Harrisburg City Council met Thursday, Aug. 4.
Here are the minutes as provided by Harrisburg:
Harrisburg City Council Meeting
Council Room, City Hall
Harrisburg, Illinois
Regular Meeting
August 4, 2016
6:00 PM
The Harrisburg City Council met on August 4, 2016 at 6:00 pm in the Council Room of 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.
Pastor Biff Moore from the First Christian Church led the group in prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioner McPeek stated that his name was not listed under Administrative Reports but he would make comments.
Mayor Fowler stated that there was a tribute being held at the Lions Club tonight for Danny Ragan whose last day was today as Saline County Treasurer.
Commissioner McPeek made a motion to approve the following items under Consent Agenda:
1. Minutes from the Regular Meeting of July 21, 2016.
2. Bill from Phoenix Elevator for chair lifts at City Hall in the amount of $7,693.50 to be taken from TIF Escrow.
3. Bill from Saline Co. Highway for bam in the amount of $4,253.56 to be taken from MFT.
4. Bill from Brown & Roberts for Dorrisville watermain C & I in the amount of $8,884.10 to be taken from IEPA loan.
5. Bill from O’Daniel Trucking for patch in the amount of $1,836.75 to be taken from MFT.
Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Attorney Todd Bittle stated a Public Hearing had been held prior to Council Meeting to hear any comments or objections to the closing of an alley for HMC. There had been none. Therefore, he recommending passing the ordinance to proceed. Commissioner McPeek moved to pass Ordinance 1713
An Ordinance Vacating Platted Alley. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes.
Motion carried.
Attorney Bittle stated the Agenda item for a fee to be charged for vacating an alley or street was for Council’s consideration.
Attorney Bittle explained that 415 East Walnut had been Quitclaimed in 2007 to SIC’s Building and Trades Department for the purpose of constructing a house. The intergovernmental agreement had been that it would revert back to the City if construction did not begin within three years. Neither the construction nor the deeding back to the City happened. It wasn’t until the lot was mowed by the City and a lien placed against it for that mowing that it was discovered it had not been deeded back to the City. He asked for authorization to prepare the paperwork necessary to do that. Commissioner McPeek moved to authorize Attorney Bittle to prepare the necessary paperwork to transfer 415 East Walnut back to the City. Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Attorney Bittle stated there had been a Petition to Vacate Property submitted by Bob Holman for an alley off Church Street running between properties that he owned. It would require a Public Hearing before the September 1 meeting. Commissioner McPeek moved to authorize Attorney Bittle to advertise the Public Hearing for the Holman Petition. Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Jim Brown of Brown & Roberts informed Council about annual dam inspections for IDNR. Mayor Fowler moved to authorize Brown & Roberts to perform the necessary IDNR dam inspections and reports. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Jim Brown submitted a Partial Pay Estimate from Skuta Construction for the Dorrisville Waterman.
Commissioner McPeek moved to authorize payment to Skuta Construction in the amount of $98,837.97 for the Dorrisville Watermain Rehabilitation. Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Mayor Fowler stated he had discussed a possible RV campground with Superintendents Kelly Hefner and Rick Brown. Commissioner Harper stated he thought that item should be under him on the Agenda and, when he had been asked his opinion, he had stated he needed to see some numbers for the project.
Mayor Fowler stated he had received several requests and this was just for discussion. He pointed out several sketches he had posted on the board done by Jeff Newcomb at Looking Glass and employee Raymond Gunning. Mayor Fowler stated that he had been made aware of an event planned by Charlie Company for September 17, 2017 that would bring 150 people to Harrisburg. He noted that there was going to be an expansion of the race track just north of town which would be bringing in other RV’s.
He had also been informed that the Park District had received calls about an RV park. He stated the location he had in mind was on North Veterans Drive and these were rough drafts and more research would be needed. Commissioner Harper stated again the he wanted to see some numbers. Mayor Fowler stated that the Superintendents had told him that it could be done in house and paid for under Industrial Improvements with an estimate of $25,000.00 to $30,000.00. He believed it would pay for itself.
Commissioner Montfort questioned whether or not a City could own a business. Commissioner McPeek stated the City of Marion owns the Hub. Mayor Fowler stated he would like to see recommendations at the next meeting from Street/Alley, Public Property and Finance.
Commissioner McPeek stated he would speak after Citizens Comments.
