City of West Frankfort City Council met August 8.
Here is the minutes as provided by the council:
1. Mayor Jordan called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Requesting a roll call. All commissioners were in attendance, along with the city attorney and city clerk.
2. Mayor Jordan asked for approval of the minutes from the July 25, 2017 regular council meeting. Commissioner Harkins made a motion to approve, seconded by commissioner chambers. Roll call vote: all Commissioners and Mayor Jordan voted to approve motion carried.
3. Mayor Jordan next asked for approval to pay city bills and payroll in the amount of $521296.74. Commissioner Simpson made a motion to approve, seconded by Commissioner Harkins, roll call vote: all commissioners and Mayor Jordan voted to approve motion carried.
4. The next item was discussion, with possible action, regarding approval of a resolution authorizing the hiring of a firefighter, Gaston Sailliez, for the city of West Frankfort fire department Commissioner Harkins stated I am proud to have him. Fire Chief Jody Allen stated it makes me feel old, I have known Gaston since he was a little guy. He comes from a great family. Think being a firefighters in his blood, it always has been. He has done everything that we have asked of him he is in the paramedic program right now and has already accomplished the fireside of it. The mayor stated we are hiring him by the eligibility list provided by the merit board. Commissioner Harkins stated I am proud to have him he is a good young man the mayor stated this is a night you wont forget. Mine was May 17, 1976. We appreciate you working for us, we gave you some part time work and you have proven yourself, you tested and the merit board has approved you abilities in the testing. Commissioner Harkins made a motion to approve, seconded by Commissioner Simpson roll call vote: commissioners Blades and Mayor Jordan voted to approve. Commissioner Chambers abstained. Motion carried.
5. The next item was discussion, with possible action, Regarding approval of facade improvement grants. The mayor stated we have a request from Darla Sloan. She has an office at 1211 E. Main street and is requesting to do $750 worth of work on her building our portion of this will be $374.78. Commissioner Blades made a motion to approve, seconded by Commissioner Chambers. Roll call vote: all Commissioners and Mayor Jordan voted to approve motion carried.
6. The next item was approval of an ordinance authorizing The leasing of a specific area of the West Frankfort outlet mall the mayor stated this is suite #110 A and we will be leasing this to Lazy Daisy Yarn and needle craft. The cost is $250.00 per month. Commissioner Chambers made a motion to approve, seconded by Commissioner Simpson roll call vote: all Commissioners and Mayor Jordan voted to approve motion carried.
7. The next item was discussion, with possible action, Regarding a donation to redbird ready. The mayor stated we have participated with them in the past and want to thank your organization. Sherry Murphy is here, so tell us about what you do. Sherry stated we kind of fly under the radar, but we serve the students in district #168. We take staff recommendations for children that are in need. It is basically for any need that they have if they see a child in need they turn their name into us and we meet their need it has always been community supported and 100% of the funds go to that the city's money is greatly appreciated. The mayor stated thank you for all the work that you do. We gave them $3,000.00 last year and would like to make the same donation again this year out of the youth fund, if you need more money come back, because 100% of our money goes directly to the kids and like the way they do this. Commissioner Blades made a motion to approve, seconded by Commissioner Chambers. Roll call vote: all Commissioners and Mayor Jordan voted to approve motion carried.
8. The next item was approval to employ Jim Borgsmiller, Resident technician, as a temporary employee for the East St. Louis Street project. The mayor stated he is going to be our engineer on site. Commissioner Chambers made a motion to approve, seconded by Commissioner Simpson. Roll call vote: all Commissioners and Mayor Jordan voted To approve motion carried.
9. The next item was approval of a resolution of acceptance of proposals to furnish materials and approval of award to Illini Asphalt Corporation, Beelman Logistics, Llc and Marathon Petroleum Company regarding the 2017 Motor Fuel program. Commissioner Chambers made a motion to approve, seconded by Commissioner Blades, roll call vote: all Commissioners and Mayor Jordan voted to Approve motion carried.
10. The next itemwas discussion, with possible action, Regarding the purchase of a commercial christmas tree for the man street beautification program. The mayor stated has anyone noticed the flowers on man street. This group has also taken on a project for Christmas we had a live Christmas Tree at Strand Park last year and it looked good, but as the weather got to it and things happened it didn't hold up very well they are sponsoring a golf outing on September 23 to raise money to buy an artificial 24 foot Pre Lit Christmas Tree the cost of the tree is $12,336.45 when the lades came to me and talked to me about the flowers on man street had no idea what these lades could do. This is another situation where I think if we give them the funds and the ability to do what they have in mind think they will amaze us. With the Finance Commissioners approval this money will come from our youth fund and they will put the money they raise back into that fund. This council made a good decision a couple years ago to take the money we received from gaming in West Frankfort and put half of it aside for the youth of West Frankfort.Commissioner Chambers made a motion to approve, seconded by Commissioner Simpson roll call vote: all Commissioners and Mayor Jordan voted to approve motion carried.
