In the Know
u m a n R e s o u r c e s
Employee Wellness
Financial Wellness
In February, the Wellness Committee kicked off their 4 week financial wellness challenge! Each week focuses on a specific area of personal finance, encouraging employees to review and strengthen their financial knowledge.
§ Week 1: Track Your Spending
§ Week 2: Start or Add to an Emergency Fund
§ Week 3: Maximizing City Benefits
§ Week 4: Plan for the Future
At the conclusion of the 4 weeks, participants will be asked to complete a short survey and attend a wrap up session to discuss key takeaways and available resources.
MissionSquare is hosting monthly webinars throughout 2026. The full list of webinars and their descriptions for 2026 can be found on ESS. All webinars will be at 12pm Central Time.
If interested in attending a webinar, please visit www.missionsq.org/cfpwebinars to register.
Please see the list of upcoming webinars below:
o Mar 4 – Social Security: Understanding Your Retirement Benefit Options
o Mar 11 - Effective Estate Planning: Protecting Your Assets for the Future
o Mar 18 – Tax Planning and Your Retirement
o Mar 25 – Managing Your Investments: Helping to Keep Your Retirement on Track
Employee Wellness
Mental Wellness
As a reminder, we have the EAP program that offers our employees and their family guidance and tools including counseling, legal and financial consultation, and crisis intervention services for free.
March National Health Observances
· National Nutrition Month
· National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
· Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month
· Brain Injury Awareness Month
Healthy Eating
Below are some healthy recipes suggested to us by EHS, the company that does our blood screening, in their February 2026 newsletter.
Cajun Stuffed Peppers
https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-networkkitchen/cajun-stuffed-peppers-recipe-2106842
Lemon
Whole-Grain Linguine with Turkey Meatballs
https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-networkkitchen/lemon-whole-grain-linguine-with-turkey-meatballs3362580
Mediterranean Pasta Salad
https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-networkkitchen/mediterranean-pasta-salad-recipe-1973045
H u m a n R e s o u r c
Benefit Highlight: Tuition Reimbursement
The City of Rochelle is committed to investing in you and your professional growth. Our Tuition Reimbursement Policy is designed to help full-time employees who have completed their probationary period to build skills, expand knowledge, and prepare for future opportunities within the City.
Reimbursement is available for job-related coursework taken at an accredited two- or four-year college or university. Courses must relate to your current position or a degree program tied to your role or a future City position. Up to two courses (3 credit hours each) per semester may be considered, unless otherwise approved. Reimbursement for courses are as followed:
For undergraduate courses:
· 100% reimbursement for an A
· 90% for a B
· 80% for a C
For graduate-level courses:
· 100% reimbursement for a B or better
Tuition and required lab fees are eligible. (Please note: textbooks, student fees, parking, mileage, and meals are not covered.)
Applications must be submitted to your Department Head and the City Manager by October 1 for budget consideration. Once approved, documents are sent to Human Resources for processing. After completing your course, submit the Tuition Reimbursement form along with official grades and tuition documentation. Course schedules should not interfere with normal work hours, and employees are expected to remain with the City for two years after completing reimbursed coursework.
We believe in investing in our employees because when our employees grow, our City grows too. If you have any questions, please reach out to hrhelpdesk@rochelleil.us.
u m a n R e s o u r
Safety Focus: Trenching & Shoring
Trenching and shoring are critical safety practices for municipal employees because they directly address one of the most dangerous hazards in construction and utility work: trench collapses.
Here’s why Trenching and Shoring practices are so important:
Preventing Cave-Ins
•Trenches can collapse without warning and soil is extremely heavy (up to 3,000 lbs per cubic yard).
·A cave-in can trap or crush workers, often resulting in severe injury or death.
·Shoring systems (such as trench boxes and hydraulic supports) stabilize trench walls and prevent collapse.
Compliance with OSHA Standards
OSHA requires protective systems for trenches deeper than 5 feet unless the excavation is in stable rock.
Municipal employees often work on water lines, sewer systems, and utilities tasks that frequently involve deep trenches.
Non-compliance can lead to fines, liability, and legal consequences.
Protecting Public Infrastructure
•Trenching near roads, sidewalks, and underground utilities can destabilize surrounding structures.
Proper shoring prevents damage to pipes, cables, and foundations, reducing costly repairs and service interruptions for residents and businesses.
Employee Safety and Morale
•Our employees often work in unpredictable conditions (weather, traffic, old infrastructure) and shoring systems reduce stress and improve productivity because they know the City prioritizes their well-being.
e v e l o p m e n t
As our small pocket park located at 517 W 4th Avenue is nearing completion, we are gearing up to facilitate another mural in our downtown. This mural is in collaboration with the Rochelle Area Community Foundation- RACF.
The City secured a grant with the RACF to create the mural. This mural will be dedicated to Mr. Leonard Carmichael and his vision of giving and growing our community.
