SE Illinois News

Harrisburg City Council met June 7.

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.

Pastor Laurie Fields from the First Presbyterian Church led the group in prayer and the pledge.

Mayor McPeek announced there would be a group called Bike & Build that would be coming through Harrisburg on June 20. They would be escorted from Hardees to the Presbyterian Church. He asked the public to stand on Poplar Street and greet them. The organization is promoting affordable housing.

Mayor McPeek announced that the summer lunch program has begun.

Mayor McPeek recognized Blake Eversmann for his volunteer work at the cemetery by cleaning the veteran’s crosses several times a year.

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

1. Regular Meeting Minutes of May 17, 2018.

2. Check Register and Warrant Report for May 2018.

3. Bill from Bob Barnett Ready-Mix for patch in the amount of $851.50 to be taken out of MFT.

4. Bill from Bob Barnett Ready-Mix for patch in the amount of $825.50 to be taken out of MFT.

5. Bill from LaFarge for CA07 in the amount of $768.34 to be taken out of MFT.

6. Bill from LaFarge for CA06 in the amount of $2,843.26 to be taken out of MFT.

7. Bill from LaFarge for CA06 in the amount of $7,324.68 to be taken out of MFT.

8. Bill from LaFarge for CA06 in the amount of $4,369.87 to be taken out of MFT.

9. Bill from Brown & Roberts for St. Mary’s Drive C & I in the amount of $804.95 to be taken out of MFT.

10. Bill from Brown & Roberts for Sahara Impoundment inspection in the amount of $477.40.

11. Bill from Brown & Roberts for mitigation application for detention basin in the amount of $1,925.63 to be taken out of IDNR grant.

12. Harrisburg Lake:

Petition to Lease:

Richard Cantwell - First Addition, Block 1, Lot 22

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

Mike Roberts of Brown & Roberts reminded Council that the Corps had suggested the levee toe drains could either be repaired, at a great expense, or abandoned. A study had been done which showed the toe drain was not needed. He was asking Council to authorize Brown & Roberts to prepared bid documents to the Corps specifications to properly abandon the drains. Commissioner McPeek move to authorize Brown & Roberts to prepare the bid documents for the plugging of the toe drains. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Fire Chief John Gunning informed Council the City had acquired property at 1006 South Granger with a building, 919 South Granger with a building and a vacant lot at 1229 Delmar. He was asking to advertise those properties along with two other pieces already owned by the City. He wanted to have rehab agreements attached to the two properties on South Granger giving the new owner six months to either rehab or demolish. Commissioner Harper moved to advertise 1006 South Granger and 919 South Granger with a rehab agreement and 1229 Delmar, 24 South Jackson and the lot south of 1004 Wilmoth. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Chief Gunning informed Council the second phase for the old junior high building had consisted of taking 223 samples. The results of those samples revealed that 103 of them had asbestos. He stated the next step would be to seek bids to remove the asbestos and clean up the building. He and Mayor McPeek had attended a Brownfield meeting this week and had confirmed the City must have the title in hand to apply for any grants. He asked if Council wanted to accept the title and, once the City had possession, he would proceed with seeking bids. He noted that there was a 180 day window in which to seek bids. After 180 days, McClure would have to do another sampling, testing and reporting of the results. Mayor McPeek moved to take possession of the building. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Chief Gunning asked if he should begin seeking bids and was told that he should.

Chief Gunning asked Council permission to advertise the 1975 LaFrance fire truck and three other inoperable vehicles. He stated he did not want to consider donating the truck to another municipality because of the expense for repairs but he had received some inquiry to purchase from a collector. He stated the ad would direct interested parties to contact him to inspect the vehicles and fire truck. Commissioner Montfort moved to allow the advertisement of the vehicles and fire truck. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Mayor McPeek stated the Prevailing Wage Ordinance was an annual procedure. He moved to pass Ordinance #1755 An Ordinance Ascertaining the Prevailing Rate of Wages for Laborers, Workmen, and Mechanics Employed on Public Works in the City of Harrisburg, Illinois. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Mayor McPeek moved to void the $100.00 annual fee for mobile homes. Commissioners Miller and Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Mayor McPeek stated there would be no water rate increase again this year. He stated the City was able to achieve a second year of no increase through the use of technology, data maintenance program and a workforce that understands what the City has tried to accomplish for a more efficient use of taxpayer dollars. He continued that the payroll for the Water/Sewer Department is 25% less than it was in 2008. He noted that in 2008 the Department had to borrow $600,000.00 just to remain solvent. He pointed out successful projects such as Dorrisville watermain project, trickling filter rehab and the replacement of Wilmoth Addition and Glove Factory lift stations and the automating metering system also helped. He stated better collections reduced accounts receivable from $800,000.00 to $300,000.00 in five years. He added that about 99% is now collected what is due to the Water Department. He thanked the men and women of the Water/Sewer Department for their cooperation and dedication to the citizens of Harrisburg. He reminded the citizens of some of the future projects such as the engineering and design of a new sewage plant, Phase 1 of a watermain replacement program as well as the design and engineering of a ten year watermain replacement for the entire City. He stated the Department is in the final stages of establishing the procedure for the ability to pay bills on line. He noted there were approximately 800 customers signed up for the autopay. But, there will be a link on the City website to pay water bills.

