South West Illinois News

City of Columbia City Council met Aug. 4.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Columbia, lllinois Held Monday, August 04, 2025 in the Council Room of City Hall. 

A. Call Meeting to order 

Mayor Hill called the City Council of Columbia, Illinois to order at 6:30 PM. 

8. Rollcall 

Present: Aldermen Riddle, Khoury, Lawlor, Nobbe, Hitzemann, and Mayer. Absent: Aldermen Huchand Holtkamp. 

Quorum present. 

Administrative Staff present: 

City Administrator Douglas Brimm City Attorney Terry Bruckert 

Deputy city clerk Kelly Mathews City Engineer Chris Smith 

IT Director James Mitchell Public works Director Mike sander Chief of police Jason Donjon EMS chief Kim Lamprecht 

C. Pledge of Allegiance 

Those in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance. 

D. Proclamations/Recognitions/Presentations 

There were no Proclamations/Recognitions/Presentations. 

E. Public Input 

1. Agenda Item K.4. Discussion of a special Use Permit to Allow a Ground-Mounted Solar Energy System at 1 Christ Church Way 

a. Pat Siebel spoke against the special use permit. 

b. Former Christ community Lutheran church pastor Bill Groennert, and current pastor Jared Parker explained the Church's reasoning for wanting ground-mounted solar versus roof-mount solar. Todd Velnosky and Nathan Rau also explained more in depth the Church's reasoning. 

c. Brian Donovan spoke against the special use permit. 

2. Stormwater Issues 

a. Eric Castelli addressed the council regarding stormwater issues at his property located within a flood zone. 

F. Comments & Announcements -Mayor 

Mayor Hill reported Columbia Days will be held August 15-16, 2025 at Turner Hall and Songs4Soldiers will be held September 5-6, 2025 at Bolm-Schuhkraf Park. 

Mayor Hill thanked the Columbia Community Collective organization for hosting the Taste of Columbia. 

Mayor Hill reported the City will have a Memorial Sign Dedication Ceremony for Sgt. Alfred Descher, Ofc. Jared Reddick, and Sgt. Michael Conrad on August 11, 2025 at 3:30 PM in front of City Hall. 

G. Comments & Announcements -Aldermen 

There were no Aldermen Comments & Announcements. 

H. Comments & Announcements - Department Directors 

There were no Department Directors Comments & Announcements. 

I. Consent Agenda 

City Administrator Brimm read the Consent Agenda. 

1. Motion to Approve Minutes of the July 7, 2025 Regular city council Meeting 2. Motion to Approve closed session Minutes of the July 7, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting 

3. Motion to Approve payment of vouchers for the period ofJuly3, 2025 through July 31, 2025 totaling $689,482.70 

4. Motion to Approve statement of Funds for June 30, 2025 

5. Motion to Approve Special Event Application -Columbia Days Festival & Parade (August 15-16, 2025) 

6. Motion to Approve special Event Application -Songs 4 Soldiers Benefit concert (September 5-6, 2025) 

Mayor Hill inquired if the Council wished to remove any items prior to a motion. There were none. 

Motion: 

It was moved by Alderman Hitzemann, and seconded by Alderman Lawlor, to approve the Consent Agenda as read. 

Motion Passed. 

Roll Call Vote results: 

6 Aye: Riddle, Khoury, Lawlor, Nobbe, Hitzemann, and Mayer 

0 Nay: 

2 Absent: Huch and Holtkamp 

0 Abstain: 

I. Unfinished Business 

1. Ordinance No. 3701 Authorizing the Purchase of Real Estate Owned by DeRossett Investments, LLC 

Motion: 

lt was moved by Alderman Khoury, and seconded by Alderman Riddle, to pass and approve Ordinance No. 3701, an Ordinance Authorizing the Purchase of Real Estate Owned by DeRossett Investments, LLC 

Motion Passed. 

