City of Hometown

Key discussions and actions during the meeting included acknowledgments from the Police Chief regarding an officer completing the Academy and a Corporal becoming the first D.A.R.E. officer. The Mayor mentioned ongoing utility issues (water main breaks) and a pending decision regarding garbage service contract renewal. The City Attorney announced his retirement after over 40 years of service. Finance Committee reports detailed the approval for payment of substantial payroll vouchers and general accounts payable for mid-January and early February. Committee reports covered ongoing water main repairs, updates from the Police Department concerning tickets and arrests, and Library updates including tax receipts and upcoming events. Action was taken to adopt Resolution No. 1-2026 authorizing an application for CDBG funding to reconstruct a frontage road. The council acknowledged the passing of the Deputy Clerk's son and discussed an ordinance related to repositioning a resident's garage.

The regular meeting addressed citizen concerns regarding excessive lighting from a car dealership and notification procedures for utility projects. Financial discussions included increasing gaming machine fees in the next budget and confirming opposition to increasing the gas tax. The Mayor commended Public Works for handling snow plowing and a water break, and reported on securing a CDBG grant for repaving the Southwest Highway frontage road and a $300,000 sewer grant. The council discussed the need to potentially secure a loan for new Public Works trucks due to ongoing repair issues. Concerns were raised about potential businesses at the plaza being primarily smoke shops or tax-free entities, and general property maintenance issues at the plaza were noted. The Treasurer reported a delay in county property tax refunds. The City Attorney announced an upcoming retirement. The Finance Committee approved accounts payable vouchers totaling $91,300.52 and payroll vouchers totaling $83,873.67. The Water and Sewer Committee reported on recent water main breaks. The Code and Ordinance Committee is gathering information for creating a tree removal permit. The Police Committee reported on unsuccessful break-in attempts at the plaza, noting the use of stolen vehicles, and the completion of an active shooter drill at a school. The Legislation liaison reported on the passage of the Illinois Squatter Law-SB 1563, which expedites the removal of unauthorized occupants. Community events scheduled for February were announced, and residents were reminded about street parking restrictions during snow events and the closure of City Hall/Library for President's Day.

The Ordinance Committee meeting primarily addressed the need to revise the current city code regarding tree removal. The discussion centered on amending the code to require a permit for tree removal on private property, defining criteria such as public versus private property, and specifying tree size, noting a recent incident where an unlicensed removal caused traffic obstruction. The committee concluded that the existing code only requires permits for public property trees and needs modification to include private property removals with safety considerations, such as specifying how the tree will fall and ensuring the entities performing the work are insured.

Key discussions during the regular meeting included citizen concerns regarding no parking restrictions near speed humps and an introduction from a prospective business owner planning to present business plans at the next session. Department reports covered the police department's focus on training, thwarting criminal attempts involving gaming facilities, and a significant narcotics arrest resulting from a citizen tip, which yielded $24,500 worth of drugs and a firearm. Public Works reported on routine maintenance, including streetlight repairs and upcoming work on sewers and fire hydrants. The Finance Committee approved two sets of accounts payable and payroll vouchers covering expenditures from December 23, 2025, and January 13, 2026. The Water and Sewer Committee reported on hydrant repairs. The Legislation Committee noted the implementation of the Summary of Rights for Safer Homes Act on January 1, 2026. New business addressed concerns about rat abatement and scheduling increased exterminator service, as well as Nicor's work on moving meters and repairing driveways after digging.

The agenda for the regular meeting included several standing committee reports, such as Finance, Streets, Sidewalks and Municipal Building, Water and Sewer, Parks and Recreation, Building, License, Code and Ordinance, Insurance, Public Health and Safety, and Police. Key items included the submission for approval of payroll for January 13, 2026, and accounts payable and payroll for the meeting date, as well as acknowledgment of the Clerk Collector Report and Treasurer Report. The Building Committee's agenda included the Monthly Building Report. A significant resolution, Resolution No. 1-2026, involves authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to sign the CDBG application for Program Year 2026 to reconstruct the Southwest Highway Frontage Road in the amount of $485,000.00. The agenda also listed reports from appointed officials including the City Attorney, Police Chief, Public Works Director, Building Commissioner, and Code Enforcement Director.