Washington's new city administrator will drive his own car for city business instead of a vehicle the city was ready to provide for him.
That change in Jeff Fiegenschuh's employment agreement, approved unanimously Monday by the Washington City Council, will benefit both him and the city, he said.
Fiegenschuh will receive a $300 monthly car allowance from the city.
"Quite honestly, I don't want to drive a city vehicle for city business," Fiegenschuh said. "I prefer driving my own car. I like my iTunes and music. I'm comfortable in my car."
Fiegenschuh said it will be cheaper for the city to give him a car allowance than for the city to provide him with a car.
To prove his point, he noted the annual lease costs to the city for vehicles like his car. The costs do not include fuel, insurance, maintenance or administrative expenses:
• Jeep Cherokee (police investigations): $12,048
• Jeep Grand Cherokee (unmarked police squad car): $13.020
• Jeep Grand Cherokee (unmarked police car for the deputy chief): $13,236
"My car allowance totals $3,600 annually and eliminates additional operating and insurance expenses for the city," Fiegenschuh said.
"Also, the contract amendment removes any ambiguity related to the personal use of a city-owned vehicle and avoids potential policy or liability issues that can arise from mixed-use vehicles."
Fiegenschuh's starting annual salary is $180,000. The city is also giving him $10,000 in moving expenses so he can relocate from Rochelle, where he served as city manager for eight years.
From the airport to city hall
Paulette Hurd is Washington's new finance director.
Her employment agreement, which calls for a $130,000 annual salary, was approved unanimously Monday by the council.
Hurd will replace Joanie Baxter, who is retiring after being in the position for 31 years.
Baxter plans to remain on board until late April to work on the city's 2026-27 fiscal year budget and smooth the transition process for Hurd, whose first day in Washington is Wednesday.
Hurd has been the chief financial officer [CFO] of the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington since 2017.
Among her previous jobs were chief accountant for the city of Bloomington from 2012-17 and senior manager for the Clifton Gunderson accounting firm from 1996-2011.
Fiegenschuh said Monday he wasn't deeply involved in the hiring process, but Hurd is "extremely qualified" for the job and he fully supports her appointment and employment agreement.
Hurd's husband Randy Hurd is a fire captain with the Washington Fire Department. He previously served as chief and assistant chief. He's been with the department for 29 years.
No more interest reimbursements for Tangled Roots
Washington has made its 14th and final tax increment financing [TIF] payment for interest costs to the developers of the Tangled Roots Craft Beer & Kitchen restaurant on the downtown square.
The $8,850 TIF payment for December, approved unanimously Monday by the council, is the maximum 30% TIF reimbursement of the total December interest amount of $29,500.
The city's total TIF payments for interest costs since 2023 add up to nearly $173,230. The city's 2021 TIF agreement with the developers called for a maximum interest reimbursement of $305,000.
The TIF agreement also calls for as much as $980,000 in total TIF payments for the restaurant project. The current total is nearly $848,240.
New rules for billboards?
Here are highlights of department heads' reports to the council Monday and other news from the meeting:
• A discussion is planned at next Monday's council committee of the whole meeting to see if the council is interested in a zoning code amendment regarding billboards. If there is interest, the first step in the process would be a discussion item at a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.
• The city is looking for a building and zoning coordinator to replace the retiring Joe Boyer.
• A certificate of occupancy will be issued soon for O'Reilly Auto Parts at the intersection of Centennial Drive and McCluggage Road.
• The League of American Bicyclists announced that Washington has been renewed as bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community through 2029.
• First readings were held for ordinances that establish a second deputy police chief position in the Washington Police Department and allow members of city boards and commissions to attend meetings remotely for the same allowable reasons as council members. Second readings and votes on the ordinances will be held Feb. 16.
• The next "Let's Talk Ward 1" informal discussion session will be at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Washington District Library at Five Points Washington.
• The monthly "Let's Talk Washington" session for February with Mayor Lilija Stevens and Fiegenschuh hasn't been scheduled. Stevens said the January session at the Connect Center was well attended and a new topic was discussed: feral cats.
