City of Metropolis City Council met Jan. 12.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
The regular meeting of the City Council, City of Metropolis, Illinois was held at 7:10 p.m. on Monday, January 12th, 2026, in Council Chambers of City Hall at 106 West 5th Street, Metropolis, Illinois. Upon roll call the following Council members were present: Alderwoman Michele Longworth, Aldermen Chuck Short, Cord Koch, Jeff Bullock, Jermey Holley, Chad Lewis, Darryl Neill, Al Wagner, Mayor Gregg Jeffords, Corporate Counsel Andrew Leonard, City Clerk Jan Adams and concerned citizens of Metropolis.
ROLL CALL:
Bullock Present Longworth Present Holley Present Neill Present Koch Present Short Present Lewis Present Wagner Present
Moved by Alderman Jeff Bllock and second by Alderwomen Michele Longworth to approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 12-22-2025 as presented.
MOTION CARRIED:
Bullock Yea Longworth Yea
Holley Yea Neill Yea
Koch Yea Short Yea
Lewis Yea Wagner Yea
CITIZENS & VISITOR REQUEST:
Sandra Greenwald and Susan Howell shared information on the third annual “Fast and Furriest Car Cruise-In” held at Superman Square on Market Street from 4-8 pm. There will be a DJ, door prizes, vendors and a photographer for pictures around the Superman statue to name a few. They are asking for donations to sponsor the event, to raise funds to support our animals at Project Hope Humane Society. The sponsorship levels range from $50-$1,000. Project Hope is a no-kill animal shelter, incorporated as a 501c3 making all donations tax-deductible. They do not receive state or federal funding and rely only on donations. The mayor asked what do they need from the City. Sandra asked for manpower to help set up and to help the day of the event and help throughout the day. The event started with 30 cars; the second year they had 60 cars and continue to grow.
Caroline Jones with Metro Finance gave a brief report on the city’s investment with them. We opened the investment with $200,000 and now have $205,910 from YTD at a rate of 1.88%. The market is always strong, going into the new year and will rebalance semi-annual to the original investment. She will continue to bring quarterly reports to the council.
MAYOR’S REPORT:
Moved by Alderman Darryl Neill and second by Alderwoman Michele Longworth to approve payment to Super City Cleaners (617 West 10th Street) for a completed Business Improvement Grant project (exterior signage) in the amount of $1,988.84 MOTION CARRIED:
Bullock Yea Longworth Yea
Holley Yea Neill Yea
Koch Yea Short Yea
Lewis Yea Wagner Yea
Moved by Alderman Jeremey Holley and second by Alderman Cord Koch to Adopt Ordinance Approving a Final Plat of Minor Subdivision for the “Jones Building Subdivision 1” 2026-01
MOTION CARRIED:
Bullock Yea Longworth Yea
Holley Yea Neill Yea
Koch Yea Short Yea
Lewis Yea Wagner Yea
Moved by Alderman Chad Lewis and second by Alderwoman Cord Koch to approve the payment to Brown & Roberts, Inc in the amount of $143, 160.13 for the replacement of existing T-hanger with a 6-Unit T-hanger building
MOTION CARRIED:
Bullock Yea Longworth Yea
Holley Yea Neill Yea
Koch Yea Short Yea
Lewis Yea Wagner Yea
Moved by Alderman Jeremy Holley and second by Alderman Chad Lewis to approve payment to Brown &Roberts, Inc in the amount $5,976.07 for Illinois Project #M-30-4823 inv. 6
MOTION CARRIED:
Bullock Yea Longworth Yea
Holley Yea Neill Yea
Koch Yea Short Yea
Lewis Yea Wagner Yea
Moved by Alderman Jeremy Holley and second by Alderman Jeff Bullock to approve payment to Quint Utilities and Excavating, Inc in the amount of $29,420.00 for the 9th & Pearl Street project
MOTION CARRIED:
Bullock Yea Longworth Yea
Holley Yea Neill Yea
Koch Yea Short Yea
Lewis Yea Wagner Yea
Moved by Alderwoman Michele Longworth and second by Alderman Jeremy Holley to approve payment to Acee’s in the amount of $51,568.00 for the one-time grant for the EV Charging Station Improvement Project
MOTION CARRIED:
Bullock Yea Longworth Yea
Holley Yea Neill Yea
Koch Yea Short Yea
Lewis Yea Wagner Yea
Moved by Alderman Cord Koch and second by Alderman Darryl Neill to approve the new Air Hanger Lease agreement
MOTION CARRIED:
Bullock Yea Longworth Yea
Holley Yea Neill Yea
Koch Yea Short Yea
Lewis Yea Wagner Yea
Moved by Alderman Chad Lewis and second by Alderman Cord Koch to approve the new T-Hanger monthly lease price of $200 for the 4 inside T-hangers and $225 for the two outer T hangers.
