by Sarah DeMaranville
Geneseo Current
The Geneseo City Council held a public hearing, a Committee of the Whole meeting, and a special City Council meeting Tuesday evening.
Prairie Park Eagle Scout project
Henley Bourne of Boy Scout Troop 100 presented plans for an Eagle Scout service project intended to improve safety and accessibility at Prairie Park.
The proposal includes marking and closing trails near the police shooting range and public works areas, creating a short connecting trail to preserve public access, installing rope gates and closure markers, and updating maps at three park entrances.
City officials said the council had already approved the trail closures. The project would help identify the affected areas and allow the closed trails to return to their natural state. Bourne must receive approval from the Boy Scout council before beginning the work and hopes to complete it before snowfall.
Council members thanked Bourne for volunteering his time to improve the park.
Fiscal year 2027 budget
During a second review of the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, officials discussed two changes involving the police department.
The police advertising budget was increased from $750 to $1,500 to expand officer-recruitment efforts. Additional funding was also added to the patrol salary budget as the department considers offering a hiring incentive.
Officials said the department could currently hire two additional officers. Only one applicant attended the most recent testing session, and that candidate ultimately decided not to join the department.
The Committee of the Whole unanimously recommended the budget for approval. During the special meeting that followed, the council unanimously approved the fiscal year 2027 budget.
Proposed property-tax levy
The council reviewed a proposed 4.99% increase in the city’s fiscal year 2027 property-tax levy. The increase is expected to generate approximately $90,000 in additional revenue.
Adjustments were made to funding for the police pension, emergency services, and police protection, while the corporate levy was reduced. The Committee of the Whole unanimously recommended the levy ordinance for approval and placement on the City Council’s consent agenda.
Bond abatement
The council unanimously recommended approval of an ordinance abating the city’s remaining general-obligation bond levy. Officials explained that without the abatement, the bond payment would be added to the property-tax levy. The city has routinely approved the abatement in previous years.
Municipal insurance renewal
The council reviewed the city’s insurance renewal through the Illinois Municipal League Risk Management Association.
Officials said the city has successfully participated in the association’s Min/Max program for at least 10 years. The city’s renewal increase is approximately 1%, which officials attributed to effective claims management. An additional 1% discount is available for early payment.
The council unanimously recommended approval of the agreement and placement on the consent agenda.
Payment of bills
The council unanimously approved the city’s bills after discussing several expenses, including an approximately $247,000 Illinois Environmental Protection Agency wastewater loan payment, accounting fees and a Fairbanks Morse repair.
Officials said some accounting invoices arrived late after not being received in June, but the total cost had not increased beyond the contracted amount.
Community reminders
City Administrator Brandon Maeglin shared the following reminders:
The remaining Roos Hill Road disposal-yard dates are Nov. 7, Nov. 21 and Dec. 5, from 8 a.m. to noon.
Official city trick-or-treating hours are 4–7 p.m. Saturday.
Curbside yard-waste stickers will be half price throughout November.
The final curbside yard-waste collection is scheduled for the week of Dec. 14.
No public comments were made during the Committee of the Whole or special City Council meetings.