Harrisburg City Council met June 15.
Here is the minutes provided by the Council:
Mayor John McPeek presided over the meeting with Commissioners Beth Montfort, Natalie Miller, Richard Harper and Mike Weirauch answering roll call.
Rev. Chris Winkleman from the First Baptist Church led the group in prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor McPeek stated Item #3 on the Consent Agenda was for the application that will be done once the State budget is settled and the City is able to apply for funds to cover the 25% match on the FEMA project.
Commissioner Harper made a motion to approve the following items under the Consent Agenda:
1. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of June 1, 2017.
2. Accepted the Circuit Clerk’s Court Fee disbursement in the amount of $1,981.38.
3. Bill from Brown & Roberts for mitigation application in the amount of $6,145.88 to be taken out of IEMA grant.
4. Bill from Brown & Roberts for 2017 MFT in the amount of $314.00 to be taken out of MFT.
5. Bill from Moran Economic Development for administrative fee in the amount of $2,479.80 to be taken out of TIF.
6. Bill from Bob Barnett Ready-Mix for concrete materials in the amount of $9,995.75 to be taken out of MFT.
7. Bill Saline County Highway Department for bam in the amount of $16,801.32 to be taken out of MFT.
8. Harrisburg Lake:
Request to Relinquish: Patti Parish and Kathleen Lewis - First Addition, Block 3, Lot 9 Petition to Lease: Teresa Imhoff - First Addition, Block 3, Lot 9 Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, Commissioners Harper and Weirauch and Mayor McPeek voted yes. Commissioner Miller and Montfort abstained. Motion carried.
Attorney Todd Bittle stated the property at 129 South Shaw had a bid opened at a previous meeting but the acceptance had been tabled. At the last meeting, Council had instructed him to prepare the paperwork for a rebab agreement and to sell the property but the bid had never been formally accepted. Since then, more bids had been received. He wanted to know Council’s pleasure as to the next step. Mayor McPeek moved to reject the opened bid for 129 South Shaw. Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried. Fire Chief Gunning will inform the bidder that new bids will be received and opened at the next meeting.
Attorney Bittle stated there were some additional properties that have not yet been advertised for sale but are ready for that step. The 24 South Jackson will need a rehab agreement but the others will not. Commissioner Harper moved to authorize Attorney Bittle to proceed with the advertising of additional properties. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Attorney Bittle stated that two meetings ago there had not been any bids received for 1022 East Sloan but a bid had now been submitted. Mayor McPeek opened the bid from Bobby and Kathy Gibson in the amount of $1,000.00 and their agreement to the terms of the rehabilitation clause. Commissioner Harper moved to accept the bid and authorize Attorney Bittle to prepare the necessary paperwork. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Mike Roberts from Brown & Roberts asked Council to refer to “B” in the Corps letter that Superintendent Kelly Hefner will be presenting. The Corps was recommending the toe drains be evaluated by an engineer to see if they are still necessary. If they are not, then a plan could be submitted for approval to abandon them. He explained the original purpose of the drains and that they are now substantially filled and no longer serve any purpose. Commissioner Harper moved to authorize Brown & Roberts to pursue the necessity of maintaining the toe drains. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Superintendent Hefner also addressed the Corps letter which stated the recent inspection had resulted in a minimally acceptable rating. Superintendent Hefner stated the City was always going to get a rating of minimally acceptable. He stated that he echoed Roberts’ comments about examining the toe drains in order to request they be abandoned.
Fire Chief John Gunning informed Council about a fire that occurred last fall at 1230 West Madeline. The property owners’ insurance company had issued a check to the City for the estimated cost of demolition if the owner did not rebuild and abandoned the property. Chief Gunning had been in contact with the owners but nothing had been done on the house. He had sent a certified letter giving the owners 30 days to clean it up but they were not cooperating. He asked for permission to authorize Attorney Bittle to send a letter giving them an additional seven days to take action or the City would use the $6,000.00 toward the cost of demolition. Commissioner Harper moved to authorize Attorney Bittle to send the letter. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Chief Gunning wanted Council to be aware of the status of the old Junior High. Mayor McPeek stated it had been cleaned up on the outside with the help of the Sheriff’s Department. Chief Gunning stated he had taken action that would allow the City to purchase it for $1.00. The next step would be to board it up and apply for grant or grants to demolish it. Mayor McPeek thanked Keith Brown for his help with the cleanup, Chief Gunning for being so aggressive on it and the bank for being helpful about the foreclosure.