11. The next item was approval for payment of an invoice from Xylem in the amount of $11,643.00 regarding additional pumps needed during the flood for the street department. Commissioner Chambers made a motion to approve, seconded by Commissioner Blades, roll call vote: all Commissioners and Mayor Jordan voted to approve motion carried.
12. The next item was discussion, with possible action, Regarding approval to combine lake lot lease #34 with the area adjacent to this lot, formerly known as 34A, for the current owner, Jack Woolard revocable trust. The mayor stated if you are familiar with the lake on the south side farthest east cabin this is lot #34. Jack Woolard has a lake lot on that and has done a lot of work on the house that was there and falling down the area next to that he has had surveyed, it is 76 % feet wide and it runs back north about 142 feet currently most of it is scrub land with bushes and trees on it and he has asked us for consideration for the council to allow him to have this lot and make it #34A. This lot is unusable right now it is a big mess so we can either roll it into the lot #34 or we can make it #34A. Commissioner Blades stated say roll it into lot #34. Commissioner Simpson stated would roll it into #34 and get a new lease for the combined lot size because you can only have one lot out there the mayor stated appreciate that Jack is cleaning up that area Commissioner Blades made a motion to approve, seconded by Commissioner Simpson. Roll call vote: all Commissioners and Mayor Jordan voted to approve motion carried.
13. The next item was approval to transfer lakelot lease #19a And a portion of lot 18c from jackwoolard to robin m. Richards and bryants, mccoy, joint tenants. This matter was tabled.
14. The next item was approval to transfer lake lot lease #96 from Shirley and William Walker, Jr. to Gary and Jackie Sneedon, joint tenants. Commissioner Blades made a motion to approve, seconded by Commissioner Chambers roll call vote: all Commissioners and Mayor Jordan voted to approve motion carried
15. The next item was approval to transfer lake lot lease #95 from Patrick Walker, Rust Merrill and Teri Boudreau to Brooke Petkas. Commissioner Blades made a motion to approve, seconded by Commissioner Simpson. Roll call vote: all Commissioners and Mayor Jordan voted to approve motion carried
16. Officer's reports:
Chief Allen read the fire department's report
Chef Irwin read the police department's report.
Codes officer, Ed Hammonds, read the codes report.
17. Building and sign permits:
There was no building or sign permits.
18. Mayors comments:
Had a meeting today with the department head in which we discussed the eclipse. We had discussion and would like to ask the city council to weigh in on this. This could or could not be a big deal we don't know they are expecting a lot of people to come to Southern Illinois to view the eclipse we are in the area that will see a total eclipse we just don't know how many people will come here have received calls about city hall being open because some of the banks are going to close. Just want the council to decide if city hall should remain open during the eclipse or all day. The mayor stated from the beginning to the end it will last about three hours. The total eclipse time is around two minutes. Commissioner Chambers stated feel like we probably be closed, everything else is closed and the schools are closing Commissioner Blades stated it's not like it is the end of the world coming Commissioner Simpson stated the employees can take their break during it. Commissioner Harkins stated let them step out there with their glasses on and take a look at it and when it's over they can come back in city hall the mayor stated think during the eclipse we can remain open and they can go outside and look at it. I am worried about the what if. If things are really as bad as they say they could be then we may have to close the city hall or the people here maybe needed to answer the phones as a command center if the interstate closes. Police chief stated based on the meetings that i have attended all day would not anticipate it being a major issue other than the fact that the camp grounds are full and the hotels. Think the majority of the people are going to drive down to see it and drive back. I would anticipate we will see the gas stations and restaurants with an increased amount of traffic, but | could be wrong.
19. Commissioner comments:
Commissioner Harkins stated I am proud to have Saillez as a new fireman they stay busy and m telling you we have a good police and fire department and they take care of things with whatever happens feel like our boys will have things under control here.
Commissioner Simpson stated I am looking forward to the eclipse. I am sure the police and fire department will be able to handle whatever comes up.
Commissioner Chambers stated whenever we hire a new fireman or police officer my thought always goes to my family. These are the people that are going to come when we need you. My family needs them as often as everybody else it's always a relief to know who is coming and out of all of the people in the world you would be one of my first choices so am super happy to see you on. Know that my family is safe in your hands and everybody else. I am thankful that you ended up here and not in another town Christmas is a big thing in our town and every year it gets bigger the mayor lights the downtown tree right after the lights parade. Our parade has always been wonderful thanks to Richard and Jamie Voorhes.I know their family is going to keep that tradition going and we will support them in that that light parade brought thousands of people last year, it’s the most people that have been at any parade in our community in my lifetime we have the carriage rides through candy cane lane and the caroler's who go around. We are working on some new entrance ideas to candy cane lane with Tim Murphy, we have the vendor show at the mall which had around one hundred vendors last year and we have a drive-in movie outside at the mall. Christmas has turned into more than just a one day event. We are seeing a lot of people coming from all over to participate it is really something we need to continue to be excited about. Appreciate the council buying the giant Christmas Tree.
20. Audience questions or comments:
21. With no further business to be discussed, the meeting was adjourned on a motion by Commissioner Harkins at 7:38 p.m.
http://www.westfrankfort-il.com/web_files/forms/August%208,%202017.pdf
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