The west wall will be the location of the mural and will create a gathering space to celebrate the significance of Mr. Carmichael’s vision and dedication.
Mat Steder, a local artist, has been commissioned to create the mural and will be submitting concepts to the City, RACF and the Carmichael family for review within the next few weeks. The mural is to be completed by July 1, 2026.
C o m m u n i t y
March is National Credit Education Month, focusing on debt reduction and improving credit scores Key March personal finance actions include reviewing insurance policies, creating a home inventory, and potentially adjusting coverage deductibles It is also a critical month for tax preparation and reviewing Q1 financial performance
Check out Human Resources page on Financial Wellness Program
Financial Highlight
The Finance Team would like to highlight the financial efforts of the Water/Water Rec Departments. Director Adam Lanning has created an Efficiency Committee and is making great strides in cost savings
“The main goal is to treat water, doing it safely and as efficiently as possible. The program to find efficiencies will not jeopardize the quality of water or the safety of employees”.
AuditWork
Ourannualauditisstillinprocess.The auditorswillreturnthefirstweekofAprilto dotheirfinalonsiteaccessment.
Distinguished Budget
The Finance Team has been working dilengently on the Distingushed Budget and will have it submitted by it’s deadline Thursday, March 5th
What’s the Finance Team working on next you ask...
W-9's - Sorting through all 2,427 of our vendors to ensure their W-9 is current
p o l i c e d e p a r t m e n t
Updates:
The Police and Fire Department have began prepping for National Night Out. Be on the look out for more updates for the big event on August 4 , 2026 from 5pm - 8pm! th
E l e c t r i c d e p a r t m e n t
Line crews completed multiple pole replacements including 8 Ave, Queens Rd and Grist Mill Rd. th
Work continues on the City Hall upstairs breakroom and the Generation Plant breakroom remodel.
E l e c t r i c d e p a r t m e n t
Linemen assisted with a shut down at Lineage on February 2 in nd coordination with the customer to perform preventative maintenance on the site’s switchgears.
The new switchgear for the Centerpoint Substation was delivered at the end of January, and construction is set to begin in the Spring.
On February 7th, we had a blast attending the Boy Scouts Pack #553 Pinewood Derby at Lincoln School!
While we didn’t bring home the overall win in the Community Division this year, we’re proud to say we took home Community Best Design! Huge shoutout to FF Messer for the awesome car design, nice work! We always appreciate being invited to community events like this and cheering on all the Scouts and their creativity. Already looking forward to next year!
On February 12, 2026, members attended PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) training. This course focuses on recognizing and responding to pediatric emergencies, including respiratory distress, shock, and cardiac arrest. Ongoing training like this ensures our crews are prepared to provide the highest level of care to our youngest patients when it matters most.
F i r e d e p a r t m e n t
On Monday, February 16th, B-Shift attended RCH Career Quest at Rochelle Community Hospital. This event is designed for high school students who are considering a career in the medical field. The crew demonstrated our LUCAS device and walked students through EMS’ role during a cardiac arrest in the pre-hospital setting, as well as how we continue to assist once we arrive at the Emergency Department. These students were so dedicated that they even came in on a day off from school to learn more about careers in healthcare, pretty impressive! They asked a lot of great questions, and we appreciated the opportunity to share what we do and hopefully inspire some future healthcare professionals!
e p a r t m e n t
Planning for the Fireman’s Ball is in full swing and it’s going to be a totally rad night!
We’re bringing all the 80’s vibes with our Miami Vice theme, neon, big hair, great music, and plenty of fun. The night will feature live entertainment, games, raffles, and some awesome surprises you won’t want to miss.
And don’t forget to check out our sweet Miami Vice–themed tshirts, available only at the ball for $25 each. Grab one while they last!
W a t e r d e p a r t m e n t
Efficiency Team
The Water and Water Reclamation Departments have launched a new Efficiency Team focused on reviewing processes and budgets to identify smarter ways to operate. Providing safe, reliable water and wastewater treatment remains the top priority—finding ways to do it more efficiently and effectively is a close second.
The team held its first meeting in December and includes representatives from Water, Water Reclamation, the lab, and the office. Since then, they’ve already identified many opportunities to improve processes and save money
These savings come from reducing outsourced services, lowering energy use, and working directly with vendors to secure the best pricing. In addition to cost savings, the team is exploring ways to improve dayto-day operations. To gain fresh perspectives, operators from each department will participate in ride-alongs with one another. Each department will visit plants in other communities. Seeing tasks through a different lens is expected to spark new ideas and lead to more efficient processes.
Though the team is new, their impact is already strong. They look forward to sharing their progress, successes, and lessons learned along the way
We were excited to welcome more than 30 students from Eswood School to tour Well 8! During their visit, students learned how drinking water is treated and the important steps it takes to keep our community’s water safe. They also got hands-on by building their own water filters and seeing the treatment process in action.
