Harrisburg City Council met Thursday, Nov. 3.
Harrisburg’s City Council is the Legislative Branch of City government. The City Council consists of seven members who are elected at large. The City Council President is elected by the Council members and presides over the Council meetings. In the event of illness or absence, the Vice-President presides over the meetings.
Here are the minutes as provided by Harrisburg:
Harrisburg City Council Meeting Council Room, City Hall Harrisburg, Illinois Regular Meeting November 3, 2016 6:00 PM
The Harrisburg City Council met on November 3, 2016 at 6:00 pm in the Council Room of City Hall Harrisburg, Illinois.
Mayor Dale Fowler signed a proclamation for the Harrisburg High School FBLA designating November 13 through November 19 as American Enterprise Week.
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 made a motion to approve the following items under Consent Agenda:
1. Minutes from the Regular Meeting of October 20, 2016. 2. Check Register and Warrant Report for the month of October 2016. 3. Bill from Moran Economic Development in the amount of $1,300.00, approved on 10/20/16 for TIF Escrow but approved now for DT TIF. 4. Bill from Sharp’s Heating & Air for City Hall auditorium air conditioning in the amount of $22,670.00 to be paid out of TIF Escrow and DT TIF. Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Jim Brown of Brown & Roberts presented a Change Order for the West Harrisburg pumping station and grating work project paid for out a DRA grant and funding from the Water/Sewer Department. He explained an old screen had been removed from the plant and moved upstream to create yet another way of filtering out the problem of corn stalks. A new screen had been installed at the plant. The Change Order was an increase of $4,280.00 but the project had a $10,000.00 contingency so the project would not be over budget. Commissioner McPeek moved to approve Change Order #1 for Mott Excavating which would be an increase of $4,280.00 for the West Harrisburg pumping station and grating project to be paid out of DRA grant and Water/Sewer Department. Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Brown presented the final pay estimate for the above project. He stated everything was done but there was some retainage. Commissioner McPeek moved approved to pay Mott Excavating $116,908.65 for the West Harrisburg pumping station and grating work. Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner McPeek stated the audit would be presented at another meeting.
Commissioner McPeek stated that Emily Burke from Walker’s Bluff could not attend the meeting tonight but would be at the next meeting to explain the Resolution of Support.
Commissioner Miller announced there would be a Public Forum on November 21 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm in the City Hall Auditorium for discussion about the Harrisburg Medical Center expansion. Commissioner Harper stated he thought Mayor Fowler’s idea to get the two parties together was a good one. Mayor Fowler stated that HMC would have a design, architects and engineers at the meeting and that would be the time to have any citizen’s questions answered.
Commissioner Montfort stated the Police Department was doing better with overtime. She stated that Police Officer Bob Smith would be retiring on December 16.
Commissioner Montfort asked Fire Chief John Gunning to address the EMA tornado item on the Agenda. Chief Gunning stated he first wanted to make Council aware of a FEMA grant that he was applying for in the amount of $85,000.00 to get new air packs. The grant would require a $4,200.00 match from his Department which he would be able to cover.
Chief Gunning also stated he had been in discussion with a businessman who had two businesses that he wants to relocate to Harrisburg. He would be meeting with the man next week.
Chief Gunning stated there were some discrepancies in the EMS plan. He was going to be meeting with Sheriff Brown, Chief Deputy and EMA Director Curtis Rowland to establish a primary and secondary source for setting off the sirens. He would report back to Council the results of the meeting.
Commissioner Montfort asked, if by law, the City and County had to have EMA’s. Chief Gunning stated no, but it was easier to get FEMA money, if it were needed, with both positions. Commissioner Harper asked, if any FEMA money were to be awarded to County, was he correct in stating that County did not have allocate any of it to Harrisburg. Chief Gunning stated that was correct.
Commissioner Montfort gave bio’s of the Merit Board appointees, Dan Wilson and Steve Questelle. Both appointees were sworn in by the City Clerk and congratulated by Council.
Commissioner Montfort stated the Merit Board had met and made a recommendation. Commissioner Montfort moved to promote Police Officer Nathan Moore to Sargent effective December 1. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Harper asked Superintendent Kelly Hefner to address Council regarding his concerns about the tree service proposal presented at the last meeting by Davis Tree Service. Superintendent Hefner stated previous Councils had made the decision to close the Leaf and Limb Site to commercial operators and drew Council’s attention to minutes about that decision and also the minutes of a previous visit by Davis Tree Service to Council. He covered the points listed on his paper included in Council’s packet. He had concerns about several issues and wanted Council to be aware of the impact on his Department. Council questioned who would haul off City trees, how residents trees would be identified, whether it would put other commercial operations at a disadvantage cost wise, whether to consider a dumping fee and the amount of actual debris from residents’ trees that Davis cut. Davis stated he had estimated that he created less than two loads a month, that he would pass on the savings to residents or he would be happy to pay a dumping fee. Chief Gunning stated that IEPA did not require a burn permit as long as the fire consisted of inside City limits material. Otherwise, there would have to be a more in depth procedure involved. Commissioner Harper stated he would work with Superintendents Brown and Hefner to come up with a possible solution.
Mayor Fowler introduced Bill McCarty from Government 311 who presented the benefits of the program. It is a phone app that would allow direct communication with City departments from citizens. He stated that the cost would be a $2,000.00 setup fee and a $1,000.00 annual service fee, both of which could be sponsored by a business which would have unobtrusive advertising on the app. Council took no action.
Citizen Rita Simpson-Boyken representing the Lions Club announced the Lights Parade would be December 8 and follow the same route as last year. She also outlined several Lions projects. Jeff Murray added that he hoped to have carolers at the City courtyard and a live nativity scene across the street on that same night.
Citizen Judy Cape expressed her concerns with the HMC’s possible closing of Woolcott Street. Commissioner Montfort stated she had visited with Rodney Smith from HMC today and he said they were not wanting to close a street. Cape stated that since HMC did not pay property taxes and was a not- for-profit operation, they should not be asking the City to close anything. Mayor Fowler stated there would be enhancements to streets and possible widening of streets to better accommodate emergency vehicles. He stated the previously announced Public Forum on November 21 would be the place for answers directly from HMC. Cape expressed concerns about flooding roads and access points for residents. Commissioner Montfort stated any closings would have to be approved by Council. Mayor Fowler asked Jim Brown of Brown & Roberts to speak about the expansion and plans. Brown stated the emergency room entrance was going to be relocated which would create more traffic on Woolcott. He thought HMC had talked to Council but, in fact, had only spoken to Mayor Fowler. Mayor Fowler stated he was aware the HMC was asking for road improvements but they had not come to Council about a street closing.
Citizens Roxanne Keesler, Jenny Craig speaking for the Elks and Country Club, Angela Stout and Bob Patterson also spoke to express their concerns. Stout verified that an alley had been closed at HMC’s request and suggested it was time for zoning and an economic development committee.
Mayor Fowler moved to adjourn to Executive Session for Collective Bargaining and Personnel. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Adjourned: 7:35 pm
Reconvened: 8:13 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 Collective Bargaining or Personnel.
Mayor Fowler moved to adjourn. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Adjourned: 8:14 pm
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