Roll Call Vote results: 

6 Aye: Riddle, Khoury, Lawlor, Nobbe, Hitzemann, and Mayer 

0 Nay: 

2 Absent: Huch and Holtkamp 

0 Abstain: 

K. New Business 

1. Ordinance No. 3702 Regulating Development in Floodplain Areas 

Motion: 

It was moved by Alderman Hitzemann, and seconded by Alderman Mayer, to pass and approve Ordinance No. 3702, an Ordinance Regulating Development in Floodplain Areas 

Motion Passed. 

Roll Call Vote results: 

6 Aye: Riddle, Khoury, Lawlor, Nobbe, Hitzemann, and Mayer 

0 Nay: 

2 Absent: Huch and Holtkamp 

0 Abstain: 

2. Motion to Award Bid for 2025 Concrete Replacement Program to Henke Excavating, Inc. in the Amount of $95,520 

Motion: 

It was moved by Alderman Nobbe, and seconded by Alderman Lawlor, to Award Bid for 2025 Concrete Replacement Program to Henke Excavating, Inc. in the Amount of $95,520 

Motion Passed. 

Roll Call Vote results: 

6 Aye: Riddle, Khoury, Lawlor, Nobbe, Hitzemann, and Mayer 

0 Nay: 

2 Absent: Huch and Holtkamp 

0 Abstain: 

3. Discussion of an ordinance Implementing a Municipal Grocery Retailers' Occupation Tax and a Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax 

Mr. Brimm stated effective January 1, 2026, the State of Illinois will no longer collect the 1% sales tax on groceries. Mr. Brimm explained the State does not retain any revenue from this tax and it is solely distributed to local governments. 

The Illinois Municipal League (IML) worked with legislators to secure the authority for both home rule and non-home rule municipalities to enact, by ordinance and without referendum, a 1% local grocery sales tax, effective the same date as the repeal. 

Mr. Brimm reported an ordinance to enact a 1% local grocery sales tax will be presented at the August 18, 2025 City Council meeting for consideration. 

4. Discussion of a Special Use Permit to Allow a Ground-Mounted Solar Energy System at 1 Christ Church Way, in the A-1 Agricultural District 

Mr. Brimm explained Mid-America Electric, on behalf of Christ Community Lutheran Church, applied for a special use permit to allow a ground-mounted solar energy system at the church's property at 1 Christ Church Way, in the A-1 Agricultural District. 

The Plan Commission conducted the public hearing and considered the request on July 14, 2025. Upon consideration, they unanimously recommended denial of the request citing the lack of justification for ground-mounted versus roof-mounted. 

Mr. Brimm reported an ordinance to approve the special use permit will be presented at the August 18, 2025 City Council meeting for consideration. 

L. Closed session 

Mayor Hill informed the Council that he would entertain a motion to go into Closed Session to discuss 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5) Purchase or Lease of Real Property for the Use of the Public Body and 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11) Pending, Probable, or Imminent Litigation. 

Motion: 

It was moved by Alderman Nobbe, and seconded by Alderman Khoury, to direct the Mayor to 

go into Closed Session at 7:24 PM to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5) Purchase or Lease of Real Property for the Use of the Public Body and 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11) Pending, Probable, or Imminent Litigation. 

Motion Passed. 

Roll Call Vote results: 

6 Aye: Riddle, Khoury, Lawlor, Nobbe, Hitzemann, and Mayer 

0 Nay: 

2 Absent: Huch and Holtkamp 

0 Abstain: 

Mayor Hill called the Regular Session of the City Council back to order at 8:10 PM. Upon return to Regular Session, Aldermen Riddle, Khoury, Lawlor, Nobbe, Hitzemann, and Mayer were present. 

M. Announcements 

There were no announcements. 

N. Adjournment 

Motion: 

It was moved by Alderman Hitzemann, and seconded by Alderman Khoury to adjourn the Regular City Council meeting held Monday, August 04, 2025 at 8:10 PM. 

Motion Passed. 

Roll Call Vote results: 

6 Aye: Riddle, Khoury, Lawlor, Nobbe, Hitzemann, and Mayer 

0 Nay: 

2 Absent: Huch and Holtkamp 

0 Abstain: 

https://www.columbiail.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_08042025-411