The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About03-03-2026 Canton City Council Regular Meeting Minutes CANTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MARCH 03, 2026, at 6:32 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 March 3, 2026 (6:32pm) 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 Treasurer Paula Grigsby, and Police Chief Corey Miller. 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: Item C under Community and Economic Development was tabled. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: MAYORAL COMMUNICATIONS/REQUESTED ACTION: Mayor McDowell congratulated Connor Williams, who is the fourth Little Giant state champion wrestler in the 285 division. Dylan Stihl got fourth place; weight class is unknown. Congratulations to the boys basketball team who had a winning season this year. The homeless shelter is currently in the works and bids have been put out to get started. CITY CLERK COMMUNICATIONS/REQUESTED ACTION: DEPARTMENT HEAD COMMUNICATIONS/REPORTS: Acting Treasurer, Paula Grigsby – Nothing to report. Fire Chief, Scott Roos – Absent. Police Chief, Corey Miller – Nothing to report. CONSENT AGENDA: APPROVAL OF THE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES HELD FEBRUARY 17, 2026. BILL LIST DISBURSEMENT REPORT TREASURER’S REPORT PUBLIC WORKS REPORT POLICE REPORT FIRE REPORT Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Gossett/Pickel 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 RESOLUTION APPROVING INTERVENTION IN PROPERTY TAX APPEAL BOARD PROCEEDINGS (2025 – CANTON CITY REALTY, LLC). This is the entity that has purchased the Kroger/CVS building. They filed an appeal with the County Board of Review, which Jump believes was denied but has not seen the final document. They are asking for $797,510 decrease in EAB. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Nelson/ Grimm for a resolution approving intervention in property tax appeal board proceedings (2025 – Canton City Realty, LLC). 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. REGULATORY AND POLICY ALDERPERSON ANGELA HALE, CHAIR COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALDERPERSON JOHN LOVELL, CHAIR ORDINANCE DESIGNATING AND APPROVING THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE CANTON BUSINESS DISTRICT – 1 AND IMPOSING A RETAILERS OCCUPATION TAX, A SERVICE OCCUPATION TAX, AND A HOTEL OPERATORS’ OCCUPATION TAX IN THE CANTON BUSINESS DISTRICT - 1 AMENDED REDEVELOPMENT AREA. This was talked about in the public meeting. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Lovell/Nelson for approval of an ordinance designating and approving the second amendment to the Canton Business District – 1 and imposing a retailers occupation tax, a service occupation tax, and a hotel operators’ occupation tax in the Canton Business District – 1 amended redevelopment area. 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 A BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NO. 1 REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF CANTON AND ND BIG CAT’S BOWLS, LLC, AND JASON COULTER AND EMILY SCHAEFFER (51 N. 2 AVENUE PROJECT). This item is tabled. RESOLUTION APPROVING INCENTIVE SCORING MATRIX AND PROCEDURE. This wasn’t much different than what was already presented to the council other than some language and wording being changed. The policies and procedures document was made broader to not be BDD specific. There was also language put in about a process stating the initial application gets submitted to Cole who will then review the application and score it within 30 days of receiving a fully submitted and complete application. Cole will then meet with the committee and then 30 days within that date, the council will meet. This adopts the scoring matrix Cole came up with as well as modifying some of the policies. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Lovell/Grimm for approval of a resolution approving incentive scoring matrix and procedure. 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. PUBLIC WORKS ALDERPERSON GREG GOSSETT, CHAIR FINANCE ALDERPERSON ANDRA CHAMBERLIN, CHAIR RESOLUTION APPROVING GATEWAY MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT, AND ANY AMENDMENT(S) THERETO, WITH XPRESS BILL PAY. Attorney Jump explained an agreement was sent out that the council has already seen as well as a document that incorporated amendments to that agreement that Jump had requested. This is for the software that is going replace the payment program that is used online. The current software company we use, Springbrook Holdings Incorporated, has purchased this credit card processor. This will eliminate the need to use the Illinois EPay site where the city can only take money for trashcans, bulk pickup, permits, and licenses whereas the civic pay system only takes water bills and items that are on the bill like trash cans and bulk items but not licensing and permit. The Xpress bill pay will incorporate everything into one system that will follow our accounting system. The council voted previously to absorb the cost so Keith Plavec and Beka Shultz will start looking at water rates. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Chamberlin/Nelson for the approval of a resolution approving Gateway Master Services Agreement, and any amendment(s) thereto, with Xpress Bill Pay. 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 ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 8, CHAPTER 12 (PARKS) OF THE CANTON MUNICIPAL CODE. This is regarding the Opera House Plaza and everything that has been worked on such as policies, costs, and events. Jump stated this is a temporary solution while they continue to work on the policies. The concern is that the park ordinance is a little dated. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Ketcham/Gossett for approval of an ordinance amending title 8, chapter 12 (parks) of the Canton Municipal Code. 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. EXECUTIVE SESSION/CLOSED MEETING ADJOURNMENT Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Nelson/Lovell 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