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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-19-2026 Canton City Council Regular Meeting Minutes CANTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2026, 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 May 19, 2026 (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 Corey Miller, Fire Chief Scott Roos, and Street Superintendent Dash Wilson. OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Attorney Tarryn Gardner with Davis & Campbell. 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: The Mayor announced that the Oath of Office for the new firefighter would be moved up on the agenda, prior to the public hearing, so that attendees present for that ceremony could be excused early. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: There was no public participation. MAYORAL COMMUNICATIONS/REQUESTED ACTION: Jeni Crosthwait with Dacott Energy Services appeared through zoom to present information on the upcoming residential energy aggregation renewal. She reported that the current contract with Homefield Energy, at a rate of $0.10985/kWh, is set to expire the following month. The council was informed that the best available 10-month contract (August 2026 through June 2027) with Constellation Energy would bring the rate down to $0.10779/kWh – a modest but meaningful reduction. By contrast, a 12-month contract would represent an approximately 8% price increase, and a 24-month term would push the rate to $0.13%/kWh, which was deemed unacceptable. Jeni explained that suppliers are structuring short-term deals ending in June to avoid pricing uncertainty in July and August, when capacity costs for the following are not yet known. She noted that the summer “price to compare” from Ameren had not yet been released but was expected to come in slightly above $0.11/kWh, making the 10-month offer favorable. She also cautioned the council that global and political factors make the market value volatile in either direction. The Mayor expressed a preference for a 12-month term if pricing could be made competitive but agreed that an 8% premium was not acceptable. Council members were broadly in agreement that locking in at or below the current rate was the priority, with Alderman Lovell expressing comfort with the 10-month option and Alderman Grimm echoing the desire to avoid a potential spike. The council authorized Jeni to continue negotiating and to send daily pricing updated to the Mayor’s office for distribution to the council. It was agreed nd that a formal vote would take place at the June 2 council meeting, with the option to call a special meeting if market conditions warranted earlier action. The council was also reminded that the aggregation program is opt-out, meaning residents remain free to Ameren service at any time. Joe Hitchcock, a retired police officer and former Canton officer, addressed the council on behalf of his franchise of School and Mitchell, North America’s largest cost-reduction consulting firm. Hitchcock explained that his practice focuses on municipalities and operates on a fully contingency-based model – meaning the city incurs no cost unless savings are first realized. His review of publicly available budget data identified the city’s telecom and utility spending as areas of significant opportunity. On the telecom side, he noted that Canton currently used three separate cell phone carriers with expenditures siloed across departments, preventing the city from leveraging consolidated contract pricing. On the utility side, he highlighted notable year-over-year increases in Ameren charges: the water treatment plant’s bill increased 54% between FY24 and FY25 (approximately $309,000), wastewater treatment increased 38% (approximately $360,000), and street lighting increased 22% (approximately $110,000). Hitchcock stated that his process – which involves identifying the correct rate structures and riders available under the Public Utilities Act – has yielded an average reduction of approximately 10% across similar engagements. His proposal would involve working directly with city vendors to gather detailed spend data, minimizing demands on staff time, and he would remain engaged for three years to ensure proper implementation. The Mayor and council indicated interest and agreed to follow up with Hitchcock. The Mayor recognized the Graham Hospital Foundation for donating an AED unit to be placed at the Lake Canton Campground, noting that the Foundation has donated several such units in the area. The Mayor expressed appreciation for the donation and its benefit to campers and recreational users of the lake. The Mayor also recognized Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons Local 18 Central Illinois for their ongoing work on the exterior of the Cardosi Building. The Mayor explained that the union is using the project as a training exercise for apprentices, providing labor at no cost to the city, with the city only covering materials. The work is nearly complete, and the collaboration has