City of Chenoa City Council met Feb. 10.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
The Chenoa City Council met in Regular Session at City Hall on February 10, 2025 called to order by Mayor Shane at 6:30 p.m..
The City Clerk was directed to call roll. The following council members were present: Shane, Lopeman, Hernandez, Shipley and Bell. The following members of staff were present: Treasurer Rowold, Chief Cornwall and City Clerk Rhoades. The following members were absent: Attorney Mann.
Mayor Shane led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Consent Agenda
Motion by Bell, second by Shipley to Approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 27, 2026; bills and payroll be allowed, and orders on the Treasurer be drawn in payment of same. #5901 Motion carried by unanimously affirmative vote.
Tenille represented the Chenoa 4th of July Committee to ask for permission for their annual events. That included the fireworks and Liquor Licenses for the Cash Bash and Street Dance. They also requested the bathrooms be cleaned prior to the fireworks with access to the supplies to restock. They asked for a total of a $4,000 donation with $2,000 being for 2025 and $2,000 being for 2026. They also asked permission to upgrade the power on the outside of City Hall for the band for the Street Dance. They had plans of paying the quote of under $1,500 as they are the ones that use it but Mayor Shane said it is a City building and the City can pay it. The Council had no issues or concerns with their requests. Commissioner Lopeman said with this year being US’s 250th they are wanting to do bigger fireworks which do cost more and would be the biggest size shell Chenoa has ever shot off. They are trying to claim the title of McLean County’s biggest show again and put it on a shirt.
Mayor Shane said he was thinking of just doing audio until he spoke with some of the Council last week. He does agree that it would be better for the audience to see who is talking. He met with Kelly and the camera that was $1,000 is a 360 view which they would need to put a table in the middle and have the people from comments from the floor come up and sit down when they speak for the camera view. There would be something on the Clerk’s laptop that would be able to pause the recording when they go into Closed Session and restarted when they go back into Open Session. Motion by Bell, second by Lopeman to Approve to Purchase RICOH Meeting 360 for $1049.99 through PC Medicx to Record Council Meetings. #5902 Motion carried by unanimously affirmative vote.
Mayor Shane said Commissioner Bell and himself met with GFL that morning regarding commercial dumpsters. GFL would like them to pass an ordinance stating that who the City is using for residential garbage also has to be used by the commercial properties. Mayor Shane spoke with Attorney Mann and they both feel the City should not do GFL’s job for them and there is nothing that would stop them from increasing the price on the commercial dumpsters. Mayor Shane said there has not been a decision made yet but he wanted to update the Council on the conversation front that morning. He also said Commissioner Bell asked for clarification on the recycling pick up on Division Street and GFL was going to have to get back to them on an answer for that. Commissioner Lopeman asked if they said anything about starting before 6 as they are not supposed to but has been by his place at 5:30 before. Mayor Shane said they did not but he will.
Mayor Shane said they have had some large items sitting around town which GFL did not have any suggestions for. Commissioner Hernandez suggested putting notices at the property of what they should be doing with those items.
Commissioner Lopeman said this just a formality as they have never voted on it but only discussed the prices. Motion by Bell, second by Lopeman to Approve to Sell Surplus City Equipment/Materials with the Set Reserves Agreed on in the Executive Session of January 27, 2026. #5903 Motion carried by unanimously affirmative vote.
Comments
Public: Jill Hammond was here to ask Commissioner Lopeman regarding her brother’s military sign not being put up yet. Commissioner Lopeman said the employees picked up the hardware today and if it has not already been mounted it will be put up when they get the manlift out again. The City Clerk said she did pass along the request to the employees of where she would like the sign placed. Micheal Cox asked permission to collect donations for St. Jude at the corner of Route 66 and 23 on April 10 and 11. The Council had no issues with them doing that.
Attorney: None
Treasurer: Treasurer Rowold gave an update on the financials as of January 31. He said there is a surplus in the General Fund, Debt Service and Business District and a deficit in the Water and Sewer, Swimming Pool, TIF and MFT with an overall surplus for the City of about $232,000. He plans to have the budget worksheets done and to the Council after the February financials are done so they can start working on next year’s budget.
Commissioner: Commissioner Lopeman said the guys have worked on some vehicle maintenance, brush, shop work, building 20 new red A frame barricades, and talking about building some racks to store them on and did some clean up of snow with some salting. Mayor Shane said they had 3 main breaks last week. He said it is interesting that Don Schulthies said there is a pattern with those with earthquakes and last week there was one down by Springfield. He said Josh is still working with a lady on the Federal level to get some money to help with the lead line removal. He met with Representative Jason Bunting and no one there has been reached out to by them. He spoke with Tim Gruse regarding valuation around town and if there would be any changes with the Ameren deal. He asked the Council to get him any questions they may have for him. He said he has talked with Farnsworth for the bike trail crossing on Route 66 and received a proposal from them that he will pass along to the Council. He said Dairy Queen should be open in March.
Motion by Hernandez, second by Bell that the council do now adjourn. #5904 Motion carried by unanimously affirmative vote.
https://www.chenoail.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif6431/f/minutes/2_10_26.pdf