Commissioner Miller moved to enter into an agreement with Brown & Roberts to design the Ron Crank Drive Phase III. Commissioner Harper asked how it was to be funded. Commissioner Miller stated it was for design only. Commissioner Harper stated he understood that but he wanted to know if the design portion could be handled through MFT. Jim Brown stated it could be and the up-front design work was needed because there were flood plain issues for elevation. Commissioner Harper wanted to clarify that this was the road in front of the Villas. Mayor Fowler stated that was correct and it would run to Wilmoth Street. Jim Brown stated it would be approximately 5,000 feet. Commissioner Harper asked if he had an estimate. Brown stated that he didn’t and the elevation would be an issue. Mayor Fowler stated he had been approached by three companies which wanted to develop in that area. Commissioner Harper asked if the work could wait 90 days. Brown stated the right-of-way would need to be acquired.
Commissioner Harper stated that by waiting until the end of the year it could go into next year’s MFT.
Brown stated an amended MFT could be submitted but Superintendent Rick Brown stated he had some MFT money left over. Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried. Commissioner Montfort stated the Fire Department, in conjunction with DCFS, had conducted a training session on removing people from a burning vehicle. Opie’s Towing had donated the car. She stated that the new fireman was doing well.
Commissioner Montfort stated the Police had one car finished and Sherrod’s had painted the other cars. She stated the FOP was selling blue lights in support of public safety and the proceeds would be going to the Carbondale police officer who had been injured in the line of duty. She thanked the local business for their donations. She stated an active shooting training had been conducted. She stated she had just been handed the July Activity report.
Commissioner Harper asked Scott Isaacs to explain his plans for the property on East Church Street.
Isaacs stated he and business partners David and Kim Wilson would be expanding Wilson Door Company which had been in business since 1969. The business sold and installed overhead garage doors. They believed no one in the seven county area had this type of business. Commissioner Harper opened, read and moved to accept the bid for 806, 808 and 814 East Church Street in the amount of $15,001.00. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Mayor Fowler stated there would be a Tribute to Public Safety event on September 10 from 9:00 am to 10:30 am. He stated it would be a county-wide event. He stated there could be a “guest star” of Woody from Toy Story. He would have more information later.
Mayor Fowler stated the auditorium was looking good and he noted the school had shown an interest in using it. He stated on December 16 there would be a Country Christmas in Harrisburg.
Mayor Fowler stated there was a DRA application in for a Community Infrastructure Grant in the amount of $1.7 million. It would require a 10% City match.
Citizen Jonthan Gericke stated he would like to donate a “black box” that connected to a flash drive or computer and then to the website so the meetings could be heard by public during the meeting. He stated he thought it would be good for the public to actually hear about what is happening. He stated it would cost $158.00 to install and he would pay for the installation.
Commissioner McPeek asked Gericke what day he filled out a FOIA for a copy of the tape of the last meeting. Gericke replied he believed it was on July 25. Commissioner McPeek then ask what day he received that tape. Gericke could not remember but stated it had been in a timely fashion. Commissioner McPeek stated he thought he had to wait seven days and then the minutes would have to have been approved by Council. Commissioner McPeek stated he thought there might be other people in the room who would like that kind of special treatment. Commissioner McPeek stated he would handle it.
Gericke asked if his donation would be accepted. He was told yes. Commissioner McPeek stated after the minutes were approved at the next meeting, it could be posted on the website. Gericke stated that, since the meetings were being broadcast, he did not think that should be an issue.
Citizen Jack Houser asked Commissioner McPeek who had told him that the tape could not be given out until the minutes were approved. Commissioner McPeek stated that was usually how it was. Houser stated that is not what the law says and Commissioner McPeek could check with the Illinois Municipal League to verify that. Houser stated there had not been anything done wrong.
Mayor Fowler moved to adjourn to Executive Session for Possible Litigation and Collective Bargaining.
Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, Commissioners McPeek, Montfort and Harper and Mayor Fowler voted yes. Commissioner Miller voted no. Motion carried.
Adjourned: 6:25 pm
Reconvened: 6:51 pm
Mayor Fowler presided over the reconvened meeting with Commissioners John McPeek, Natalie Miller, Beth Montfort and Richard Harper answering roll call.
Mayor Fowler stated there was no action to be taken on Possible Litigation and Collective Bargaining.
Mayor Fowler moved to adjourn. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes.
Motion carried.
Adjourned: 6:52 pm
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