SE Illinois News

Harrisburg City Council met Oct. 19.

Here is the agenda provided by the Council:

Mayor John McPeek presided over the meeting with Commissioners Natalie Miller, Beth Montfort and Richard Harper answering roll call. Commissioner Mike Weirauch was absent.

Pastor Laurie Fields from the First Presbyterian Church led the group in prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor McPeek recognized the crowd of young people and their parents in the audience and stated: We have two groups of kids that work hard and are rarely recognized for all their hard work and dedication - The Harrisburg High School Band and the Harrisburg Middle School Band. The High School has accomplished the following this Marching Season: two Fan Favorite awards, two Best Color Guard awards, two Best Drum Majors awards, three Best Percussion awards, four First Place Band awards and one Grand Champion award. The Middle School Band has accomplished the following this Marching Season: First Place at Mt. Vernon Fall Festival Parade and first Place at the SIUC Homecoming Parade. Five students competed against over 50 schools to earn regional honors by making the Illinois Music Educators “All-District” Band. Congratulations to Kendall Valette, Rachel Lands, Tori Higgs, Allison Dennison and Hannah Wright.

He noted they had taken a picture on City Hall steps before the meeting and asked the band directors to come forward to receive letters of congratulations for themselves and also letters for each of the band members.

Commissioner Montfort added her words of congratulations and thanks.

Mayor McPeek stated: As an elected official, I do not condone the recent post on social media from our Police Chief. I strive to maintain the public trust and confidence in the City. I will strongly voice what I believe to be the City’s obligation is to our citizens, which is to consistently maintain professional and dignified interactions. Thank you.

Commissioner Harper made a motion to approve the following items under the Consent Agenda:

1. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 4, 2017.

2. Accepted the Circuit Clerk’s Court Fee disbursement in the amount of $2,297.08.

3. Bill from Brown & Roberts for H. E. Mitchell for pump station scaffolding in the amount of $3,650.00.

4. Bill from Glass Doctor for windows and doors for City Hall in the amount of $16,000.00 to be taken out of TIF. Commissioner Montfort seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Mayor McPeek noted the ordinance in the packet was to set the date for a Public Hearing for the Veterans Drive TIF which was to be held on December 7, 2017, at 5:30. Commissioner Harper moved to pass Ordinance 1742 An Ordinance to Set Date for a Public Hearing for the City of Harrisburg Veterans Drive Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Plan and Project. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Miller stated there were eight 30 yard dumpsters filled during the Fall Clean Up.

Commissioner Miller stated the Leaf and Limb pickup stated Monday, October 16.

Commissioner Miller moved to approve a banner request from SIC for their Heritage Festival to be hung starting October 27. Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Montfort stated Trick or Treat will be Tuesday, October 31 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Commissioner Montfort stated she had received the evaluation for the new Fireman who just graduated from the Academy which stated he was a top performer and would be a good asset to the City.

Commissioner Montfort stated the Policeman was still in training.

Commissioner Harper stated the Section 125 Plan that was in the packets was a revision for housekeeping purposes in order to have the wording match the government language. He moved to authorize the City Clerk to sign the City’s Section 125 Plan. Commissioner Miller seconded. Commissioner Montfort asked what it was. Commissioner Harper stated it was part of the City’s health plan that was instituted four or five years ago. The plan itself has changed from year to year but the wording didn’t. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

In Commissioner Weirauch’s absence, Mayor McPeek moved to authorize Attorney Bittle to advertise, as required, the newly acquired properties for sale and to advertise as well the requested strip of railroad land. Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Mayor McPeek stated Commissioner Weiruach’s other Agenda items would be moved to the next meeting.

Citizen Mike Bryant believed what was being called a business next to 924 Beggs Place was actually a junkyard. He cited unlicensed or untagged vehicles and semi-trailers being used storage units as well as trucks running all night. He stated the owner of the property next door had threatened to line the property with semi- trailers. His parents live at 924 Beggs Place and he wanted either a fence put up or the junk vehicles removed. Additionally, he informed Council that no one lived at the property where there were horses, which is against City Ordinances. He understood they were supposed to be therapeutic horses but the owners and the special needs child lived across town. Mayor McPeek referred to a letter from Egyptian Health that stated they could have the horses there for therapeutic reasons. Bryant stated that if they wanted the horse, it should be moved to where they lived. Mayor McPeek stated the City was working with the Pruett’s to try and resolve the situation. Bryant stated they had threatened his parents several times and also had threatened to burn their house down. Bryant stated all he wanted was the laws that were on the books to be followed and a fence put up.

Citizen Arkeym Young stated he was a former resident but still had family and friends in Harrisburg who were affected by the Police Chief’s post. He asked what will be done to prevent it from happening in the future and what steps were being taking to address it. Commissioner Montfort stated there is a social media policy. She stated she can’t speak for Chief Morris but there had never been a problem with him and he was working hard for the City. She stated that, if there was something inappropriate, the Commissioners would talk to their departments about not posting things on Facebook that would harm the City.