Commissioner Miller stated the Council had tabled the Raben Tire Petition to Vacate Ordinance because of her absence at the last meeting. She moved to pass Ordinance 1733 to vacate the undeveloped streets and alleys as requested by Raben Tire conditional upon receiving a fee of $1,000.00 for legal expenses incurred by the City. Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Montfort announced that Police Chief David Morris had married last week and extended her congratulations.
Commissioner Montfort also thank Chief Gunning for all his work at the old Junior High.
Commissioner Montfort stated she had information on a neighborhood watch program. Her plans were to meet with Chief Morris, Sheriff Brown and the person from Williamson County who had given her the information about the program to discuss it and how it could be implemented in Harrisburg. She would then set up a public meeting to describe the program so the public could form their groups. She stated it was designed to have approximately 12 homes in a group and hoped it would be beneficial to the City.
Commissioner Montfort stated she was working with Chief Morris and Sheriff Brown to set up a multi task force for drugs.
Commissioner Montfort announced a website to list activities happening in Harrisburg for the youth to participate.
Commissioner Montfort stated the new hires in the Fire Department and Police Department had been thoroughly screened and recommended by the Merit Board. She introduced Police Officer Eric Gott and gave a brief resume noting that he was a 2004 Harrisburg High School graduate and would be attending the Police Academy as soon as it could be arranged. She introduced Fireman Dustin Gunning and gave his resume also. Both were applauded and welcomed aboard.
Commissioner Harper stated the electric summary from Constellation that was in the packet had been modified because a three year contract was no longer available. He passed out new information for the renewed contract. Commissioner Harper moved to renew the contract with Constellation for 24 months at a rate of.04702 per kilowatt hour and authorize the City Clerk to sign the contract. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Weirauch stated two Harrisburg Lake leases had not been paid even after two late notices. The last notice had stated that, if payment was not received by June 14, the lease would be revoked. He moved to revoke the Harrisburg Lake lease for Second Addition, Block 2, Lot 11 and Southeast Addition, Lot 2 because of non-payment. Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Weirauch stated he was working on different types of entertainment for the Courtyard, such as a magician and different bands. He asked that, if someone had a suggestion, please get in contact with him.
Citizen Sharon Vandenberg addressed Council regarding her concerns about speeding and drug dealing on her block of West O’Gara. Mayor McPeek stated he would talk to Chief Morris and Commissioner Montfort about the situation. Commissioner Miller suggested possibly putting up “Children at Play” signs.
Citizen Jonathon Gericke suggested advertising all properties for sale at the same time. He will contact the City Clerk for details regarding the proper procedure.
Citizen Cynthia Hodge Scott addressed Council regarding her concerns about a Police report not being filed in a timely manner, possible grant money for a home on West Walnut, the City “trailer tax” and a certain slum landlord.
Commissioner Harper moved to adjourn to Executive Session to discuss Property Acquisition, Collective Bargaining and Personnel. Commissioner Montfort seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Adjourned: 6:46 pm.
Reconvened: 7:33 pm.
Mayor John McPeek presided over the reconvened meeting with Commissioners Beth Montfort, Richard Harper, Natalie Miller and Mike Weirauch answering roll call.
Mayor McPeek stated there was no action to be taken on Personnel or Collective Bargaining.
Commissioner Miller moved to authorize Brown & Roberts to survey Woolcott Street from Vince Ashley Drive to the west end of the HMC parking lot to determine right-of-ways and street improvements that have encroached on City property. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Harper moved to accept a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure for 505 West Barnett conditional upon the payment of $1,000.00 to the State of Illinois Department of Human Services for a release of State liens on that property.
Commissioner Harper moved to adjourn. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Adjourned: 7:35 pm.
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