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Harrisburg City Council met April 19.

Here is the minutes provided by the Council:

The Harrisburg City Council met on April 19, 2018 at 6:00 pm in the Council Room, City Hall, Harrisburg, Illinois.

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

Mayor McPeek read a letter from Commissioner Harper. (Attached)

Pastor Paul Taylor from Land Street Church of God led the group in prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

1. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 5, 2018.

2. Accept Saline County Circuit Clerk court fees in the amount of $3,747.75.

3. Harrisburg Lake:

Request to Relinquish:

Ralph and Renee Boots - Fourth Addition, Lot 27

Steven Hollerson - Second Addition, Block 2, Lot 11

Earl E. Schneider and Michael Schneider - First Addition, Block 1, Lot 11

Petition to Lease:

James W. Clayton - First Addition, Block 1, Lot 11

Lease Renewal:

Alan Dale Hicks - First Addition, Block 1, Lot 2

Gabriel and Sharon Payne - Fourth Addition, Lot 11C

Barbara Henson - Second Addition, Block 1, Lot 12

Steve Dowdy and Norma Thaxton - Second Addition, Block 1, Lot 2

Ernest and Terry Banks - Fourth Addition, Lot 19

James Roberts - First Addition, Block 2, Lot 5 and 6

John and Marilyn Kay Jackson - Second Addition, Block 2, Lot 1

Arnold and Sharon Baldwin - Fourth Addition, Lot 6

Colt and Nicole McVey - First Addition, Block1, Lot 1D

Michael Baldwin - Fourth Addition, Lot 7

A. Kevin Hess - First Addition, Block 2, Lot 13

Edward and Kimberly Smith - New Addition, Lot 1

George A. Lloyd - First Addition, Block 1, Lot 12

Steve Reed - Second Addition, Block 1, Lot 7

Allen Lane - Fourth Addition, Lot 4

Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Alene Carr from Southeastern Illinois Regional Planning explained to Council that the Durham’s Hardware Revolving Loan has been in default and is in litigation. DCEO has requested that, before the end of the year closeout, it be written off. The amount of principal owed is $188,628.14 and the unearned interest is $62,351.35. Any future proceeds that may be received from the litigation would be added to the City’s funds.

The total fund will be returned to the State and future uses of the fund can be accessed for City infrastructure projects. Carr stated that once the fund is closed out on the City level, then the City can start looking for ways to use it. The City will still be able to tap into the $473,000.00 but there will be a different way of getting the money.

Commissioner Harper moved to write off the Durham Hardware loan in the amount of $188,628.14 in principal and $62,351.35 in unearned principal for a total of $250,979.49. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Mayor McPeek referred to the letter from IDOT regarding a parking lot in Eldorado that was built as part of the bike path project. The Letter of Understanding would transfer the maintenance and jurisdiction of the parking lot to Eldorado. Commissioner Harper moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the Letter of Understanding. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Jim Brown of Brown & Roberts presented the annual MFT bid tab for General Maintenance. He stated that Illini Asphalt was the only bidder for the oil and chip portion in the amount of $87,075.00. He stated there were two bidders for the aggregate portion - LaFarge and Hastie Trucking. He stated the low bidder was LaFarge in the amount of $15,375.00. Commissioner Harper moved to accept the bid from Illini Asphalt in the amount of $87,075.00. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Harper moved to accept the bid from LaFarge in the amount of $15,375.00. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Harper moved to pass Resolution 18-0419 to accept the prices from Illini Asphalt and LaFarge. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Brown stated the annual statement for the Harrisburg Reservoir Dam was waiting for Superintendent Hefner’s signature and then would be sent to IDNR.

