Jerseyville approves new four-year contract with union city workers

JERSEYVILLE — The Jerseyville City Council voted Tuesday night to unanimously approve a new four-year contract with union city workers.

Following a closed executive session to discuss the contract agreement with Local 1479 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the council returned to open session and voted in favor of the contract covering four years, from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2030.

“I think (the agreement) was fair,” Mayor Kevin Stork said after the meeting. “Everybody got a little bit of what they wanted. A lot of it was just cleaning up some language of things that happen throughout the year that you realize that you want to make sure you get firm in writing.”

Stork said the new deal with its 13 unionized city employees adds an incentive program.

“It’s like a financial incentive for if they hold certain certifications or show proficiency in operation of all city equipment,” he said. “There are dollars tied to that kind of thing.”

Jerseyville union members approve new city contract

Eric Rohman, staff representative for Local 1479, attended the meeting and signed the contract on behalf of the union afterward.

“We feel good about the agreement,” Rohman said. “The agreement provides respect for the work that our members do. It is difficult and often dangerous.

“This agreement came about because of the solidarity of our membership,” he said. “Our members came together and really fought for a fair contract, ultimately, and one that we can be proud of.

“I’m happy that it provides a fair wage increase that allows our members to support their families and their lives here. Our members care a lot about this city.”

Rohman also expressed satisfaction with the new incentives for the union members in the contract.

“Those incentives are meant to ensure that our members are capable and able to carry out the city’s tasks, and to provide fair compensation for that,” he said. “It won’t just be my signature on there, but the signature of the folks who actually will do the work and keep this city functioning.”

Jerseyville hires patrolman, expands school police role

Tuesday's meeting included the swearing-in of Austin Laing as a newly hired patrolman for the Jerseyville Police Department. 

Police Chief Danny Green noted that the department had recently completed its testing of applicants for the patrolman position.

“(Laing) was No. 1 on our list,” Green said. “He impressed all of our commissioners, and we’re looking forward to getting him to the academy and getting him out on the road.”

Green pointed out that Laing would become the department’s 17th officer.

“We needed one more, because now we’re expanding their second (school resource officer); we’re going to have one in the Middle School now,” the police chief said. “We haven’t had that before, so we need to make up for that.”

Jerseyville council approves $27.5 million ordinance

The meeting started with a brief public hearing on the city’s Fiscal Year 2026-27 appropriations ordinance. Nobody spoke when the public was given an opportunity to comment on the spending plan.

Council member Tony Steckel, commissioner of accounts and finance, briefly reiterated remarks he made at the June 23 meeting, when he explained that the city uses an “appropriation system” instead of a “budget officer system.” He noted then that the appropriation system provides the maximum amount of spending for a municipality, while the budget officer system attempts to estimate actual spending.

The FY 2026-27 appropriations ordinance sets maximum spending allowed for all funds, including any potential capital projects, at $27,454,872. Steckel noted last month that over the past five years, the city’s actual expenditures each year have averaged about 45% of the appropriations ordinance total.

The council voted unanimously to approve the filing of the appropriations ordinance.

Jerseyville City Council approves zoning, charity events

In other action Tuesday night, the Jerseyville City Council voted unanimously to approve:

• A petition submitted by William Arnold to amend zoning of 406 E. Prairie St. from R-3 to R-4 for intended use as a multi-family rental property.
• A request from Dennis Ford on behalf of the Jerseyville Lions Club for the annual Lions Club Candy Day Fundraising Event, to be held from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, at the intersection of West County Road and Illinois Route 109. The rain date is scheduled for Oct. 2.
• A contribution of $250 to the Jersey Community Hospital Foundation for the annual Lucky Duck Derby to be held Thursday, Sept. 10, at Raging Rivers WaterPark in Grafton.

The council also noted the Rock the Block event from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 14, will feature the Yacht Rockers. It will be held in the City Center Plaza between Germania Brew Haus, 309 N. State St., and the Dairy Queen at 407 N. State St.