MOTION CARRIED:
Bullock Yea Longworth Yea
Holley Yea Neill Yea
Koch Yea Short Yea
Lewis Yea Wagner Yea
Moved by Alderman Darryl Neill and second by Alderman Cord Koch to approve price increase from Helm’s Lawn Service for mowing at the airport
MOTION CARRIED:
Bullock Yea Longworth Yea
Holley Yea Neill Yea
Koch Yea Short Yea
Lewis Yea Wagner Yea
The motion to move forward with Outdoor Fitness Court and grant from National Fitness Campaign and Southern 7 Health Department was Tabled in the Parks & Recreation Committee meeting.
Moved by Alderman Darryl Neill and second by Alderman Jeremy Holley to approve rollover of our CD with Banterra Bank of the City Revolving Loan Fund for 1 year at 3.6% in the amount of $377,638.58
MOTION CARRIED:
Bullock Yea Longworth Yea
Holley Yea Neill Yea
Koch Yea Short Yea
Lewis Yea Wagner Yea
CORPORATE COUNSEL:
DEPARTMENT HEADS:
OLD BUSINESS:
NEW BUSINESS:
Alderman Holley shared information from a 2019 recruitment and retention task force seminar with One Shawnee. They are a community development organization with a vision of culturally and economically revitalizing the Ohio River and Shawnee National Forests regions in Southern Illinois on a shared vision of the future using a focused alliance of community groups, leaders,
resource partners, and stake holders. The task force looked into housing, quality of life, internet, and other factors that would bring families to move, live and invest in Southern Illinois. Mayor Jeffords and Alderman Holley attended a One Shawnee/SI Now regional summit Revitalization Program in September 2025 to listen as the City of Vienna shared its experience with IHD and the Community Revitalization Program. After listening they connected with IHDA’s community revitalization planner Kristopher Walton, and things took off from there.
We have not done anything of this scope in the past; this is a brand-new endeavor for the city. Through its Community Revitalization Program, IHDA conducts a 12- to 18-month assessment of the community. They will look at our housing needs, where we need infrastructure improvement and what housing we need. They are aware we are looking for senior living facilities as well as affordable multi-family units. There is no cost to the city and will need the community assistance to work as ambassadors and volunteers throughout the process. Alderman Holley was asked to take on that task and asked the rest of the council to provide him and or Jeremy with the names who’d be interested in helping. These are going to be people who are not appointed or elected to the City of Metropolis who will help spearhead this by conducting house-to-house surveys and assisting with public meetings through community outreach. The program will give them a better idea of the city’s housing needs and help in procuring assistance. The assessment will give us a lot of information so when talking to developers what the needs are we will have data from the state. The data will provide insight on how many people there are and how many live in inadequate housing as well as how many live in housing that can’t afford it. Corporate Counsel has reached out to several developers to bring in multi-family unit facilities, and they have always asked if we have had a study done. The study will help see this come to fruition.
IHDA will bring a team here to talk to everyone during the process, and we will have public hearings that require local stakeholders to be described as business owners, vendors, developers and people in the housing market who can describe what they are seeing. Alderman Holley noted that also includes those who have recently moved here providing a testimonial of why. The kickoff will be planned for the spring. The more we know the more we can improve upon and get people to move here, live here and grow here, making our community regenerate. The need for growth is a topic many have expressed as they discuss the Community Revitalization Program with them. We have spoken with realtors and agents who pointed out the city’s lack of housing in a lot of areas and a lot of needs. We have looked at a lot of different things to sell Metropolis to get people to move here who are digital workers who work from home. This goes hand-hand with that.
