Harrisburg City Council met May 17.
Here is the minutes provided by the Council:
The Harrisburg City Council met on May 17, 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.
Pastor Paul Taylor from Land Street Church of God led the group in prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor McPeek read a Police Week Proclamation.
Mayor McPeek asked that anyone who wanted to address Council to come to the podium.
Commissioner Harper noted the Saline County entry on the Consent Agenda was for bam, not rock.
Commissioner Harper made a motion to approve the following items under the Consent Agenda:
1. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of May 3, 2018.
2. Accept Saline County Circuit Clerk court fees in the amount of $3,336.99.
3. Bill from E. T. Simonds for work on Water Street in the amount of $6,650.00 to be taken out of MFT.
4. Bill from Saline County Highway Department for bam in the amount of $12,683.93 to be taken out of MFT.
5. Bill from Brown & Roberts for E. T. Simonds for St. Mary’s Drive in the amount of $5,972.06 to be taken out of MFT.
6. Harrisburg Lake:
Lease Renewal:
Wendell and Vivian Williams - Fourth Addition, Lot 21
Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Fire Chief John Gunning stated there were two properties that were sold with rehab agreements that needed to be revoked because the time had expired for completion of the project. He stated the property at 505 West Barnett was being sold to someone else who had assured him that the house would be demolished so no Council action was needed.
Chief Gunning stated the property at 631 West Barnett has had nothing done on it since the new owner took possession on June 1, 2017. He asked that Council authorize Attorney Todd Bittle to send a letter to the owner revoking the agreement and retake possession of the property. Commissioner Weirauch moved to authorize Attorney Bittle to notify the owner the agreement was being revoked. Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Mike Roberts from Brown & Roberts explained the MFT Compliance Review was the results of audits that were done on MFT funds for 2013 through 2016. He stated the City had done really good with the funds. He stated that some of the items were reimbursements to the MFT account. The item regarding Pinoy Construction had been pre-approved by IDOT and he would be asking the Mayor to send a letter stating that fact and asking for reconsideration of that reimbursement. He explained that any MFT expenditure required a Resolution appropriating funds for the project without knowing what the final cost will be. The two Resolutions were not expending any more money, only bringing the money in line with what was spent.
Commissioner Harper moved to pass Resolution 18-0517A for $14,291.84. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Harper moved to pass Resolution 18-0517B for $4,170.24. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Harper moved to reimburse the MFT funds in the amount of $4,867.75 from Council Contingency. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Miller moved to hire Cole Vaughn at $9.25 an hour starting June 4 and running no later than August 28, pending his passing a physical and drug test. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Miller moved to hire Cameron Wendler at $9.25 an hour starting June 4 and running no later than August 28, pending his passing a physical and drug test. Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Montfort recognized Police Officer Tom Leverett who had retired after 29 years on the force. He had served as DARE Officer for six years, was a Certified Crime Scene Investigator, been a detective but had spent most of his time on patrol. She stated he was now going to be babysitting his grandchild.
Commissioner Montfort moved to clarify her motion from last meeting to purchase from Jim Hayes Inc. a 2018 Dodge 1500 SSV crew cab with a police package for $26,732.00 and a 2018 Charger police all-wheel drive for $23,842.00, for a total of $50,574.00. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, Commissioners Miller, Montfort and Weirauch and Mayor McPeek voted yes. Commissioner Harper voted no. Motion carried.
Commissioner Harper reminded Council the purchase of the vehicles was not in the budget and the purchase would mean there would be more money spent than what the line item has in it. He asked Council to direct the Treasurer to cut a check to Jim Hayes Inc. for $50,574.00 for the purchase of the two vehicles. He explained that, in the past when a Superintendent saw they were going to be over on a certain line item, they would come to the Treasurer’s office and identify what line item that money would come out of at the end of the year when adjustments were made. He continued that being only three days into the new budget, he did not see any line items he could go to in order to get the money. Commissioner Miller asked about the equipment line item. Commissioner Harper stated that, when they did the budget, they had listed money for mowers and the cemetery software, but this purchase was in excess to what had been budgeted. He restated his request for Council to direct the Treasurer to write the check, knowing it would drive the line item below zero. Commissioner Weirauch moved to direct the Treasurer to cut a check to Jim Hayes Ford in the amount of $50,574.00 for the purchase of two Police vehicles. Commissioner Harper seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Harper moved to freeze the salaries of the Police Chief, Fire Chief, Street and Alley/Public Property Superintendent and the Water/Sewer Superintendent. Commissioner Miller seconded. Commissioner Weirauch stated he thought that should wait until after contract negotiations were done. Mayor McPeek stated that, once the contracts were finished, they would get raises just like it had been done in the past. Commissioner Harper stated that, if he were Police or Fire, he would wait until Council gave the Superintendents and Chiefs a $4,000.00 raise and then asked for a $4,000.00 raise also. He stated he felt like he was not in a position to negotiate with the unions because he had offered them 5¢, 5¢, 5¢ per hour and $4,000.00 was completely above that amount. By roll call vote, Commissioners Miller and Harper and Mayor McPeek voted yes. Commissioners Montfort and Weirauch voted no. Motion carried.