Young stated it had affected a lot of people and he suggested that the Chief speak on his own behalf as a sincere gesture. He acknowledged that everyone makes bad judgements but not everyone is a public official and believed the Chief should hold himself more accountable for that. He believed he had not seen that yet and the lack of addressing the issue hinted at apathy and lack of concern. He understood that “you cannot un-ring that bell” but again asked what steps would be taken to prevent that from happening in the future. Mayor McPeek agreed with Commissioner Montfort that there is a social media policy and it does need to be enforced. Mayor McPeek stated he would talk again with Attorney Bittle to consider any changes.

Young asked if there was anything specifically that Chief Morris has said regarding his actions. Commissioner Miller stated the Chief was present. Young asked if he could speak for himself. Mayor McPeek stated that was up to his Commissioner. Commissioner Montfort asked Chief Morris if he had anything he wanted to say.

Chief Morris stated he had posted something on social media and he had spoken to Mr. DeNeal (from the newpaper) today about the article which he did not have his say into. Chief Morris stated he believed it was how individuals perceive the word suspect. He stated that, if he said he arrested ten suspects today, he does not say he arrested ten blacks today or ten white suspects; he says arrested ten suspects. He continued that there was nothing racial in the post. Chief Morris addressed Young by saying that he had reached out to one of his leaders the other day and was told that someone else was stirring the pot. He stated he believed the post had to do with the police having to chase suspects and them “taking a knee” so they would not have to chase them. He stated he believed “taking a knee” was disrespectful of the national anthem and all veterans. Young asked Chief Morris if he understood that it was in poor taste. Chief Morris stated he could understand how some could perceive it as poor taste but when he posted it, he was not making a statement about race. Chief Morris repeated that it was being stirred by someone else trying to bring racial problems into the community. Young stated that there was a problem and in order to feel how those like him feel, Chief Morris should put forth an effort to understand. Chief Morris asked Young if he was offended when people did not stand for the anthem. Young stated he understood that it was not appropriate to express personal feelings when you represent a brand or similar things but he felt that Chief Morris and others were standing on principle and using a public platform to express how they felt about something and taking advantage of that position. Young stated he was born and raised in Chicago but had lived in southern Illinois longer than any other place and had never been a victim of racial violence until he moved here. He shared an incident involving his grandfather that took a month to get reported in the newspaper. He stated it was the tongue in cheek statements and eye rolling that makes the divisiveness. He continued that it really takes a bigger person to take pause and try to understand what is making people so upset.

Commissioner Montfort stated it was an issue the entire community needs to work on. She referred to her 25 years in the schools which made her see there was a problem. Young stated he appreciated that she saw there was a problem and acknowledged that discourse was needed. Commissioner Montfort stated that she intended to work on it and tighten up the policy. She stated she would like to go into the schools more invited and Young to be a speaker there. He stated he would be happy to speak.

Mayor McPeek acknowledged a woman sitting in the front row who was later identified as Allison Duncan. Duncan stated that everyone knows there is a problem with racism. She stated that he made the remark about the football bowing. She stated they were not bowing to the flag but are bowing to the injustice in the United States of America because of blacks being targets. She stated our children are being targeted. She stated that if he didn’t intend for the post to hurt anyone, he shouldn’t have put it there with him holding the position that he holds. She stated she did not think the Commissioners could say they did not think he meant anything about it because they don’t know and have not walked in her shoes. She stated they should not make it seem like it’s OK because a lot of people do not even stand for the national anthem when it’s playing and referred to taverns where patrons talk through the anthem. She stated they were making a big deal out of standing for the flag because it was not the flag, it was who was doing it. She stated that if it was a group of white football players bowing to that knee, there would be nothing said. She stated that every time that a black does something, that’s wrong. She stated she had told judges before in Harrisburg that if a bunch of white kids were into drugs it becomes an epidemic but it never becomes an epidemic with black children. She stated they are called out of their names and that is not right. She stated that everyone who sat on the Board knows it’s not right. Commissioner Montfort stated it was a City, County, State and national issue that everyone needs to work together on. Commissioner Montfort stated she had wanted volunteers to work with students when she was in school and Duncan stated they did not want volunteers of different ethnic groups in the school system. Duncan stated she thinks he owes an apology to all of the black families that live in Harrisburg. She stated she did not care if he grew up with black kids, there is a difference; there is a divide; a dividing line after a certain time when they get a certain age that needs to be closed.

Patty Hodge stated her is daughter Simone Neal. She asked for someone to read her Chief Morris’ post. Duncan read the post which was: “Breaking News: The Chicago Police Department has replaced all sirens with the National Anthem to force suspects to stop running and take a knee”. Hodge commented that it did not say black on the post but asked who was kneeling at the NFL games and answered that it was the blacks who were kneeling for black injustice and the post offended the whole black community. Hodge asked for someone to read her daughter’s response in which her daughter had stated she perceived the post as being racist and divisive and was shocked the Chief Morris had said that. Hodge stated that as the Police Chief he should not have posted it because kids will read it and think it is ok to say things like that. She continued that whether or not he meant to, he offended the entire black community.