Mayor Jeffords has reached out to general manager Sherry Wessel of Harrah’s Metropolis who stated that they have employees, despite being paid well, can’t find affordable housing and some are staying in hotels for weeks.
Alderman Bullock pointed out there are several construction and renovation projects underway in the city, such as the improvements taking place in Lindsey Addition. We are seeing a lot of new house construction in the area. Alderman Holley added success breeds success. You get more people who want to redevelop and improve as others begin to follow.
At the end of the discussion, the mayor requested the council’s permission to spend up to $1,500 for community outreach during meetings related to the program; the council approved.
Moved by Alderman Darryl Neill and second by Alderman Jeff Bullock to approve road closure of Market Street from Superman Statue to 8th Street from 4-8 on Saturday, September 12th, 2026, for Fast & Furriest Car Cruiser-In
MOTION CARRIED:
Bullock Yea Longworth Yea
Holley Yea Neill Yea
Koch Yea Short Yea
Lewis Yea Wagner Yea
Moved by Alderman Chad Lewis and second by Alderman Jeremy Holley to accept Scope of Work in the amount of $51,800 from SCS Engineers
MOTION CARRIED:
Bullock Yea Longworth Yea
Holley Yea Neill Yea
Koch Yea Short Yea
Lewis Yea Wagner Yea
Moved by Alderman Jeremy Holley and second by Alderman Jeff Bullock to approve the hire of an employee for the Street Department due to the retirement of Chris Buchannan
MOTION CARRIED:
Bullock Yea Longworth Yea
Holley Yea Neill Yea
Koch Yea Short Yea
Lewis Yea Wagner Yea
MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS:
The 3rd Annual Graham’s Game Friday, January 30, 2026, at MCHS, part of ticket sales for the game, proceeds from the raffle, and t-shirt sales go to local families battling cancer research. City of Metropolis is donating a basket with a Pool Party Voucher and other Pool related items.
January 21, 2026, is “Wear Your Shield to Workday” so Metropolis Chamber of Commerce will hold a ceremony at the Superman Statue at 10am. Mayor Jeffords will read a Proclamation of Home of Superman Recognition Day.
1st Missionary Baptist Church’s Youth Dept. invites you to attend their Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration that will be held on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at 2pm. The keynote speaker for the event will be Tamiko Mueller, Democratic candidate for Illinois State Senate 59th District and featured guest speaker Judge McArthur Allen, chief administrative law judge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals.
FINANCIAL REPORT:
Moved by Alderman Jeremy Holley and second by Alderman Jeff Bullock to approve the Finance Report be received and approved and that the orders be drawn on the Treasurer for the different amounts mentioned therein and that the Mayor and the City Clerk be authorized to make necessary arrangements for payment of current Salaries, Payroll and Contract bills. MOTION CARRIED:
Bullock Yea Longworth Yea
Holley Yea Neill Yea
Koch Yea Short Yea
Lewis Yea Wagner Yea
Moved by Alderman Chad Lewis and second by Alderman Jermey Holley to approve the Finance Report be received and approved and that the orders be drawn on the Treasurer for the different amounts mentioned therein and that the Mayor and the City Clerk be authorized to make necessary arrangements for payment of miscellaneous bills.
MOTION CARRIED:
Bullock Yea Longworth Yea
Holley Yea Neill Yea
Koch Yea Short Yea
Lewis Yea Wagner Yea
Moved by Alderman Jeff Bullock and second by Alderman Cord Koch seconded by to adjourn. TIME: 7:47
MOTION CARRIED:
Bullock Yea Longworth Yea
Holley Yea Neill Yea
Koch Yea Short Yea
Lewis Yea Wagner Yea
https://metropolisil.keeforcecloud.com/jobrouter/index.php?cmd=PublicStart&ps=4277dc75346c705d399cb48119d516cf&username=webuser