Commissioner Weirauch moved to hire Anfernee Houston for the Public Property Department at $9.25 per hour starting on June 4, 2018 and ending no later than August 31, pending his passing a physical and drug test. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Weirauch moved to hire Jordan Dalton for the Public Property Department at $9.25 per hour starting on June 4, 2018 and ending no later than August 31, pending his passing a physical and drug test. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Mayor McPeek reminded everyone about his concern with all the littering in Harrisburg. He stated the First Presbyterian Church had adopted through IDOT a section of roadway and would be cleaning it at different times of the year. He encouraged other churches and businesses to adopt a section. Superintendent Rick Brown stated he had ordered 24 more “Don’t be a litterbug” signs to be posted around the City. Pastor Paul Taylor stated his church would also adopt a section.
Mayor McPeek stated he had a ribbon cutting today on St. Mary’s Drive which is now open.
Mayor McPeek stated that last week Code Enforcement Officer David Williams tagged 115 yards for tall grass, giving them 10 days to mow. If it is not mowed, the City mows it and sends them a bill. He stated he had discussed it with Chief Gunning and the City was going to start writing tickets because it was out of control.
Mayor McPeek moved to hire Christian Oliver for the Public Affairs Department at $9.25 per hour starting on June 4, 2018 and ending no later than August 31, pending his passing a physical and drug test. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Mayor McPeek moved to hire Easton Wallace for the Water/Sewer Department at $9.25 per hour starting on June 4, 2018 and ending no later than August 31, pending his passing a physical and drug test. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Mayor McPeek moved to hire Sebastion Barton for the Water/Sewer Department at $9.25 per hour starting on June 4, 2018 and ending no later than August 31, pending his passing a physical and drug test. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Mayor McPeek stated the rate of pay was $8.25 plus $1.00 which allows them to run a lawn mower without objection from the Union.
Mayor McPeek stated he acknowledged that the last couple of meetings had been tense but this was a small town and asked that everyone try to get along and try to communicate and still be friends when they walk out the door.
Mayor McPeek stated the Rend Lake Water Conservancy District incident that happened today brought to the forefront how important it was to have a backup plan and Harrisburg was working on a backup plan.
Police Chief David Morris stated he was not going to address Council.
Emily Upchurch addressed Council with the attached four pages.
Mayor McPeek stated he had talk to Commissioner Montfort about it and she had talked to Chief Morris about it. He stated he hoped that would be satisfactory. Upchurch stated it was not and asked again what was going to be done to protect her. Commissioner Weirauch asked what she wanted to be protected from. Upchurch stated the intimidation from a Police official using his authority to harass her, to create a hostile work environment, to upset her, to make her fearful of termination. She asked again what was going to be done to protect her. Commissioner Weirauch stated that would be addressed when it happened but it had not happened. Upchurch left the podium.
Chief Morris asked to address Council. He acknowledged writing the letter after the last Council meeting which had yelling and screaming. He stated he thought it was very unbecoming of an official of Harrisburg. He stated he couldn’t do it, Council couldn’t do it and he did not think anyone else should do it. He stated people should not be making derogatory comments at a public official. He stated he sent the letter because he thought it was very inappropriate to be yelling from the back of the room at him. He stated he had talked about it and had asked Mayor McPeek to meet in private with her for an apology in his office without it being done in Council meeting. He stated it didn’t happen. He stated that, as far as the intimidation, he had written the letter and it was Council’s decision whether or not it went in her personnel file. He stated that, if it does not and it gets torn up, he had no control over that. He stated he tried to address the situation with the Mayor and it was not addressed. He stated that he believed that screaming or yelling in this room from the back, whether or not it was an employee, was inappropriate and they should be asked to leave or to be quiet. He stated it was a Council meeting and all the yelling and screaming should stop. He stated that anyone who worked for him would be reprimanded for that. He stated that his “guys” were held to a higher standard and, if he got a complaint in writing, he would deal with it. He stated he stood behind what he said in the letter that it was inappropriate.
Upchurch asked to respond. Upchurch stated that everyone knows that at every meeting someone had spoken out of turn. She asked if they were asked to publically apologize or be terminated for it. She stated she had said one thing and it was not derogatory toward his character or job performance. She stated she was not the one who was screaming and hollering. In fact, Morris was the one screaming and hollering at Council at the meeting. She stated this was just another way to intimidate her to keep her mouth shut about it. She asked again what was going to be done about it because everyone was just shaking their head like it was no big deal. She stated it was a big deal to her because she had been sick for two weeks. She stated she drove to town at 12:30 or 1:00 in the morning to pick up her daughter because she didn’t know what was going to happen. She stated she didn’t deserve this. Commissioner Miller stated she did not see anything wrong with the comment Upchurch had made. Commissioner Harper stated she had made a comment that he would have made if she had given him a little more time. Commissioner Miller reminded Council that Mayor McPeek had stated he would write a letter of recommendation to anyone who wasn’t happy. Commissioner Montfort stated she thought it should be discussed in Executive Session.
Commissioner Harper moved to adjourn to Executive Session to discuss Personnel and Collective Bargaining. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried. Motion carried.
Adjourned: 6:41 pm
Reconvened: 7:23 pm
Mayor John McPeek presided over the reconvened meeting with Commissioners Natalie Miller, Beth Montfort, Richard Harper and Mike Weirauch answering roll call.
Mayor McPeek stated there was no action to be taken on Personnel or Collective Bargaining.
Mayor McPeek moved the meeting be adjourned. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.
Adjourned: 7:23 pm.
http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/3acc7b_72cc52069a05458b95c361cb0a80c4e9.pdf
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