been a tremendous help to the city. The Mayor advised the community to start being more cautious with school letting out this week meaning there will be more kids walking, riding bikes, playing, etc. CITY CLERK COMMUNICATIONS/REQUESTED ACTION: Fire Chief Scott Roos introduced the newly appointed firefighter Jackson Rhoades. The Oath of Office was administered by the City Clerk. Jackson Rhoade’s badge was pinned by his father, Adam Rhoades, assistant fire chief of the Macomb Fire Department. Following the ceremony, firefighter Rhoades briefly addressed the council, noting that he grew up in Macomb, studied agriculture at Western Illinois University, previously served as a firefighter in East Moline, and chose to return to a smaller community to serve. PUBLIC HEARING: PUBLIC HEARING FOR A PROPOSED ANNEXATION AGREEMENT (OR “PRE-ANNEXATION”) AGREEMENT INVOLVING REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1019 E. LINN STREET, CANTON, IL 61520 (PIN #09-08-35-132-018). The Mayor opened the public hearing at 6:38pm. No members of the public offered comment either in favor of or against the proposed annexation agreement. The public hearing was closed at 6:39pm with no public comment received. DEPARTMENT HEAD COMMUNICATIONS/REPORTS: Acting City Treasurer, Paula Grigsby, had nothing to report. Police Chief, Corey Miller, provided several updates. He announced the recipients of the department’s annual awards, which were voted on by peers during National Police Week: the Chief’s Award was presented to Officer Jesse Hull, the Telecommunicator of the Year Award to Jason Engel, and the Officer of the Year Award to Officer Gage Hasselbacher. The department, in partnership with Dunkin’ Donuts and other local law enforcement agencies, participated in the “Cop on the Rooftop” fundraiser for Special Olympics Illinois, raising just over $2,500 in a single day. Regarding the Mayor’s Clean Sweep Initiative, Chief Miller reported that Officer Tim Herink would be partnered with Code Enforcement Officer Drake Wilson to jointly address ordinance violations and nuisance properties across the city. Council members were encouraged to contact Chief Miller or the officers directly with concerns from their respective districts. Finally, Chief Miller reported that he and Park District Director Brent Wheeler have been in discussions regarding a proposed intergovernmental agreement under which the city would dedicate one officer to patrol park facilities – including the swimming pool, trails, and Lakeland Park – during the summer months of June, July, and August. The Park District is in discussions about funding the officer’s salary during that period. The officer would remain under the Chief’s supervision and use city equipment and citations. A draft agreement is being nd prepared by the city attorney with the goal of presenting it at the June 2 meeting. The Mayor expressed strong support for the initiative, noting the Park District’s prior inability to maintain its own law enforcement presence. Fire Chief, Scott Roos, had nothing to report. Street Superintendent, Dash Wilson, had nothing to report. CONSENT AGENDA: APPROVAL OF THE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES HELD MAY 05, 2026. BILL LIST DISBURSEMENT REPORT TREASURER’S REPORT PUBLIC WORKS REPORT POLICE REPORT FIRE REPORT Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Hale/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 REGULATORY AND POLICY ALDERPERSON ANGELA HALE, CHAIR COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALDERPERSON JOHN LOVELL, CHAIR Alderman Lovell announced that the Canton History Arts Alliance would be hosting its first Plaza event of the season the following Friday – an Almost Taylor (Taylor Swift tribute band) performance, weather permitting, with Old Dog Brewery as a backup venue. ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CANTON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF CANTON AND THE THRIFTY BEAN OF CANTON, LLC. This authorizes a 20% redevelopment incentive for the Thrifty Bean of Canton, LLC not to exceed $44,006. The agreement is structured so that the recipient may submit $40,000 in receipts to receive an $8,000 reimbursement up to three times, followed by a final reimbursement of $20,000 upon submission of the remaining $100,000 in eligible project costs. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Lovell/Chamberlin for approval of an ordinance approving and authorizing the execution of a Canton Business Development District redevelopment agreement by and between the City of Canton and the Thrifty Bean of Canton, LLC and authorizing and 20% redevelopment incentive. 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 A CANTON BUSINESS DISTRICT NO. 1 REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF CANTON, FULTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS AND TED BAKER (114 N. MAIN PROJECT). This amends the existing redevelopment agreement for the 114 N. Main Street project. Lovell explained that the project had originally been presented as a larger undertaking but was subsequently reduced in scope to a smaller project. The amendment adjusts the incentive structure accordingly to a 50% incentive given the project’s small scale, with a total incentive of $1,950. The amendment also addresses a prior administrative error that had required the item to be tabled at a previous meeting. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Lovell/Grimm for approval of an ordinance approving and authorizing the execution of the first amendment to a Canton Business District No. 1 redevelopment agreement by and between the City of Canton, Fulton County, Illinois and Ted Baker (114 N. Main Project) with a total incentive of $1,950. 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 RESOLUTION APPROVING A PRE-ANNEXATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF CANTON AND JEFF BENNETT INVOLVING REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1019 E. LINN, CANTON, IL 61520. There was no discussion. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Gossett/Pickel to approve a resolution approving a pre-annexation agreement between the City of Canton and Jeff Bennett involving real property located at 1019 E. Linn, 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. ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF TWO (2) JOHN DEERE UTILITY TRACTORS FROM HERITAGE TRACTOR, LLC AND AUTHORIZING THE SALE OR TRADE-IN OF MUNICIPALLY OWNED EQUIPMENT. Street Superintendent Dash Wilson explained that the two new John Deere utility tractors would replace the city’s existing 2012 Case International tractors, which have approximately 2,500 hours of use and are in poor condition. The new tractors will also be equipped with mowers, expanding their utility for alley maintenance and other functions. The tractors are included in the current capital replacement budget. During the motion process, it was noted that a revised invoice had been received on the day of the meeting reflecting a slight price reduction. Alderman Gossett withdrew his initial motion to allow for the corrected figured to be incorporated. The final purchase price for both tractors is $103,431.50, with a trade-in value of $7,200 for the existing equipment, resulting in a net cost to the city of $96,231.50. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Gossett/Pickel to approve the ordinance as amended to reflect the corrected purchase price of $103,431.50 and a new cost of $96,231.50 after a $7,200 trade-in was made. 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 IT AND CYBERSECURITY ALDERPERSON DAVE PICKEL, CHAIR LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT ALDERPERSON RALPH GRIMM, CHAIR PROPERTY ALDERPERSON PATRICK KETCHAM, CHAIR ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING LEASES OF MUNICIPALLY OWNED REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 26055 N. LAKELAND ROAD, LOT 18 AND 26054 N. LAKELAND ROAD, LOTS 14 AND 15. In the absence of Alderman Ketcham, attorney Tarryn Gardner explained the background of this ordinance. The leases in question originated from a trust established in the 1900s. The current occupant – the son of the original leaseholder – has been making consistent payments, but the lease was never formally transferred out of the trust’s name, and the trust documents cannot be located. The ordinance is intended to clean up the city’s records. It does not yet formally assign the lease to the son; however, it contains provisions allowing for amendment once the question of proper assignment is resolved. The council was advised by legal counsel that the ordinance was necessary for proper record-keeping. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Grimm/Gossett for approval of an ordinance authorizing leases of municipally owned real property located at 26055 N. Lakeland Road, lot 18 and 26054 N. Lakeland Road, lots 14 and 15. 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 APPROVING RE-ZONING OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 354 E. LOCUST FROM R-4 TO B-2. The Mayor noted that the property at the corner of Fourth Avenue and East Locust Street had long been used commercially and that the rezoning to B-2 (business) was consistent with that historical use. The Planning and Zoning Commission had approved the rezoning unanimously with no objections. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Chamberlin/Hale for approval of an ordinance approving re-zoning of property located at 354 E. Locust from R-4 to B-2. 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 APPROVING RE-ZONING OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 360 E. LOCUST FROM R-4 TO B-2. This rezoning, for the adjacent parcel at 360 E. Locust, was presented under the same circumstances and rationale as the preceding item. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Grimm/Gossett for approval of an ordinance approving re-zoning of property located at 360 E. Locust from R-4 to B-2. 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 Chamberlin/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