The group came prepared with lots of thoughtful questions—and it seemed like they were on a mission to stump the City! Our team enjoyed the challenge and the opportunity to share their knowledge.
In addition to learning about water treatment, students explored the variety of career opportunities available in the water field. We appreciate Eswood School for visiting and for their curiosity and enthusiasm about protecting one of our community’s most important resources.
Eswood Students Visit Well 8
U t i l i t y B i l l i n g
Utility Billing staff have been working on updating our current forms for payment arrangements, and incentive programs. The goal is to make these simple to use for our customers and staff. New appliances are also being added for our incentive program!
Autumn went to the Rotary Meeting in February to speak on the different programs offered by RMU.
Budget Billing/ AMP
customers will have their trueup month coming up. We are encouraging customers wanting to try the program to enroll now!
o r k s
PW – Administration
Boss 811 training for users on new locating software. Several meetings with boss 811 and Julie to set up system.
Conducted required safety training meetings.
PW – Airport
Chicagoland skydiving center will be holding an independence day event with fireworks on Friday, July 3rd. The special event permit application has been submitted to IDOT and FAA.
Our automated weather observation system(AWOS) has been repaired and is back in service after a 3 month outage.
IDOT has started their Economic Impact Study on the airport . A final report should be given to us later this year.
The pre-construction meeting for the T-hangar building being built here this summer was held virtually on 2/4.
PW – Facilities & Events
Remove trees and shrubs in City R.O.W
upgrade interior walls in street department buildings. Miscellaneous building repairs and maintenance.
PW- Forestry
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Responded to multiple service requests from residents. Remove multiple trees from parkways.
Clear trees from R.O.W. ditches and easements.
PW- Fleet
Repaired electrical issue on unit R119
Pulled engine to replace trans cooler lines on unit R107
Cylinders rebiult for lowboy trailer and rewired trailer
Contacted company to calibrate salt spreaders on a few trucks
Ordered public works decals for two new pickup trucks
Installed new plow blades on many plows as needed.
Upfit new trucks with boxes and lights
Serviced and replace cv shafts on kabota rtv
Replaced broken lights on mower tractor
Ordered and new filters and parts to restock for services
Fabricated patch drag box.
Continued yearly equipment services.
Truck washing after each snow event
PW- Traffic
Responded to locate requests.
Checked all RXR crossings for signage and replaced what was needed
Working on quotes for replacing lighted signs
Restocked new signs into inventory
PW- Stormwater
Removed 1700 ft of trees and shrubs along Kyte Creek
Manhole plow protection
Cleaned several inlets due to 7 Ave street opening th
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PW- Streets
Mill and fill project on 251. 1230 ft of Mastik was laid.
1-14 Snow event. Salted
1-16 Snow event. Salted
1-17 Snow event. Salted
1-18 Snow event. Salted
1-21 Snow event. Salted
1-21 afternoon snow event. Plowed and Salted.
1-25 Snow event. Salted
2-3 Snow Event. Salted
Graded shoulders on 251
Helped contractors fix water leak on Wood and Ave H
Filled potholes
Assisted Fire Department with a fire
Moved concrete blocks to Fire Department training facility
PW- Solid Waste
Continuing with city-wide street sweeping as weather allows.
Appliance Pick-ups every Thursday
Picked up dead animals, trash, tires, and debris from ROW as needed.
Landfill tonnage ranging between 1000 to 1200 tons per day.
Conducted city-wide christmas tree collections.
Delivering and picking up barricades for dumpsters as needed.
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City Hall Building maintenance
We’re making some changes to maintenance practices in the City Hall and Police Department buildings. Brian Smith & Ivan Cortes, our maintenance team in the electric department, will be taking on these duties beginning March 2 Our contract with V&C Cleaning expired at the end of February Please be patient as our co-workers learn the ropes and make their way through the buildings. They will also be taking care of outdoor maintenance in the winter and landscaping in the spring, summer, and fall. We’re excited for this change!
Office Relocations
Also happening at City Hall are a handful of office relocations. Mayor Bearrows is now located in the former conference room off of Council Chambers. The judge’s chambers is being re-carpeted and that space will become a meeting room in the future. The police department will be utilizing the Mayor’s former office space.
Changes are also underway upstairs at City Hall. The Community Development Department recently relocated to the 1030 S. 7 Street building. Jenny Thompson, Khrysta Oleson and Britt Zick will be moving into the offices in the hallway and the former upstairs wellness room. Geoff Starr’s former office will become the wellness room.
Big Boy Visit
Rochelle is one of two Illinois locations under consideration for a Big Boy 4014 Steam engine stop this summer. If it were to stop here, it would happen in the first week of June. We hope to receive a final decision soon!
March Public Relations
We’re promoting the following throughout the month of March:
-Landscape waste & brush pickup
-Electronics Recycling/Bulk Trash Drop-off day
-Fire Department Testing
-Golf Course Opening Day
-2026 Events
-Hiring Expo