Sangamon Sun

City of Petersburg City Council met Aug. 19

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

I. CALL TO ORDER 

Mayor Snyder called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. 

II. PRELIMINARY MATTERS 

A. Members present were Aldermen Bruce Gorman, Megan Loberg- Simmering, Mike Allison, and Neil Conklin. Aldermen Andrew Gain and Rick Sonnemaker were absent. Also present were Mayor Rick Snyder, Treasurer Melissa Riley, City Secretary Tracy Ciesler, Attorney Jason Brokaw and City Clerk John Ramage. 

B. Mayor Snyder led the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. 

C. A motion was made by Alderman Gorman and seconded by Alderman Conklin to approve the agenda. VOTES: Gorman, yes; Allison, yes; Loberg-Simmering, yes; Conklin, yes. Mayor Snyder declared the MOTION CARRIED. 

III. CITY CLERK 

A. The City Clerk presented the Warrant List and Accounts Payable. After a review, a motion was made by Alderman Gorman and seconded by Alderman Allison to accept the Warrant List and the Accounts Payable. VOTES: Gorman, yes; Allison, yes; Loberg-Simmering, yes; Conklin, yes. Mayor Snyder declared the MOTION CARRIED. 

B. The Regular meeting minutes of August 5, 2025, were presented. A motion was made by Alderman Loberg-Simmering and seconded by Alderman. Gorman to approve the July 15, 2025, regular City Council meeting minutes. VOTES: Conklin, yes; Loberg-Simmering, yes; Allison, yes; Gorman, yes. Mayor Snyder declared the MOTION CARRIED. 

C. The Finance Meeting minutes of August 5, 2025, were presented to the city council members. A motion was made by Alderman Gorman and seconded by Alderman Conklin to approve the Finance Meeting minutes. VOTES: Loberg-Simmering, yes; Allison, yes; Gorman, yes, Conklin, yes. Mayor Snyder declared the MOTION CARRIED.

IV. HEARING OF CITIZENS

None.

V. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS 

A. Water Department 

1. Water Department Monthly Report. The Water Collector Angela Henderson gave the July water collector's report along with 3 requests for adjustments and 1 payment agreement. A motion made by Alderman Gorman seconded by Alderman Allison to approve the water report with the requested sewer adjustments and payment agreement. VOTES: Gorman, yes; Allison, yes; Loberg-Simmering, yes; Conklin, yes. Mayor Snyder declared the MOTION CARRIED. 

2. Water Superintendent's Monthly Report, oral and written, was presented by the water superintendent Brad Hermes. Brad reported that the city pumped 10,887,270 gallons of water, with the increased volume coming from hydrant flushing. Also, the sewer plant discharged 9,220,000 gallons. Also, the department serviced approximately fourteen leaks or water turned on/offs. Additionally, the department investigated a high-water alarm at the South Lake Lift Station. Additional effort: 

-Installed new brine pump & motor PUMP B at the water treatment plant, (WTP). 

-Installed new chlorine transfer pump at the water treatment plant, (WTP), 

-Received a bid to rebuild water softener "A" at the WTP, with a total cost of $54,943.00. Softener "B" was rebuilt in 2021, -Received pricing for replacing the brine tank at WTP, with a total cost being nearly $110,00.00. 

Water well #11 must have some more sampling and testing before it can become operational. 

At the next city council meeting Angela Henderson will be appointed as the new water collector, replacing Georgia Ed who is retiring on August 29th. A motion was made by Alderman Gorman and seconded by Alderman Conklin to add Angela Henderson's name to both the water collector account and the water deposit account that the city has with Alliance Bank. VOTES: Allison, yes; Gorman, yes; Conklin, yes; 

Loberg-Simmering. Mayor Snyder declared the MOTION CARRIED. 

B. Street Department 

1. Street Department Monthly Report was given by Supervisor Brian Whitehurst. Brian commented on the Bags & Brush program and suggested changes for next year's program. The department cleared and patched alleys, sprayed weeds, mowed more than 150 hours, started stump grinding, and new concrete work. 

The department unlocked, cleaned and cleaned and unclogged the drain in the Jaycee Park bathroom, daily. 

The department purchased a Chevy truck and got quotes for a snowplow and salt spreader for it. 

The department completed its Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) Oiled Road program with over 100 tons of patch spread. 

Also, the department is working with Alderman Loberg-Simmering on possible grants for sidewalks around school zones. 

VI. OFFICERS' REPORTS 

A. Mayor 

1. Discussion on the purchase of the Broad-gauge parking lot on 7th Street. After discussion the city doesn't have an interest in purchasing the parking lot. 

2. Vote on List of Festivals. The mayor explained that a Festival is a recurring event, that has more than two business involved in it, it has the support of the Chamber of Commerce, and whole community is partake in it. The reason that this came up was that food trucks are allowed to sell items at festivals and not at other events in the city. The five events that are considered festivals in Petersburg are Drinkin w/ Lincoln, Harvest Fest, Witches Walk, Halloween Parade, and the Farmers Market. No vote was taken. 

3. Vote on Road Closure Extensions for Farmers Market. 

A motion made by Alderman Gorman seconded by Alderman Loberg- Simmering to approve the road closure extensions as presented. VOTES: Gorman, yes; Conklin, yes; Loberg-Simmering, yes; Allison, yes. 

Mayor Snyder declared the MOTION CARRIED. 

4. The mayor will bring forward two names for the library board next meeting of the city council. 

5. Stacy Rademaker would like a sign to put up for her son who was the State runner up in Feb 2024, as a wrestler. This will be on the agenda for the next meeting of the city council. 

6. There has been a call to rename a park in the city. This will be taken up at the next meeting of the city council. 

7.Terri Treacy talked about a grant from Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln that they would like to be used at a park to establish a gravel pad for 5 - 8 cars. The amount of the grant is $2500.00. A vote to accept the grant will be on the agenda for the next meeting of the city council. 

B. Treasurer's Report 

1. Treasurer's Report was given by Treasurer Riley. A couple of questions were brought up. The first was about an account that should be closed but final disposition is related to a federal government grant and that has never been dispositioned on their end. The second was brought up by the mayor who noted that the approved cost of one of the trucks trucks purchased in the last city council meeting was $25,000.00 while the actual cost was $25,500.00. Attorney Brokaw recommended that the purchase price be ratified by the members. All the Aldermen were made aware of this and were good with the new purchase price. A motion made by Alderman Gorman seconded by Alderman Conklin to approve the Treasurers report. VOTES: Conklin, yes; Loberg-Simmering, yes; Allison, yes; Gorman, yes. Mayor Snyder declared the MOTION CARRIED. 

2. Vote on FYE 2026 Budget to be made available for public review. A motion made by Alderman Gorman seconded by Alderman Conklin approve the FYE 2026 Budget being made available for public review. VOTES: Loberg-Simmering, yes; Allison, yes; Gorman, yes. Mayor Snyder declared the MOTION CARRIED. 

III. ADJOURNMENT 

A motion was made by Alderman Gorman and seconded by Alderman Loberg- Simmering to adjourn the meeting. VOTES: Loberg-Simmering, yes; Allison, yes; Gorman, yes, Conklin, yes. Mayor Snyder declared the MOTION CARRIED. Meeting Adjourned at 7:50 p.m. 

https://www.petersburgil.org/documents/328/8.19.25_Regular_Meeting_Minutes.pdf