Brown addressed Council regarding the Hart Impoundment which is a project that started in 2011. He explained part of the problem was agencies not getting funding. He stated a new person, Erin Gasiel, with IEMA has been revisiting the project. Her email just prior to the last meeting had inquired about what the City wanted to do about the impoundment east of the City. Another email asked for a time frame. He provided that to her. He explained that they would give a signed grant agreement that would give out the money. He stated they did not know when that agreement would be issued but they did know that January 18 is when the money would stop. He communicated to Council her suggestion which was for the City asked for all the sign offs to be extended with the remaining funds and make application to other FEMA projects. He stated she believed the City could not get the project done by June 16, 2019 primarily because there may not be a grant agreement. Brown wanted Council to be aware that, considering there was a wet fall and a wet spring, and if the City wanted to make application and proceed and if the project is not done by June of 2019, then the City would have to pay the bill. Mayor McPeek stated the City had already filed an application. Brown stated that was only for Phase I and the City did receive funding for that. The next step would be for the actual construction which is 75/25. Initially, the project would have been funded using 75% FEMA funding and a 25% universal match from IDNR, which meant the City would not have to put in any funding. The IDNR funding is no longer available. Commissioner Montfort asked how much that would be. Brown stated it would be 25% of approximately $1,250,000.00. Commissioner Harper asked that, even if the City pursued the application, would that obligate the City to proceed. Brown stated he did not think that would obligate the City until the actual grant agreement is signed. Brown stated that could happen and to apply for an extension. Commissioner Harper asked if there were any other grant money available for the 25% but Brown was not aware of any. Commissioner Harper thought it could probably come out of flood control. Alene Carr suggested that the revolving loan money could maybe be used for that but she would not know until after it was closed out and then the City could ask if it would qualify. Commissioner Harper stated he thought the City should keep all options on the table. Mayor McPeek wanted to do whatever was necessary to go forward with the project. Brown stated he would keep the paperwork rolling. Commissioner Harper moved the City authorize Brown and Roberts to pursue the application for the Hart Impoundment project. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Miller stated that, even with extending the Spring Clean Up for a second week, there were only 13 dumpsters used compared to last year when 17 were used in one week.

Commissioner Montfort stated the Fire Department is doing a lot of training.

Commissioner Montfort asked Police Chief David Morris to update Council regarding Animal Control Officer Mike Sullivan. Chief Morris that Sullivan had been brought in for a talk and the Sargent on duty will be in charge of him. He stated all the equipment had been inventoried, records had been brought in and new manuals had been started. Chief Morris stated he was trying to make sure nothing happens again but he defended his actions based on Officers who were there when it happened. Chief Morris stated the new ticket writing procedure made a running at large a civil citation which would be less costly to the citizens. He stated a letter would also be given with tickets giving a time frame for the ticket to be paid and a criminal ticket would be issued the second time. Chief Morris stated that, when Sullivan is working for the City, he will be wearing a vest that says “Animal Control” and, if he’s not wearing that vest, then he’s not working for the City. He stated he had done vest procedure the same thing with the Code Enforcement Officer David Williams.

Chief Morris stated he had joined another online training session to cut down on the hours and keep up with the mandated training. He stated was going to send Officers to Georgia for free training about active shootings and those Officers would come back and train the other Officers.

Commissioner Montfort stated she had Police cars on the Agenda but realized there was no money now. She realized there were still a couple more weeks left in this budget but, if there was any money left, she was asking Council to purchase a car. Commissioner Weirauch asked if the City could afford a car. Commissioner Harper stated he didn’t have all the bills. Commissioner Montfort stated this budget was over April 30 and asked if she would know something by April 30. Treasurer Linda George stated it would have to have been already purchased for it to be against this year’s budget. Commissioner Montfort stated she had been told there was no money so that’s why it wasn’t purchased but wanted to know if on May 1, she could purchase a vehicle. Commissioner Harper stated it could be considered when May 1 comes around. He stated she already had an emergency vehicle coming. Commissioner Montfort stated she was talking about Police. Treasurer George stated it comes out of the same bank account. Commissioner Montfort stated she understood that and was asking again that, starting May 1 with the new budget, could she purchase a car. Commissioner Harper stated the new budget did not have a car purchase in it and it could be considered if additional funds were received but not at this time. Commissioner Montfort asked if that was the consensus of the rest of Council. Mayor McPeek stated it was not their Department. Commissioner Montfort stated she was asking for a Police car but she could not do it without their support. Commissioner Weirauch stated the Police could not very well answer a call on foot. Mayor McPeek stated he thought she wanted a truck. Commissioner Montfort stated she was asking for either a truck or two cars. Commissioner Harper stated that in order for her to do that she would have to have Council members give up portions of their budgets. Commissioner Montfort stated that’s why she didn’t like the line item budget, which she does not agree with, so it would not be a Department against a Department because each Department has different needs.

Treasurer George stated again it comes out of the same bank account which Commissioner Montfort stated she understood. Treasurer George stated that, if it’s spent for health insurance, then it’s not there. Commissioner Montfort asked if the City was totally broke because everything is going to health insurance. Treasurer George stated the City is not totally broke, actually the City is good. She stated that was because the City got two accelerated payments on the income tax this year; next year those two extra payments will not be received which amounts to $125,000.00. She stated that next year the real estate levy would only be $90,000.00, not $189,000.00. Commissioner Montfort stated she was again asking if there is money in the budget for Police cars. Treasurer George responded that she needed to ask if there was money in the bank or will the City receive the revenues that have been budgeted. If the revenue that’s been budgeted is received, then there would be enough but that is not known yet. Commissioner Montfort made a motion that, if the money comes in, a purchase be made for a Police vehicle May 1. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, Commissioners Miller, Montfort and Weirauch and Mayor McPeek voted yes. Commissioner Harper voted no. Motion carried.

