Harrisburg City Council met Thursday, May 19.
The Harrisburg City Council meets at 6 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month in the City Council Room at City Hall, 110 E. Locust St.
Here are the minutes as provided by Harrisburg:
Harrisburg City Council Meeting
Council Room, City Hall
Harrisburg, Illinois
Regular Meeting
May 19, 2016
6:00 PM
The Harrisburg City Council met on May 19, 2016 at 6:00 pm in the Council Room, City Hall, Harrisburg,
Illinois.
Mayor Dale Fowler presided over the meeting with Commissioners John McPeek, Natalie Miller, Beth Montfort and Richard Harper answering roll call.
Commissioner McPeek led the group in an opening prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioner McPeek made a motion to approve the following items under the Consent Agenda:
1. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of May 5, 2016.
2. Accepted Circuit Clerk’s Court Fees Disbursement in the amount of $2,598.02
3. Bill from Bob Barnett Ready-Mix for concrete at 25 E. Poplar in the amount of $3,300.00 to be taken out of MFT.
4. Bill from Bob Barnett Ready-Mix for concrete at Webster and Dorris Heights Road in the amount of $768.00 to be taken out of MFT.
5. Bill from Bob Barnett Ready-Mix for concrete at Webster and Dorris Heights Road in the amount of $3,360.00 to be taken out of MFT.
6. Bill from Pinoy Construction for construction at Dorris Heights Road and Webster in the amount of $9,094.53 to be taken out of MFT.
7. Harrisburg Lake:
Petition to Relinquish:
Shirley Stricklin - Fourth Addition, Lot 13
Bill and Carolyn Dudley - Fourth Addition, Lot 2 and 3
Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner McPeek introduced Timothy Watson of B B & A to present the audit for fiscal year ending April 30, 2015.
Watson reviewed the audit report by page, pointing out highlights.
Page 1 stated the financial statements that were audited.
Page 2 gave the firm’s Opinion and the basis of Accounting.
Page 4 was the Balance Sheet separating Governmental activities and Business-type activities and showing a positive net position of $26,020,384.00.
Page 5 was a Statement of Activities showing an increase in net position of $2,361,630.00.
Pages 15 through 17 showed the Water/Sewer Department balance sheet with a positive net position of $11,075,825.00 and the cash flow.
Pages 18 and 19 were the balances and incomes of the Police and Fire Pension Funds. Mayor Fowler asked for further information on those funds reason for the increases and decreases. Watson explained that the funds were the fair market value showing a decrease in the Police fund and an increase in the Fire fund and the difference was attributed to different investment advisors.
Pages 20 through 51 were details of the previous statements.
Page 36 began the details of the Police and Fire Pension Funds showing 23 participants in the Police
and 11 participants in the Fire. Watson noted the Police Pension Fund was 46% unfunded by the amount of $4,426,223.00 and the Fire Pension Fund was 30% unfunded by the amount of $1,614,404.00.
Pages 56 and 57 noted the compliance audits because federal funds had been received and there were no issues with the controls or reports.
Pages 58 through 60 stated the basis for compliance audits of federal funds with the opinion.
Page 61 showed the details of federal funds with the Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements grant as the audited fund.
Page 63 was a summary of the results with no material weaknesses noted.
Page 64 listed three previous findings, noting that all have been addressed.
Commissioner McPeek moved to accept the audit. Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Attorney Todd Bittle informed Council there was a Public Hearing held prior to the meeting for the consideration of closing a portion of Lockwood Street which was an unimproved, platted street. No objections were presented.
Commissioner McPeek moved to pass Ordinance #1701 An Ordinance Vacating Platted Street. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Jim Brown of Brown & Roberts informed Council that bids for oil and chip and aggregate for the MFT maintenance program had been opened on May 17. The only bid for oil and chip had been from Illini Asphalt in the amount of $82,345.50. Two bids for the aggregate had been opened with Hastie Mining & Trucking submitting the lower bid of $10.49 per ton. Council had acceptance forms in their packet. Commissioner McPeek moved to approve the Acceptance of Proposal to Furnish Materials and Approval of Award to Illini Asphalt in the amount of $82,345.50. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner McPeek moved to approve the Acceptance of Proposal to Furnish Materials and Approval of Award to Hastie Mining & Trucking in the amount of $12,588.00. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner McPeek moved to pass Resolution #16-0519A accepting the proposals and requesting IDOT to approve the bids. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Miller stated the non-highway vehicle ordinance had been modified and moved to pass Ordinance #1702 An Ordinance Authorizing the Operation of Non-highway Vehicles on Streets Under the Jurisdiction of the City of Harrisburg. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Miller moved to hire Carson Riley in the Street and Alley Department pending the passing of a physical and drug test and to start work on June 1. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Miller stated that any 318 employee could bid on the job and, if that employee was in the Water/Sewer Department, Riley would move to the Water/Sewer Department.
Commissioner Montfort stated that Police Officer Terry Sisky had retired after serving the City for 25 years. She thanked him for his service.
Commissioner Montfort stated Fire Chief John Gunning had done 98 rental inspections and 224 mobile home inspections for the month.
Chief Gunning had asked her to remind the public there was a burn ordinance that required all yard waste fires to be out by 6:00 pm.
Commissioner Montfort introduce the new fireman Brockton Whitehead.
