City of Hoopeston City Council met March 3
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
I. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Carter called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm following the pledge of allegiance.
II. ROLL CALL – The following 8 alderpersons were present: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Garrett, Lawson, McElhaney, Porth and Scharlach. Mayor Carter and Clerk Hardcastle were also present. Eric Eves was present on Zoom.
III. AMENDMENT OR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA – Alderman M. Ferrell moved to approve the agenda as presented. Alderman McElhaney seconded the motion. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried.
IV. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING – Alderwoman Lawson moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Alderman M. Ferrell seconded the motion. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried.
V. APPROVAL OF THE PAYMENT OF THE BILLS – Alderman Eyrich moved to approve the payment of the city’s bills. Alderman McElhaney seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Garrett, Lawson, McElhaney, Porth, Scharlach – Nays: None – Abstentions: None – Absent: None) and the bills were approved 8-0.
VI. PRESENTATIONS TO THE COUNCIL
a. DIGITAL DISPLAY FOR MCFERREN PARK – Andrew Lane addressed the council regarding constructing a single faced digital sign for McFerren Park.
VII. PETITIONS TO THE COUNCIL – None
VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT – None
IX. EXECUTIVE SESSION – None
X. REPORT OF OFFICERS
a. EYRICH
i. CONGRATULATIONS – Alderman Eyrich congratulated Clerk Hardcastle on being chosen as a Top Outstanding Young Person in the  humanitarian/volunteerism category by the Illinois Jaycees.
b. K. FERRELL
i. ELECTRONICS RECYCLING – Alderwoman K. Ferrell reminded everyone on the electronics recycling event.
c. M. FERRELL
i. PARKS COMMITTEE MEETING – Alderman M. Ferrell advised that the Parks Committee met and will be working on a site map for the AMBUCS playground grant. They also discussed the Civic Center remodel project and are working on some design considerations.
ii. SOLAR DISCUSSION – Alderman M. Ferrell passed around notes regarding BESS Siting and Safety for solar farms. Eric Eves advised that he would look into the matter.
d. GARRETT –
i. BABY MARKERS – Alderman Garrett announced that he should have a completion date set by the end of the week for this project.
e. LAWSON –
i. RESOLUTION 2026-25 – TRANSFERING A VAN TO VERMILION COUNTY – Alderwoman Lawson reviewed the resolution. Alderman Garrett asked how many animals picked up in town? Alderwoman Lawson answered that do not come to town unless called. Alderman Porth advised that this agreement should come close to taking care of the fees for a year. Garrett then asked about the potential contract with the county to place an animal control officer in town. Lawson answered that the contract will not be happening. Garrett then asked about the part time position that was advertised. Lawson answered that we did not need part time help. Alderwoman Lawson then moved to approve the resolution. Alderwoman K. Ferrell seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Lawson, McElhaney, Porth, Scharlach – Nays: Garrett – Abstentions: None – Absent: None) and the resolution was approved 7-1.
f. MCELHANEY
i. Nothing to report.Â
g. PORTH
i. BUDGET SHEETS – Alderman Porth announced that the budget worksheets had been out to the alderpersons for a couple of weeks. Alderman Garrett asked about the discrepancy on insurance rates. Porth answered that last year we were going through a change of insurance providers, and the rates were budgeted high since we were not sure what they were going to be. Porth then stated that he would like to get individual meets set with the individual alderpersons to go over the departmental budgets.
h. SCHARLACH
i. CASH BASH – Alderman Scharlach announced the annual fire department cash bash will be held on May 2, 2026, at the McFerren Park Civic Center.
XI. COMMUNICATIONS TO THE COUNCIL
a. MEETING DATE MOVED – Clerk Hardcastle reminded everyone that the next council meeting will be held on Monday, March 16, 2026, instead of Tuesday due to the primary election.
b. STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTEREST – Clerk Hardcastle announced that the annual Statements of Economic Interest have been sent out by the County Clerk. The deadline to turn those in is May 1, 2026.
XII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. ARROW AMBULANCE – Alderwoman K. Ferrell asked if the city has received any of the reports that Arrow Ambulance is required to send us? Alderman Scharlach stated that he has not been sent anything.
XIII. NEW BUSINESS – None
XIV. MAYOR COMMENTS
a. ORDINANCE 2026-13 – CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT CHANGES – Mayor Carter reviewed the changes to the solar ordinance regarding conditional use permits. Alderman Porth moved to approve the ordinance. Alderwoman Lawson seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Garrett, Lawson, McElhaney, Porth, and Scharlach – Nays: None – Abstentions: None – Absent: None) and the ordinance was passed 8-0.Â
XV. COMMENTS FROM THE ATTORNEY
a. ARROW AMBULANCE – Eric Eves advised it may be worth having a conversation about sending a letter to Arrow Ambulance requesting the required reports.
b. ESSES CASE – Eric advised that during the February 24 hearing, the court struck Acton’s affirmative defense. Alderwoman K. Ferrell asked what the next steps were. Eric answered that we are in the process of discovery now and it will last a few weeks.
c. 217 E MAIN ST CONTRACT – Alderman Garrett asked if the contract for that property has been signed yet. Mayor Carter stated that Webb has the contract, but it has not been sent back to the city.
XVI. ADJOURNMENT – There being no further action to come before the council Alderwoman K. Ferrell moved to adjourn the meeting. Alderman McElhaney seconded the motion. A voice vote was taken and the motion was carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:00 pm.
https://cityofhoopeston.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/3-16-26-Meeting-Packet-1.pdf