Commissioner Montfort stated for the last three years it has been discussed to have all four Superintendents make the same rate of pay. Commissioner Weirauch stated he agreed with her because it was only fair. Commissioner Harper asked how she planned on accomplishing that; by bringing the lower up or making the higher lower. Commissioner Weirauch stated to add all four salaries together and divide by four. Commissioner Harper stated that each carries different responsibilities. Commissioner Montfort stated that she believed that in the past they were all paid the same. Commissioner Harper disagreed as did Mayor McPeek and Treasurer George. Commissioner Weirauch stated that according to a former Council member they were all paid the same. Commissioner Harper inquired as to which Council, which year. Commissioner Weirauch stated the previous Council and Commissioner Harper stated they were all paid different salaries.

Commissioner Harper stated that the different budgets needed to be looked at. He stated the Police budget was $1,055,000.00; the Fire was $673,000.00; Street/Alley and Public Property was $938,000.00; which meant General Fund budget was approximately $2,668,000.00. He continued that the Water alone was $2,791,250.00 which meant the revenue for that Department was more than the total of all three other Superintendents. He stated that Superintendent Hefner oversees the Sewer which is $3,071,000.00 which means that there is one Superintendent overseeing $5,862,000.00 in expenditures and revenues. He stated the other three are only concerned with the expenditures, not the collections. He stated there were also three other ladies who shouldn’t be left out. Treasurer George asked if she was only concerned about the men. Commissioner Montfort stated she was talking about the Superintendents and thought they should all make the same. Mayor McPeek asked if she had a number. Commissioner Montfort stated it was up to Council. Treasurer George stated the budget had to be considered. Commissioner Montfort stated that three were making $71 and one was making $76. Mayor McPeek asked if Superintendent Hefner was the $76 and was told yes. Commissioner Harper stated that, when looking at Superintendent Hefner, she had to realize was that when Superintendent Hefner was put in that position, the City was paying two other workers an additional $3.00 an hour or $350.00 a month to do the supervision work. Additionally, the City was paying a man $12,480.00 to sign off on the Water. He stated that Superintendent Hefner has the credentials that are necessary and, when he assumed the $350.00 from each of previous others and the other person, it saved the City $16,680.00 a year. Commissioner Montfort asked how much was saved by Chief Gunning doing the dangerous building. Commissioner Weirauch stated that he realized all of them pulled their own weight. Commissioner Montfort stated she had just been reviewing her notes which showed that three years ago it had been discussed because Superintendent Brown had been over the combination of two Departments and she wanted that, with the new budget, Council could look at all Superintendents making the same. Commissioner Harper stated that Council could study it but he couldn’t see doing it right now. Mayor McPeek stated she could talk with Treasurer George to bring a number back for the next meeting. Commissioner Montfort stated she wanted the five on Council to discuss it. Commissioner Harper stated that there were at least two ladies that needed to be considered because, if the Federal government did a study concerning a person who did overtime work but did not get overtime pay, the City would probably be in trouble. Commissioner Harper stated that he, as a teacher, was always irritated when a coach got paid the same as he did with all of his abilities to teach multiple subjects. He stated that, just because a person holds a job, it does not mean they should be paid equal amounts. He stated there was a difference; in people, in their abilities to lead, their qualities, requirements of the work. Chief Gunning stated he did not know whether to take that as a compliment or a slap in the face.

Chief Morris asked to address Council. He stated he did not have a dog in this fight but he did know that two of the Superintendents did have a dog in the fight. He stated that Chief Gunning took over as Fire Chief but also handles inspections and building to be torn down which is another job. He continued that three years ago when Superintendent Brown took over Public Property, he was promised a pay raise which he has still not received. He stated that Council needed to reward them for their extra work. He continued to restate the multiple jobs they do and acknowledge that they did not ask him to speak for them.