Commissioner Harper stated the Downtown Plaza (25 E. Poplar) would have a ribbon cutting on Friday at 11:30. There would be a food vendor and music. Mayor Fowler thanked everyone for their assistance in developing the Plaza.
Mayor Fowler tabled the Police Pension Board appointment of Roger Angelly.
Mayor Fowler stated there would be entertainment events at the Downtown Plaza scheduled for the future as well as car shows coordinated by Brad Crick on the third Saturday of the month through September. The car shows will need a portion of Poplar Street closed which requires permission from IDOT. Mayor Fowler moved to pass Resolution 16-0519B which closes Poplar from Main to Mill on those Saturdays. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Mayor Fowler stated that bids had been received for some of the advertised properties. He opened the first bid for 504/506 East Walnut from Ben Teston of Pinoy Construction in the amount of $1,200.00. He opened the second bid for that address from Tony Mason in the amount of $500.00. Mayor Fowler moved to accept the bid from Teston. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Mayor Fowler opened a bid for 724 West Raymond from Lori Storms in the amount of $500.00. Mayor Fowler moved to accept the bid. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Mayor Fowler opened a bid for 620 West Poplar from Ben Teston of Pinoy Construction in the amount of $1,275.35. Mayor Fowler moved to accept the bid. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Mayor Fowler opened a bid for 113 West Walnut from Whitney and Dustin Hall in the amount of $2,250.00. Mayor Fowler moved to accept the bid. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Mayor Fowler opened a bid for the Southeast Corner of Beggs and Oglesby from Rick Garnett in the amount of $200.00. Mayor Fowler moved to accept the bid. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Mayor Fowler opened a bid for 206 East Logan from Ben Teston of Pinoy Construction in the amount of $200.00. Mayor Fowler moved to accept the bid. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Mayor Fowler stated that bids for 207 and 209 Easts McIlrath will be opened at the June 2 meeting. Properties that did not receive a bid will remain for sale and bids accepted.
Superintendent Kelly Hefner stated the ordinances for water/sewer rates increases were in Council’s packets. They had approved the rates at the previous meeting. Mayor Fowler moved to pass Ordinance #1703 An
Ordinance Amending Chapter 21 of the Harrisburg Municipal Code. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Mayor Fowler moved to pass Ordinance #1704 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 21 of the Harrisburg Municipal Code. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Superintendent Hefner stated there were two sewer main extensions that he was asking for Council to authorize Brown & Roberts to do the design work. The first extension was on Bauman Lane which currently had three businesses and a new fuel distribution business coming in, which also had expansion plans. He stated it would be an in-house project. Mayor Fowler moved to authorize Brown & Roberts to do the design work for the Bauman Lane sewer extension. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Superintendent Hefner stated the McHaney Road sewer extension would be a long time project to someday provide service for some annexations. In most cases, outside funding usually depended on having a design ready to begin. Mayor Fowler moved to authorize Brown & Roberts to do the design work for the McHaney Road sewer extension. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Citizen Paul Hayes stated there were some rules that he was not in favor of. He stated he had received a call about housing rehab from Roy Adams who was rude to him. Commissioner McPeek stated that Roy Adams does not work for the City and the housing grants he had administrated have been closed out. Mayor Fowler stated that Regional Planning was working on getting another grant but there was no assurance it would be for Hayes’ area. Hayes stated he understood that but he just wanted to be considered for future grants. Council assured him that, if he were in the targeted area, he would be considered.
Citizen Benny Bryant addressed Council to complain about a horse inside City limits. He stated there is an ordinance that does not allow livestock inside City limits and he wanted the horse removed. Commissioner Montfort asked about a letter about the horse. Mayor Fowler stated he had a copy of the letter from Egyptian Health Department that stated the horse is for equine therapy. He stated he had been told that the letter writer was not aware the horse was being kept inside City limits. Mayor Fowler stated he would reach out to Egyptian Health and consider what action to take.
Citizen Sharon Vanenburg wanted to comment that she was not happy about the water rates going up 13%. She also thought all animals should be licensed and show rabies certificates because there were so many running rampant. Mayor Fowler stated he would look into it.
Citizen Amanda Pritchett wanted to inform Council about the horse situation. She stated that because of HIPPA she was not able to give details about the situation but stated the horse was not near Bryant. She stated he had repeatedly complained to EPA which had inspected the situation and found no issues. She stated Bryant had also repeatedly called the Code Enforcement and nothing had been done. Mayor Fowler thanked her for the information.
Mayor Fowler moved to adjourn to Executive Session to discuss Possible Litigation, Personnel and Collective Bargaining. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, Commissioners McPeek, Montfort and Harper and Mayor Fowler voted yes. Motion carried.
Adjourned 6:52 pm
Reconvened: 7:51 pm
Mayor Fowler presided over the reconvened meeting with Commissioners John McPeek, Natalie Miller, Beth Montfort and Richard Harper answering roll call.
Commissioner McPeek moved to authorize Brown & Roberts to review the engineering report provided by the Sherrod family. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Mayor Fowler moved to engage Joe Bleyer to represent the City in pursuing an appeal of the Pension Board’s decision. Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Mayor Fowler moved to hire Ryan Williams as summer help in the Water/Sewer Department pending passing of a physical and drug test. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Mayor Fowler moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Adjourned 7:53 pm
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