Efficient City Council meeting, despite Mayor Moore being on Sister City tour

QUINCY — Mayor Linda Moore was absent from Monday’s Quincy City Council meeting as she is in Germany on a Sister City tour, so Alderman Dave Bauer (D-2nd Ward) was nominated by his peers to serve as chair for the evening.

The council sat as the Town Board temporarily to approve the Report of The Quincy Township Supervisor For General Assistance for The Month of June 2025, and the Report of the Town Auditing Committee for July 2025.

Most of the agenda passed quickly, with unanimous approvals.

The first discussion came with a resolution to approve $72,500 from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for the City of Quincy’s annual NPDES Permit fee. Alderman Greg Fletcher (R-1st Ward) requested the Director of Public Works, Jeffrey Conte, to approach the podium.

“What are we getting for our 72 grand?” asked Alderman Fletcher.

“It allows us to discharge treated wastewater into the Mississippi River and apply biosolids to farm fields,” said Conte. The payment is a requirement from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and the City would be fined if they failed to pay.

The resolution passed 10-3 with one absent. Aldermen Jeff Bergman (R-2nd Ward), Mike Adkins (R-3rd Ward) and Tony Sassen (R-4th Ward) voted no and Eric Entrup (R-1st Ward) was absent.

Bergman said his “no” vote was an expression of his frustration. He knew the resolution needed to pass, but he also knew it had the votes to pass, thus his opposition.

“It’s a mandate from the EPA and it really does not give us anything as far as the taxpayers here,” said Bergman. “It doesn’t benefit us… I’m not a big fan of the federal government trying to tell us how to spend our money here.”

Later, during the adoption of an ordinance amending the traffic code to prohibit northbound semi-trucks on North 12^th Street from making right hand turns onto Broadway, Engineering Manager Steve Bange explained there would be signage explaining directly them to turn elsewhere, around Chestnut. Bergman advocated that they should be instructed to turn on Locust instead, as Chestnut is also a rather tight turn.

After the first reading of an ordinance granting a Special Use Permit for the construction of a garage at 1002 North 24^th Street, Alderwoman Kelly Mays (R-3rd Ward) enacted Section 3231 to waive the need of three presentations, and vote on the ordinance immediately which passed unanimously.

“We waived that tonight because they applied for a garage, and they would like to just get started and there was no opposition. We didn’t feel like we needed to wait the three weeks to get the three readings,” said Alderwoman Mays.

There was no notable new business, however Alderman Holtschlag ended the meeting with a thoughtful message.

“Thoughts and prayers to all the people in Texas,” he said. “Us living on the river, we know what these rivers can do… just keep all the people of Texas in your prayer.”

Also passed in the meeting:

The Consent Agenda passed with 13 ayes and no discussion, approving the following petitions, reports, and appointments:

• Quincy Art Guild and Blessed Sacrament Church requesting permissions to conduct raffles and have the bond requirement waved
• Requested approval of a Live Entertainment/Public Gathering for the Chaddock Employer Appreciation and Book Launch
• Special Permit referred to the Quincy Plan Commission for the operation of a floral shop and design studio on August 6
• Special Permit referred to the Quincy Plan Commission for the construction of a hotel with a rooftop bar and restaurant at 200 Maine Street that exceeds the maximum height requirement
• Special Event Application requesting the closure of various roads and no parking areas from July 30^th through August 1^st
• Special Event Application to hold Gem City Concerts on Friday, July 18
• Sales Tax Report: April, 2025: $1,240,63.65
• Home Rule Sales Tax Report: April, 2025: $1,142,008.05
• Mayoral Appointment of Tim Koontz to the Plan Commission
• Mayoral Appointment of Jack Wilson to the Quincy Tree Commission

Additional Resolutions that passed during the regular meeting:

• Contract with Vector Solutions for a 3-year term for the web-based training records management platform, recommended by the Fire Aldermanic Committee and the Fire Chief
• Purchase of safety apparel totaling $7,860.45 from Tri-City Sports, recommended by the Human Resources Director and Director of Public Works
• Renewal of flood insurance policies for the Waste Water Treatment and Water Treatment Plants, totaling $16,470.00 to Wright National Flood Insurance Company, recommended by the Director of Public Works
• Payment of $76,000 to the Quincy Landfill 2 & 3 Superfund Site for the City’s share of the Cash Call, recommended by the Public Works Director and the Engineering Manager
• Purchase of one Motorola APX 8500 digital radio and ten Motorola APX 6000 portable radios totaling $20,399.90, recommended by the Chief of Police
• Purchase of five Safariland Hyper-X Level IIIA tactical vests and rifle plates, totaling $15,565.00, recommended by the Chief of Police

Additional Ordinances that passed during the regular meeting:

• Amendment of Traffic Schedules to prohibit northbound semi-trucks on North
• Amendment of Parking Schedules to add a No Parking zone on Locust near North 3^rd Street