Harrisburg City Council met Thursday, Sept. 1.
Here are the minutes as provided by Harrisburg:
Harrisburg City Council Meeting
Council Room, City Hall
Harrisburg, Illinois
Regular Meeting
September 1, 2016
6:00 PM
The Harrisburg City Council met on September 1, 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.
Mayor Fowler stated that he wanted to amend the Agenda to remove items #4 and #5 under him.
(Appointments to Merit Board).
Commissioner McPeek made a motion to approve the following items under Consent Agenda:
1. Minutes from the Regular Meeting of August 18, 2016.
2. Check Register and Warrant Report for the month of August 2016.
3. Bill from Ray O’Herron for Police new hire Forrester in the amount of $69.79 to be taken out of Council Contingency.
4. Bill from Ray O’Herron for Police new hire Forrester in the amount of $16.09 to be taken out of Council Contingency.
5. Bill from Illini Asphalt for oil & chip in the amount of $20,375.04 to be taken out of MFT.
6. Harrisburg Lake:
Petition to Lease:
Clay Mattingly - Second Addition, Block 1, Lot 5
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 Bob Holman. There had been none. Therefore, he recommended passing the ordinance to proceed. Commissioner McPeek moved to pass Ordinance 1715
An Ordinance Vacating Platted Alley. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Attorney Bittle stated he had been asked to modify the language in the Code regarding Mobile Home permits which would require there be no monies owed the City before a permit was issued. He stated the Chapter 4 ordinance was for Buildings and Building Regulations and the Chapter 21 ordinance was for Water/Sewer. Commissioner McPeek moved to pass Ordinance 1716 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 4 of the Harrisburg Municipal Code (Buildings and Building Regulations). Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner McPeek moved to pass Ordinance 1717 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 21 of the Harrisburg Municipal Code (Rental Housing Inspection Required). Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Miller moved to authorize Attorney Bittle to advertise for a Public Hearing to consider vacating an alley running east and west in Lee, Lockwood, Hubbard Addition petitioned by Ronnie and Christy Hughes. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Miller moved to approve Resolution 16-0901 which asked IDOT for permission to close Poplar Street for the Homecoming Parade on September 29. Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Miller stated the summer hours for Street and Alley would end tomorrow and the new hours would be from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm until further notice.
Commissioner Montfort stated the Fire Department was preparing for Fire Prevention Week in September.
Commissioner Montfort stated the Police had performed an Active Shooter Drill at the Middle School.
She stated the overtime was going down. She stated she had just been handed the August Activity Report which she would show anyone who was interested.
Commissioner Montfort stated she had asked Council at the last meeting to consider donating an old Police car to Creal Springs. She moved to proceed with that donation. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Harper stated the bid from Sharp’s Heating & Air had been opened at the last meeting. He had reviewed it and was ready to award it. He moved to accept the bid of $34,000.00 from Sharp’s Heating & Air for air conditioning units in City Hall auditorium. Mayor Fowler seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried. Commissioner Harper stated the units should be received by September 19 and the work would take approximately six days so the project should be completed by the end of the month.
Mayor Fowler stated that the school would probably be using the auditorium for an event on October 1.
Commissioner Harper stated the bid in the amount of $2,222.22 had been accepted at the last meeting from Jack Simpson for properties at 1256 and 1258 South Granger. He moved to pass Ordinance 1718 an Ordinance Authorizing the Sale of Certain Surplus Real Estate Owned by The City of Harrisburg. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Harper stated houses had been removed from City owned property at 711 West Elm, 617 Beggs and 1008 Oglesby. He encouraged the public to view the locations and consider placing bids. Commissioner Harper extended thanks from the City to the Saline County Sheriff’s office and inmates for their recent help at the cemetery.
Emergency Management Coordinator Curt Rowlen informed Council about a mass notification system called Nixle. He stated the County uses the system but they are reluctant to allow the City to post messages just for the City. He has enrolled the City separately at no cost and is the authorized administrator. Notifications are sent out via emails, texts, phone aps, the web and Google. He explained that, for a fee, there is an upgrade which would actually make a phone call and leave a message and could also utilize Twitter and Facebook. He stated that anyone who wanted to receive alerts should text their zip code to 888777. If someone is already signed up through the County, they do not need to register again.
Rowlen stated there is another administrator slot that can be filled. He explained that one upgrade cost $3,000.00 a year and their 360 System costs $4,000.00 a year which would allow 137 characters per message. Mayor Fowler asked Rowlen to get Council more information about the upgrades. Rowen stated he would put literature about signing up in City Hall.
Mayor Fowler read a letter from Tanya Lanton Mitchell resigning from the Merit Board. He moved the resignation be accepted. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Mayor Fowler read a letter from Jim Guard resigning from the Merit Board. He moved the resignation be accepted. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Citizen Denzel Butler addressed Council wanting updates on his previous visit regarding junk houses. Commissioner Montfort explained that Code Enforcement Officer David Williams had been by the one house and posted it for various violations, but it was a process that would take time to correct.
Commissioner Montfort announced that Golden Circle Senior Center would be having a ham and bean dinner on September 17 to raise money to cover the cost of insurance for the building.
Citizen Debbie Austin addressed Council to complain about the closing of Lockwood Street from Main to Vine. She stated that closed off her only access from Main Street to her backyard. She also wanted to complain about the other alley vacation request from the Hughes’ that was authorized tonight to be advertised for the Public Hearing. Superintendent Rick Brown stated that Vine Street which runs behind her house is an unimproved street but it still allows access to the back of her property. Mayor Fowler asked Commissioner Miller and Superintendents Brown and Hefner to survey the new request. Austin asked when Vine Street would be fixed but no commitment was given.
Mayor Fowler moved to adjourn to Executive Session for Possible Litigation, Collective Bargaining and Personnel. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Adjourned: 6:32 pm
Reconvened: 6:47 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, Collective Bargaining or
Personnel.
Mayor Fowler stated there would be a Saline County Tribute to Public Safety event on September 10 at 9:00 am at the Downtown Plaza. He gave the details of the plans for the event.
Mayor Fowler moved to adjourn. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes.
Motion carried.
Adjourned: 6:49 pm
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