Kankakee Times

City of Gilman City Council met Aug. 18.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The regular meeting of the city council was called to order by Mayor Theesfeld. Council responding to roll call were: Bachman aye, Smith aye, Kuipers aye, Eimen aye, McGehee aye, and Kraft aye. Clerk Kraft, Treasurer Boudreau, and Cindy Guttendorf were also present.

Moved by McGehee        Seconded by Bachman

to approve the minutes from the regular meeting held on July 14, 2025. All aye.

Moved by Kraft                 Seconded by McGehee

to approve the Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss Statement presented dated August 18, 2025. Votes were taken: Bachman aye, Smith aye, Kuipers aye, Eimen aye, McGehee aye, and Kraft aye.

Mayor Theesfeld advised council that a new committee will be formed titled Wellhead Protection Committee. He explained that the EPA has implemented a Wellhead Protection Program that requires cities to fence in the water wells and they must be locked so no one can contaminate the ground water. The new committee will have to meet annually and John McBride will attend and help implement the program, as required by the EPA. The Mayor stated nothing is needed at the water tower by the interstate, as all water if from the tower in town. He said there is a proposal of $4,853.80 from Tousignant, Inc. for an eight-foot square fence with barbed wire along the top and the ground covered in rock.   

Moved by Eimen               Seconded by McGehee

to accept the proposal of $4,853.80 from Tousignant Inc. for the Wellhead Protection fencing at the water treatment plant. Votes were taken: Bachman aye, Smith aye, Kuipers aye, Eimen aye, McGehee aye, and Kraft aye.

Moved by Kraft                 Seconded by Bachman

to approve the 2025-2026 Committee Appointments as shown on the attached list. Votes were taken: Bachman aye, Smith aye, Kuipers aye, Eimen aye, McGehee aye, and Kraft aye

The city is short two Zoning Board members, Mayor Theesfeld recommended the appointment of Fred Fender to fill one of the vacancies.

Moved by McGehee        Seconded by Kuipers

to appoint Fred Fender to the Zoning Board of Appeals, on the recommendation of Mayor Theesfeld.  Votes were taken: Bachman aye, Smith aye, Kuipers aye, Eimen aye, McGehee aye, and Kraft aye.

Mayor Theesfeld said a certificate of deposit at Iroquois Farmers State Bank has come due and he recommends rolling it over at 4% for a six-month period.

Moved by Kraft                 Seconded by Bachman

to approve the rollover of the Certificate of Deposit at Iroquois Farmers State Bank for a term of six (6) months at a rate of 4%.  Votes were taken: Bachman aye, Smith aye, Kuipers aye, Eimen aye, McGehee aye, and Kraft aye.

Mayor Theesfeld said the Water & Sewer Improvements Project bidding came in and needs to be awarded to Iroquois Paving. Before he signs the agreement there are still issues with past project invoices on the Third & Main Street project. He believes there should be credits on for the box culvert and other miscellaneous items. Funds from the state need to be received before payments can be made for the chain link fence, and a few other items. He will meet with Neil Piggush regarding some performance issues with the projects, and come to an understanding of how the city is billed for meetings on various projects. Kraft agreed that the engineering fees should include extra meetings to discuss various projects.

Moved by Kraft                 Seconded by Eimen

to award the contract for the Water & Sewer Improvements project to Iroquois Paving Corporation in the amount of $1,180,745.75 contingent on the mayor’s meeting with Neil Piggush. Votes were taken: Bachman aye, Smith aye, Kuipers aye, Eimen aye, McGehee aye, and Kraft aye.

Mayor Theesfeld said the city needs an updated project plan for the Water & Sewer Improvement Project with the correct number of manholes that will be used. Seven manholes were in the original plan then reduced to three, which he believes should be more.  He will speak with Neil Piggush regarding that before the project starts.

He updated Smith and Kuipers on the Third and Main Street project stating there is a Piggush bill that is unpaid because the engineering issues with the box culvert. The city should not have been billed an extra $18,000, and explained the box culvert was too tall and they had to cut the top off and reweld to fit underground. 

The Mayor met with Edelman Electric last week about putting solar panels at the sewer plant as the electric bills are usually over $8,000 per month. They will get the city a proposal. There is a new program where the government will refund government entities for certain costs associated with the solar project. They can generate enough energy for the whole plant during the day, but at night either battery storage can be put in place, or the city would use Ameren.

Mayor said the clerk and he met with a company that can create cyber protection on computers and phones.  The city needs to become proactive in protecting our emails, water billing system, and bank accounts. We will set up a meeting with the company and the finance committee to go over a proposal and have the cyber protection explained more in depth. He works with quite a few communities and taxing bodies for cyber protection.

Summer Jose Tapia is doing a good job. The mayor would like to purchase battery operated tools such as weed eaters, chainsaws, and blowers. The summer help used the mayor’s battery-operated tools this summer and they worked out great. A battery-operated post hole digger that can do 20 plus holes and still have battery left would also be great to have. 

Alderman Bachmann had nothing to discuss.

Alderman Kuipers had nothing to discuss.

Alderman Eimen had nothing to discuss.

Alderman McGehee was approached by Tony Miller about a dead tree in his yard that needs taken out. Mayor said there are several others that need to come down, he will talk with Matt Price. He also asked about the oil and chipping so the Mayor will speak with Aron Wagner.

Alderman Smith said the fogging application on the oil and chipped roads would cut down on the dust. It would be recommended it for Gray Drive. He has pamphlets on roadway products that he will bring to the next meeting. 

Alderman Kraft updated the council on the 2025 Ford truck and dump bed. He and the mayor looked at the welds again after it was returned to fix the poor welding job. He made several phone calls with the company to see if they would reduce the pricing, their response was it was an entry level bed, and that is what was ordered. Therefore, no resolution was made.  Had the city known there were different levels of workmanship on the beds, a better build would have been ordered. The welds will be looked at by David Thompson to see if improvements can be made. One suggestion was to caulk where the gaps are. The truck can be picked up once Watseka Ford installs the safety lights on.

Moved by McGehee             Seconded by Bachman

to approve the bills as they were presented dated August 18, 2025. Votes were taken: Bachman aye, Smith aye, Kuipers aye, Eimen aye, McGehee aye, and Kraft aye.

Moved by McGehee            Seconded by Bachman

to adjourn the regular meeting at 7:40 p.m. All aye.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Yo8uQBNYHq7YKre6E6Utf195tPUBYpyS/edit?tab=t.0