ROCHELLE — City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh recognized several staff members with Good News Awards during the Rochelle City Council meeting Monday evening.

Fiegenschuh recognized City Clerk Sue Messer, Deputy City Clerk Rose Hueramo, Community Development Director Michelle Pease and Public Relations Director Jenny Thompson for their work in helping Rochelle conduct the 2020 census. The State of Illinois achieved a 71.4 percent self-response rate, which is higher than the rate accomplished during the 2010 census.

“I want to recognize the ladies for their hard work,” Fiegenschuh said. “The census is extremely important to us because a lot of our revenues are based on our per-capita and population.”

Fiegenschuh also recognized Industrial Development Manager Peggy Friday and Finance Director Chris Cardott for their work on helping the City of Rochelle apply for and receive the GFOA Distinguished Budget Award. The award reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting.

“When we applied for the award, we put Peggy in charge and she worked on it continuously for six months,” Fiegenschuh said. “It’s rare for a city to be awarded after its first time applying for the award, but we received the award this year and that’s because of Peggy and Chris.”

Budget

Council members approved the 2021 fiscal year budget during Monday’s meeting. The 2021 General Fund revenues are budgeted at $11,020,148, roughly a 10 percent decrease from 2020. Budgeted expenses will total $11,019,849, roughly 10 percent lower than 2020.

The combination of the General Fund, Special Revenue Funds, Enterprise Funds, Internal Service Funds, Trust and Agency Funds and Capital Project Funds will result in budgeted revenues of $75,645,544 and budgeted expenses of $85,751,822.

Credit Program

City council members approved an ordinance further amending the city’s Shop Local RMU Credit Program. The program was created to encourage residents to assist local businesses that were forced to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program provides $60 reimbursements in the form of RMU bill credits for qualifying minimum $300 purchases spent at local businesses including shops, bars and restaurants located in the RMU service territory.

Council members approved three amendments to the program including unlimited submissions, purchases made at qualifying businesses through Dec. 31, 2021 and purchases made from residential households as well as commercial, retail and industrial businesses.

Restart Rochelle

City council members approved an ordinance amending the Restart Rochelle Small Business Assistance Program on Monday. The program was created to allow nonessential businesses that were forced to shut down due to the pandemic to apply for grant funding from the city. 

The city will open applications for a Round 3 Grant under the requirement that businesses must generate sales or property taxes, close indoor service, comply with Governor JB Pritzker’s mandates and close on or before Dec. 15, 2020. Restaurants and bars seeking to apply must have a physical business within city limits that differs from the owner’s primary residence.

Restaurants that are exempt from the governor’s order and are allowed to stay open are not eligible for the Round 3 Grant. Businesses with drive-thru service are also not eligible. Home-based businesses do not qualify. The maximum amount of grant funding a business can receive is $10,000 for qualifying expenses. Eligible expenses include rent or mortgage payments, insurance and utilities. Grant funds will be paid out at the end of each month.

Other Items

City council members approved a 15-year capital improvement plan that will run from 2021-35 during Monday’s meeting. The plan is a multi-year planning instrument for the evaluation and identification of the capital infrastructure projects in need of renovation, repair, and/or construction along with the equipment or vehicle replacement over the next 15 years.

Council members approved the purchase of a Horton ambulance from Foster Coach Sales Inc. for the Rochelle Fire Department. The new ambulance will cost $228,913 and will replace an old ambulance with approximately 80,000 miles. The old ambulance will be traded in for $9,500.

City council members also approved the purchase of a sewer jetter truck from EJ Equipment for $399,950 for use at Rochelle Municipal Utilities. The existing sewer jetter truck will be shared by the city’s water, streets and electric departments to hydro excavate and jet storm systems.

City council members approved two lease agreements with Enterprise Fleet Management for a 2021 Chevy Silverado at a monthly rate of $466.37 for the electric department and a 2021 Ford F250 at a monthly rate of $657.08 for the water department. Council members also approved a five-year maintenance service agreement with Altorfer for six Caterpillar engines at the Caron Road substation at a cost of $103,580 as well as a new radiator for one engine at $76,305.62.

City council members approved a professional services agreement with Fehr Graham to expand the Rochelle Transloading Center. The city purchased roughly 20 acres east of the RTC in 2019 for the purpose of expanding the RTC and the City Industrial Rail system. 

City council members approved revising an ordinance to delete one Class B liquor license for TJ’s Lounge and add one Class B liquor license for Sissy’s Wild Card Saloon, which will be located at 417 Cherry Ave. The owner of TJ’s Lounge plans to surrender the liquor license upon consummation of the sale to Ken Rosencrans, which is scheduled for Dec. 15, 2020.

City council members approved an ordinance authorizing the lease of a property located at 8764 S. Illinois Route 251. The city has negotiated a month-to-month leasing plan beginning Jan. 1, 2021 with a monthly payment of $800, which is a $50 increase from last year.

City council members approved an ordinance continuing the temporary suspension of late fees for RMU customers through July 31, 2021. The initial suspension was created to assist residents who are struggling to keep up with payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic.