Hamilton City Council met March 6.
Here is the minutes as provided by the Council:
The Hamilton City Council met in regular session at 7:00pm with Mayor Steve Lowman, Aldermen Bob Eddings, Dave Bierbaum, Bill Johnson, Beverly Boone, Steve Schlatter, and Debbie Summers answering roll call.
Lowman led everyone in the “Pledge of Allegiance”.
Lowman asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the February 20, 2017 meeting. Bierbaum made a motion to approve the minutes. Johnson seconded the motion. Roll was called with Eddings, Bierbaum, Johnson, Boone, Schlatter and Summers voting aye. Motion carried with 6 aye votes and no nay votes.
Mayor Lowman noted that he had been approached by several citizens about who the Community Center is for. He noted that the center is for the Community, not just as a Senior Center. This is just one of the purposes of the Community Center. There have been many organizations that have approached him about holding their meetings there. He noted that he wants it to be available for anyone in the Community to rent for their events such as birthdays, weddings, reunions. Lowman noted that there is an Ordinance in place that does allow for alcohol to be provided at events with the purchase of Dram Shop Insurance by the renter.
Mayor Lowman noted that he wanted to thank Kent Brotherton of A Plus Seamless Guttering, Camp Point, IL for the donation of material and labor in the amount of $490.00 for the Community Center. Lowman noted that he hopes as a Community we can work together thru labor and donations in the near future to complete some landscaping and parking lot work as well for the new Community Center.
Mayor Lowman read a letter from Chief Robb Bell stating that he would be retiring his position as Police Chief effective March 22, 2017. Lowman asked for a motion to approve Bell’s retirement. Johnson made a motion to approve the retirement. Schlatter seconded the motion. Roll was called with Bierbaum, Johnson, Boone, Schlatter, Summers, and Eddings voting aye. Motion carried with 6 aye votes and no nay votes.
Mayor Lowman read Ordinance #13 Creating Office of City Collector. The position will be appointed by the Mayor with consent of the City Council. The duties will include collecting and accounting for money owed the City and turning over to the Treasurer, handling all accounts payable, payroll and exercising general management duties of the Clerk’s office. Bierbaum made a motion to approve all three readings of the Ordinance. Eddings seconded the motion. Roll was called with Johnson, Boone, Schlatter, Summers, Eddings, and Bierbaum voting aye. Motion carried with 6 aye votes and no nay votes.
Mayor Lowman asked for a motion to appoint Michelle Dorethy as the City Collector. Her position as Collector would be 32 hours a week and she would continue as City Clerk. The salary for the Collector would be $18.37/hour and the Clerk salary would remain as set by Ordinance 7 (Series 2012-2013). Bierbaum made a motion to approve the appointment retroactive January 26, 2017 and would include one week vacation effective on start date. Johnson seconded the motion. Roll was called with Boone, Schlatter, Summers, Eddings, Bierbaum and Johnson voting aye. Motion carried with 6 aye votes and no nay votes.
Mayor Lowman asked for a motion to approve Robb Bell’s transfer to the Street Department as second in charge with a salary of $45,000/year effective March 23,, 2017. Boone made a motion to approve the transfer. Johnson seconded the motion. Roll was called with Schlatter, Summers, Eddings, Bierbaum, Johnson and Boone voting aye. Motion carried with 6 aye votes and no nay votes.
Mayor Lowman asked for a motion to approve appointing Nick Jamerson as Chief of Police effective March 23, 2017 at $51,646.40/year. Bierbaum made a motion to approve the appointment. Eddings seconded the motion. Roll was called with Summers, Eddings, Bierbaum, Johnson, Boone and Schlatter voting aye. Motion carried with 6 aye votes and no nay votes.
Mayor Lowman asked for a motion to approve hiring Trent Woolson as a Full-Time Officer. Lowman noted that he is currently part-time. He will begin as a full-time officer at the base starting rate of $40,000/year. Johnson made a motion to approve Woolson as full-time. Schlatter seconded the motion. Roll was called with Eddings, Bierbaum, Johnson, Boone, Schlatter and Summers voting aye. Motion carried with 6 aye votes and no nay votes.
Mayor Lowman he would like to make a policy change to the Benefits to Full-Time Employees. He would like it to state “No future lateral movements between departments. For future openings, current employees would apply for that position and salary would be discussed and set at time of hire.” Eddings made a motion to approve the policy change. Schlatter seconded the motion. Roll was called with Bierbaum, Johnson, Boone, Schlatter, Summers, and Eddings voting aye. Motion carried with 6 aye votes and no nay votes.