Commissioner Harper stated that revenues are going down and everyone is going to have to do more. Commissioner Weirauch asked if salaries were going down. Commissioner Harper stated no; they were going up. Treasurer George stated the biggest part of the budget was salaries. She stated that Superintendent Brown was the highest paid non-contractual in the City as far as General Fund. She continued that Chief Morris and Chief Gunning would benefit the most. She stated that this Council set Chief Morris’ and Chief Gunning’s salary. Mayor McPeek stated that all the Superintendents and ladies who work up at the office do an awesome job. He stated again for Commissioner Montfort to work with Treasurer George and Commissioner Harper to come up with a plan. Commissioner Weirauch stated she would be one of three and they would both say we don’t have any money. Mayor McPeek stated then she should just keep bringing it up. Commissioner Montfort stated she just wanted them to all be paid the same. Treasurer George asked if every teacher in her building was paid the same. Commissioner Montfort stated that every teacher starts out at the same salary and move up over the years. She stated she just wanted them to all be paid the same and guessed some are more important than others. Treasurer George asked if 318 employees weren’t important. Commissioner Montfort stated they were important as were all employees but she just wanted all Superintendents to be paid the same.

Commissioner Harper moved to pass the budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, Commissioners Miller and Harper and Mayor McPeek voted yes. Commissioners Montfort and Weirauch voted no. Motion carried.

Commissioner Harper stated the Ameren franchise agreement expired on January 1, 2019. He moved the City authorize Attorney Bittle to review the Ameren franchise agreement and get back to Council on it. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Weirauch stated McClure Engineering is in town at the old junior high and asked Chief Gunning to explain their visit. Chief Gunning stated they had finished up today with the Phase II agreement. He stated they had spent two days in the building and took 220 samples. They were not allowed to go into the water feed tunnel to check for asbestos but were able to take some photographs. He stated they should be getting back to him in the near future.

Commissioner Weirauch was concerned about traffic in the hallway during Executive Session. He suggested that Council agree that, during Executive Session, no one goes past the water fountain. Council agreed to that.

Mayor McPeek wanted to clarify that the Code Enforcement Officer David Williams actually worked for the Mayor.

Citizen Darlene Borders presented Council with list of incidents that have occurred in her neighborhood since the last time she addressed Council. She stated they had organized Neighborhood Watch group that encompassed five by six blocks and 40-45 people. She cited incidents of multiple break in, wanderings at night, getting into cars and even getting into homes. She stated they are loading guns because they don’t feel safe in their own homes. She stated she was not pointing a finger at Chief Morris but they seem to be eluding the Police. She had been told it was juveniles which they almost can’t process against juveniles. She wanted to see more patrol in the area but realized that Police staff was down and there was no money. She reminded Council that the citizens were paying taxes and shouldn’t be afraid to walk their dog at 10:00 pm or come home at midnight. She stated she did not want anyone hurt and, unless threatened, there wouldn’t be. She stated the offenders are paying no consequences but the citizens are. She asked how many Officers were working the night shift. Commissioner Montfort stated that even when juveniles are arrested, the system lets them back out. Borders suggested getting names when the Police encounter them, fine them after they’re stopped so many times, enforcing curfews. Chief Morris stated curfew was 10:00 pm through the week and 12:00 midnight on Friday and Saturday. He explained that, if he sends an Officer to juvenile school, they end up having to defend the juvenile to make sure his rights are not violated. He stated they can be arrested for curfew all day long and most of the time it’s a slap on the hand. He stated the worst part is that parents don’t call and say their child is out after curfew. He stated they have made a large number of arrests but they know what the Police are doing 24/7 with radios, scanners, cell phones. He stated they have more time to study the Police that the Police do to study them. He restated the manpower issues and overtime hours are up just to make the Department work. He stated they can catch them and do the paperwork, but then it’s out of the City’s hands.

Borders shared a recent incident when two neighbors went out walking after someone had called late at night the phone tree and they also saw others on their porches. She stated they are doing the best they can to help themselves as much as they can. She stated their concern is not only their safety but the safety of anyone attempting to come into their homes.

Citizen Raymond Gunning stated the Neighborhood Watch is working well but it’s not getting better. He stated the Police are doing the best they can but there is just not enough people working third shift. He stated they are spending a lot of money on alarm systems and cameras. He stated he had never before had a loaded gun in his house. He stated he had someone trying to get in his house while he was at home. He asked Council to dig deep and realize it could happen them. He closed by saying that Chief Morris needs a lot more help.

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

Adjourned: 7:14 pm

Reconvened: 7:52 pm

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

Commissioner Harper moved to authorize Attorney Bittle to purchase from the Saline County Trustee up to six pieces of properties not to exceed $3,600.00. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Montfort moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the Fire contract with the elimination of Appendix B. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Mayor McPeek stated there was no action to be taken on Personnel.

Mayor McPeek moved this meeting be adjourned until Monday, April 30 at 8:00 am to complete the remaining items on the Agenda and close out the fiscal year.

Adjourned 7:55 pm.

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