAINTER FOR WEST CENTRAL POWER SPORTS (406 S. FIFTH AVENUE) This is a relatively small request. It is around $3,800 to power wash the exterior and paint the interior. DISCUSSION ON THE FOLLOWING TIF/BDD APPLICATION AND/OR AGREEMENT REGARDING ERIN GRAVITT (580 E. LINN ST). This is for the old Season-All building on East Linn. They intend to do different phases. The current phase is to replace HVAC and the quote submitted was for $18,000 total. It would more than likely be a $4,500 reimbursement but Lovell still needs to meet with Steve Klein. PUBLIC WORKS ALDERPERSON GREG GOSSETT, CHAIR APPROVAL TO WIDEN THE TWO NORTH BAY DOORS ON THE FIREHOUSE BUILDING This project came in under budget price. The total cost is $19,369. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Gossett/Hale for approval to widen the two north bay doors on the firehouse building in the amount of $19,369. ROLL CALL Yes No Absent Alderperson Gossett x Alderperson Pickel x Alderperson Ketcham x Alderperson Hale x Alderperson Grimm x Alderperson Lovell x Alderperson Nelson x Alderperson x Chamberlin The motion carried. FINANCE ALDERPERSON ANDRA CHAMBERLIN, CHAIR RESOLUTION APPROVING A DEMOLITION REIMBURSMENT AGREEMENT RELATED TO RD PROPERTY LOCATED AT 644 S. 3 AVENUE, CANTON, IL 61520. This is similar to the demolition reimbursements done in the past. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Chamberlin/Gossett to approve a resolution rd approving a demolition reimbursement agreement related to property located at 644 S. 3 Avenue, Canton, IL 61520. ROLL CALL Yes No Absent Alderperson Gossett x Alderperson Pickel x Alderperson Ketcham x Alderperson Hale x Alderperson Grimm x Alderperson Lovell x Alderperson Nelson x Alderperson x Chamberlin The motion carried. IT AND CYBERSECURITY ALDERPERSON DAVE PICKEL, CHAIR LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT ALDERPERSON RALPH GRIMM, CHAIR PROPERTY ALDERPERSON PATRICK KETCHAM, CHAIR th Ketcham updated the council on the Opera House Plaza. October 24 is the grand opening and will be at 5:30pm. The ribbon cutting will be at 6:00pm. There will also be food and entertainment from Monster Lane. It will also be senior night at the football game. EXECUTIVE SESSION/CLOSED MEETING ADJOURNMENT Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Gossett/Ketcham to adjourn without the need for executive session. ROLL CALL Yes No Absent Alderperson Gossett x Alderperson Pickel x Alderperson Ketcham x Alderperson Hale x Alderperson Grimm x Alderperson Lovell x Alderperson Nelson x Alderperson x Chamberlin The motion carried. _________________________________________________________________ Andi Walters, City Clerk _________________________________________________________________ Kent McDowell, Mayor