Young commented that racism is subtle and some try to rationalize certain comments. He asked that everyone be responsible, respectful and act like middle aged adults and say that it is rooted in subtleties that are inappropriate and act professional. He stated that what was disturbing to him and others was that it came from so high up on the ladder making the problem systemic. He stated the important thing was what would be done moving forward. He stated what was done was in the past but things can’t move on until someone says it’s not ok. He stated he understood the social media policy but felt that, as public servants, there were higher standards of responsibility to be held and higher standards of accountability that need to be addressed. He stated he and others were going to continue to ask for it to be addressed.

Vicky Young-Stewart stated that the only way to know how black people feel, you have to be black. She stated she had been raised in Chicago but had been here for 23 years and believed there was stereotype that people from Chicago are thugs, addicts, people who don’t work. She stated that all of her children were highly educated and working, productive citizens. She stated she was a senior citizen and found the post very offensive. She stated that something has to be done, recognizing that everyone is human but you have to think before you post something on social media. She stated she found it very offensive as a mother. She closed with the statement that the only way for anyone to know their plight is to be black.

Willian Duncan stated he was raised in Carrier Mills and remembers when the movie theatre there had a rope that blacks were not allowed to cross. He stated the only difference between then and now is the rope is now invisible.

Superintendent Kelly Hefner stated he wanted a copy of the social media policy. He claimed he had asked about it ever since it was passed and had not been able to get one. City Clerk Sally Wofford handed him a copy. He also claimed that he had asked for a copy today in the morning but the City Clerk had told him she was not going to hand it out to employees who weren’t going to sign for it. City Clerk Sally Wofford stated that was not what she said.

Jonathon Gericke stated that in Europe there was a cartoon about Mohamad and all the Muslims decided to riot and tear the place apart. He stated all they had to do was to grow up and say it’s a cartoon. He thought this was the same thing. He stated that, if someone wants to take offense at something, they could take offense at anything on the planet if they choose.

Heather Redwine-Spell read Simone’s post: “Last night a social media post was made by the Harrisburg Chief of Police. Many found it inappropriate, ignorant and racist. My biggest issue with this post is that he is not just a Joe Smoe down the street. I cannot just ignore what he says or pray that he does not have racist intentions. Neither can or should anyone else in town. Sargent Morris holds a position of power, (Redwine-Spell stated: That’s important, guys. It’s the power that he has.), influence and authority he has in the community that sets precedent. His actions along with others set the tone and culture of our community. (Redwine-Spell stated that she didn’t live in Harrisburg any more but this was her home.) This post on social media is emblematic of the kind of racist, decisiveness rhetoric that only widens the divide in the community.” Redwine-Spell stated that the policies were spoken about but obviously they are not getting them and they are not being spoken about as a whole in the small community of what “you guys” handled. She referred to Superintendent Hefner claiming that he did not get a copy when he asked for it and stated that means it is not being spoken about. She stated that things are not getting better. She stated that if the City needed help, there were programs to do that which deal with sensitivity and diversity. She stated a problem might be recognized but, if there is no action to those problems, then it continues. She asked Council to reach out to other communities such as Carbondale and make change.

Mark Hodge stated he had been gone from Harrisburg for 17 years but had 25 years in law enforcement. He stated that obviously what has been heard was sincere displeasure. He stated the issue had been boiling during the last year. He stated the black community had started meeting collectively and recently formed a group called Saline County Black Caucus. He stated that Council’s attitude was lackadaisical. He stated his group could talk about David but they could not put him on notice but he could put Council on notice to make it better. He stated he had coached baseball in the community so he could be a part of the community because he wanted to be a law enforcement officer here but, when it came time to hire, he did not get hired. He continued that up to this point there still have been no minorities hired. He stated that, if Council continues to operate in that realm, then the issues were going to continue. He stated the cronyism, nepotism is still going on. He stated the men who were on the Fire Department years ago now have cadets in the academy with the same names. He asked how that was possible. Commissioner Montfort stated that Council has a Merit Board that does the testing and interviewing and Council knows nothing until the Merit Board hands Council a piece of paper with a list. Hodge stated he sincerely believed that the people Council heard from tonight want change and someone would be at Council to represent them. He stated he had spoken with David and will talk to the Mayor and hoped some would come to their meetings. Commissioner Montfort clarified the meetings were twice a month, every other Saturday.

Commissioner Miller stated that a couple of months ago she made a motion to hire. The individual she wanted to hire was a minority but he was voted against. She stated he is still on her list.

Hodge stated they are part of this community and want to be acknowledged. He stated they are putting Council on notice.

Commissioner Harper moved to adjourn to Executive Session to discuss Property Acquisition and Personnel. Mayor McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, Commissioners Montfort and Harper and Mayor McPeek voted yes. Commissioner Miller voted no. Motion carried.

Adjourned: 6:56 pm.

Reconvened: 7:30 pm.

Mayor John McPeek presided over the reconvened with Commissioners Natalie Miller, Beth Montfort and Richard Harper answering roll call. Commissioner Mike Weirauch was absent.

Mayor McPeek stated there was no action on Personnel.

Mayor McPeek moved to proceed with Phase I for the junior high building with McClure Engineering Commissioner Montfort seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Mayor McPeek moved to adjourn. Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes.

Adjourned 7:33 pm.

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