The McLeansboro City Council met for about an hour on Tuesday night, taking several actions including approving the Fiscal Year 2027 budget and making new hires. A 15-minute public hearing preceded the regular meeting for the presentation of the FY 2027 budget. The budget was approved without corrections during the board’s regular session.
During the meeting, the council also approved yearly Christmas bonuses, maintaining the same amounts as last year. The board hired five additional lifeguards for the City Pool this summer, joining three previously hired at last month’s meeting. A first reading was held for an ordinance on utility rates, which will go into effect in May and includes a 5% rent increase from Rend Lake. Final approval is expected at next month’s meeting. Action on a contract with Axon was tabled due to concerns over the proposed ten-year term, which Mayor Chad May considered too lengthy.
The Consent Agenda was approved and included several resolutions:
Authorization for the city to repay recurrent debts without further council approval
Procedures for purchase orders and debit card purchases
Maintenance funding with MFT funds
Airport leases for Fearless Flyer, Bret Vaughan, and David Sutton
Approval of a TIF façade improvement grant for Justin Drake of Country Financial, in partnership with the Hamilton County Economic Development Commission and the City of McLeansboro
A TIF reimbursement to Drake in the amount of $578.64
Authorization to purchase fireworks in FY 2027 not to exceed $10,000
Withdrawal from the Coal Belt Fire Protective Association of Southern Illinois, as it is no longer considered useful
After a 30-minute executive session, the council hired Kal Welch and Brody Bilderbeck as temporary part-time summer employees, and Brody Baker as a full-time employee in the electrical department. Permanent part-time employees will also receive the same pay raise rate increases as full-time staff.