Mayor Lowman asked for a motion to increase Ryan Boley’s salary to $50,000/year. This will be effective May 1st. Lowman noted that Ryan has taken on duties that in the past would have been contracted out, resulting in saving money for the City. Bierbaum made a motion to approve the pay increase. Johnson seconded the motion. Roll was called with Johnson, Boone, Schlatter, Summers, Eddings, and Bierbaum voting aye. Motion carried with 6 aye votes and no nay votes.
Mayor Lowman asked for a motion to increase Ryan Bortherton hourly rate $1.00/hour effective May 1st. He noted that Ryan Brotherton has also taken on additional duties as mechanic that would have been performed outside of the City. Johnson made a motion to approve the increase. Boone seconded the motion. Roll was called with Boone, Schlatter, Summers, Eddings, Bierbaum and Johnson voting aye. Motion carried with 6 aye votes and no nay votes.
Mayor Lowman noted that all these merit raise increases will take the place of the cost of living raises at the beginning of the fiscal year.
FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS
Eddings reported the Finance Committee held budget meeting on Monday, February 26th at 5:30 pm. He noted that the Committee went over the following budgets:
•Building and Grounds – Bill Johnson
•Water/Sewer – Aron Metternich
Eddings reported the budget meetings will continue Monday, March 13th at 5:30pm with Library and Administration.
Eddings made a motion to approve the Selected Check Register. Bierbaum seconded the motion. Roll was called with Schlatter, Summers, Eddings, Bierbaum, Johnson and Boone voting aye. Motion carried with 6 aye votes and no nay votes.
PUBLIC WORKS & BUILDNGS
Bierbaum reported the Public Works and Buildings Committee held a meeting on Thursday, February 23rd.
STREET
Bierbaum reported the following items were discussed during the Street portion of the Public Works Meeting:
Bierbaum made a motion to approve ordering a new Ford 550. The estimated cost will be $65,000 as Ryan is in the process of getting additional bids. Bierbaum noted that this purchase will be in the new fiscal year budget and would replace the 1980 truck. Schlatter seconded the motion. Roll was called with Summers, Eddings, Bierbaum, Johnson, Boone and Schlatter voting aye. Motion carried with 6 aye votes and no nay votes.
WATER/SEWER
Schlatter reported the following items were discussed during the Water and Sewer portion of the Public Works meeting:
Schlatter made a motion to approve water and sewer agenda items 2-3:
2.Approve McClure Engineering Invoice #152274 - $86.00
3.Approve McClure Engineering Invoice #12298 - $5,349.00
Bierbaum seconded the motion. Roll was called with Eddings, Bierbaum, Johnson, Boone, Schlatter and Summers voting aye. Motion carried with 6 aye votes and no nay votes.
Schlatter made a motion to approve 2016 CDAP Water System Improvements Pay Estimate #3 for $38,583.00. Bierbaum seconded the motion. Roll was called with Bierbaum, Johnson, Boone, Schlatter, Summers, and Eddings voting aye. Motion carried with 6 aye votes and no nay votes.
BUILDING AND GROUNDS
Johnson made a motion to authorize the Mayor to begin looking/purchasing appliances for the Community Center. Bierbaum seconded the motion. Roll was called with Johnson, Boone, Schlatter, Summers, Eddings, and Bierbaum voting aye. Motion carried with 6 aye votes and no nay votes.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Summers reported the Health & Safety Committee held a meeting and discussed the following items:
1.Mark Menn reported sold the fire truck and picked up the tanker on Saturday.
2.Mayor still working on finding someone to take over ESDA
3.Discussed purchasing new F-150 from vehicle fund account
Summers made a motion to approve the following building permit: 24’L x 16’W x 9’H Garage to Joe Giampolo at 461 Oak Street. Roll was called with Boone, Schlatter, Summers, Eddings, Bierbaum and Johnson voting aye. Motion carried with 6 aye votes and no nay votes.
Summers made a motion to authorize the purchase of a 2017 Ford F-150 from Carson Motors. The amount of $29,000 will come out of the Vehicle Fund Account. Schlatter seconded the motion. Roll was called with Schlatter, Summers, Eddings, Bierbaum, Johnson and Boone voting aye. Motion carried with 6 aye votes and no nay votes.
Stan Tucker, City Attorney reported that there is 5 properties with 9 listed property owners and The Lis Pendes Notice has been filed. He noted that there is a new Statue we might be able to take advantage of that provides that the Supervisors of Assessor may issue a certificate of error if the homeowner deeds it to us.
There being no further business to discuss Johnson made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 pm. Boone seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried.
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