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Home My WebLink About12-16-2025 Canton City Council Regular Meeting Minutes CANTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 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 December 16, 2025 (6:30pm) at the th Historic 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, Fire Chief Scott Roos, Alderperson Andra Chamberlin, John Lovell, Angela Hale, Patrick Ketcham, Dave Pickel, Greg Gossett, Public Utilities Director Joe Carruthers OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: City Attorney Chris Jump, City Engineer Keith Plavec, 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: PUBLIC HEARING : Public Hearing called to order at 6:32pm. The City of Canton was selected to receive an Energy Transition Community Grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development in the amount of $63,057.82. The city intends to utilize this grant to up light our historic tin man water tower. The unique water tower can be seen from quite a distance and is featured in our city logo. With a professional light plan, the water tower will become another attractive piece of our vibrant downtown district. The purpose of this public meeting is to offer an opportunity for the public to offer input regarding the proposed project. Public Hearing closed at 6:33pm. MAYORAL COMMUNICATIONS/REQUESTED ACTION: Brody Williams, Luke Sandford, and Jake Detiveaux were sworn in as new police officers. RESOLUTION APPROVING INTERGIVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION REGARDING MAINTENANCE. Mayor McDowell was hoping to get a copy of a similar contract that the City of Macomb has, but they have not been unable to do so up to this point. McDowell would like to continue to table this. CITY CLERK COMMUNICATIONS/REQUESTED ACTION: Nothing to report. DEPARTMENT HEAD COMMUNICATIONS/REPORTS: Acting City Treasurer, Paula Grigsby – Nothing to report. Police Chief, Mike Eveland – The Santa Cops was a huge success. Fire Chief, Scott Roos – Nothing to report. Public Utilities Manager, Joe Carruthers - CONSENT AGENDA - APPROVAL OF THE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES HELD NOVEMBER 18, 2025. BILL LIST DISBURSEMENT REPORT TREASURER’S REPORT PUBLIC WORKS REPORT POLICE REPORT FIRE REPORT Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Pickel/Gossett 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. COMMITTEE REPORTS: PUBLIC SAFETY AND LEGAL ALDERPERSON JUSTIN NELSON, CHAIR ORDINANCE APPROVING A SPECIAL USE-HOME OCCUPATION PERMIT FOR STACI BAKER FOR A TH NAIL SALON LOCATED AT 235 N. 4 AVE., CANTON, IL 61520. This passed through planning & zoning without issues. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Lovell/Chamberlin to approve an ordinance approving a special use-home occupation permit for Staci Baker for a Nail Salon located at 235 th N. 4 Ave., Canton, IL 61520. ROLL CALL Yes No Absent Alderperson Gossett x Alderperson Pickel x Alderperson Ketcham x Alderperson Hale x Alderperson Grimm X x Alderperson Lovell x Alderperson Nelson x Alderperson x Chamberlin The motion carried. REGULATORY AND POLICY ALDERPERSON ANGELA HALE, CHAIR COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALDERPERSON JOHN LOVELL, CHAIR APPROVAL OF ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF CONTRACTS AGREEMENT. This corresponds with item C. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Lovell/Chamberlin for approval of assignment and assumption of contracts agreement. 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. ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE TIF AND BDD REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF CANTON, FULTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 309 DEVELOPMENTS, LLC AND JEDEDIAH RHOADES AND MAX KUMER. Jedediah Rhoades and Max Kumer purchased the old JC Penny’s building. This amendment allows for the Graham Foundation to purchase the Penny’s building and parking lot. Along with that assumption of contracts, the Graham Foundation will assume the obligation of the TIF/BDD agreements. They plan to use the building for an event center and retail. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Lovell/Hale for approval of an ordinance approving and authorizing the execution of the second amendment to the TIF and BDD redevelopment agreement by and between the City of Canton, Fulton County, Illinois 309 Developments, LLC and Jedediah Rhoades and Max Kumer. 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. ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT (BDD) NO. 1 REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF CANTON, FULTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS AND DAVIS FORD, INC., AND JOHN W. DAVIS (2111 N. MAIN ST.). This amendment is extending the project to May 1, 2026. They are wanting to put a new roof on and thought they were going to be able to get to it by December 1, 2025, but the contractors were unable to get to it in time. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Lovell/Chamberlin for approval of an ordinance approving and authorizing the execution of the first amendment to business development district (BDD) no. 1 redevelopment agreement by and between the City of Canton, Fulton County, Illinois and Davis Ford, INC., and John W. Davis (2111 N. Main St). 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. PUBLIC WORKS ALDERPERSON GREG GOSSETT, CHAIR FINANCE ALDERPERSON ANDRA CHAMBERLIN, CHAIR ORDINANCE ABATING ALL OF THE BOND LEVY FOR THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR. Attorney Chris Jump explained this routine and is done yearly. These are for the TIF 1 bonds. Comptroller Beka Shultz stated these are so the county clerk does not have to add these to the city’s annual levy. The city will use alternate revenues. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Chamberlin/Lovell to approve an ordinance abating all of the bond levy for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. 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. ORDINANCE LEVYING AND ASSESSING TAXES FOR CORPORATE PURPOSES OF THE CITY OF CANTON, ILLINOIS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING MAY 1, 2025 – APRIL 30, 2026. Shultz explained this was the 4.5% increase that was discussed previously based on information the city received from Dan Kiesewetter. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Chamberlin/Lovell to approve an ordinance levying and assessing taxes for corporate purposes of the City of Canton, Illinois for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2025 – April 30, 2026. 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 APPROVING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF XPRESS BILL PAY TO THE CITY’S PAYMENT SYSTEMS AND REMOVING CIVIC PAY AND EPAY. Jump suggested tabling this for the time being that way the counsel has more time to discuss the matter. Jump would also like to look into the terms of these proposals as he believes they need to coincide with the mayors term. Carruthers stated this is an easier way for the citizens to pay and combines other existing methods as well. Shultz explained that currently you can pay your water bill online through a platform called “Civic Pay” which interacts directly with the city’s accounting software. There are other items like totes, bulk items, and licensing within the city that unless it is put on your water bill, you cannot pay through the civic pay module. There is another provider called “Illinois ePay”. Civic pay charges $2 and ePay charges $1.50 minimum but can be larger if the amount of the bill is larger. On top of the fee that the citizens pay, the city is also paying credit card and ACH fees. The new provider would take all of those miscellaneous payments and the water bills and put them into one online account so that you can login and see your history and set up automatic payments. The platform is user friendly. The city can either absorb the fees which will then lower the fees, or you can pass them onto the consumer, but then both the city and consumer will be paying fees at a higher rate. The city currently has around 5,500 and there are around 1,400 who are on a regular civic pay. There are also customers who are on an ACH within the Springbrook system that goes directly into the bank and they do not have those online capabilities. IT AND CYBERSECURITY ALDERPERSON DAVE PICKEL, CHAIR LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT ALDERPERSON RALPH GRIMM, CHAIR PROPERTY ALDERPERSON PATRICK KETCHAM, CHAIR EXECUTIVE SESSION/CLOSED MEETING ADJOURNMENT Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Gossett/Hale to adjourn. 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 Smith-Walters, City Clerk _________________________________________________________________ Kent McDowell, Mayor