Mayor McPeek stated he had gotten aggressive about tearing down dilapidated properties in the City and acquiring that property for sale. He stated the dangerous building line item has a limited amount. Mayor McPeek moved that, when the City sells property, the funds be designated for the dangerous building fund. Commissioners Miller and Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, Commissioners Miller, Montfort and Weirauch and Mayor McPeek voted yes. Commissioner Harper voted no. Motion carried.

Commissioner Miller stated she had received a request to hang a banner for the Southern Care event to be held June 18 through June 27. She moved the request be granted. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Miller stated that one of the summer helpers for her Department had taken another job and needed to be replaced. She moved to hire Dylan Morris at $9.25 pending his passing a physical and drug screen. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Miller asked Superintendent Rick Brown to explain the equipment trade and purchase Agenda item. Superintendent Brown stated he had received bids for trading in a road grader for a piece of equipment that would be used for demolition of houses. He stated the best bid was from Diamond for a used excavator and the price was $6,500.00 plus the trade in. Commissioner Miller moved to authorize the purchase. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Miller stated yard waste pickup would end Monday, June 11.

Commissioner Miller moved to authorize Brown & Roberts to review the plans for the McDonald’s rebuild. Mayor McPeek noted the store would be closing August 13 with the reopening projected to be November 14. He noted the new building would include an indoor playhouse. Commissioner Montfort seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Miller moved to authorize Attorney Bittle to make a counteroffer to 318. Mayor McPeek stated he had that for Executive Session and stated everyone did not have copies of their proposal. She distributed copies of the 318 Counter Proposal #2 with notes made for the changes. Commissioner Harper questioned whether or not it might be considered a conflict of interest for her to be involved considering her step-brother was a member of 318. She stated she was not doing it individually for him but for the whole group. The changes she proposed were: Starting wages for new hire cashiers to $14.00, new hires to $16.00 and wage increases of 30/35/40. Commissioner Harper stated those should be discussed in Executive Session. The Clerk reminded Mayor McPeek there was a motion on the floor. He asked for a second. The motion died for lack of a second.

Commissioner Montfort stated two Police Officers had been trained in school shootings and by the time the school year starts, the rest will be trained.

Commissioner Montfort stated two Firemen had been trained with the rescue truck.

Commissioner Montfort stated she had recognized at the last meeting retiring Police Officer Tom Leverett but he had not been present. She stated he was present tonight and thanked him again for his service. She asked him to stand for applause.

Commissioner Montfort gave April gaming figures.

Commissioner Montfort stated the Central Dispatch agreement was still waiting for approval. Mayor McPeek stated the price was high and he wished other communities would kick in with some funding. Commissioner Montfort stated the City needs Dispatch and proposed signing the contract. Commissioner Harper stated the County had already accepted $180,000.00 a month from May 2017 to April 2018. He stated the agreement should be changed to reflect that and then May 2018 through April 2019 would be $187,500.00 a month and May 2019 through April 2020 would be $195,000.00. Commissioner Montfort moved to accept Central Dispatch agreement as modified. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Harper moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the B B & A audit engagement letter. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Harper stated there was an estimate in the packet for some tuck point work on City Hall. He stated Council needed to direct Superintendent Rick Brown to proceed with planned repairs to tuck point City Hall front entrance. He stated the Downtown TIF fund will be used to pay for the expense but Council is not authorizing payment at this time and payment will be approved after the work is completed and inspected. Superintendent Brown pointed out that estimate was just tuck pointing the joints and the brick, not the fascia. Mayor McPeek stated the fascia is what was falling and asked if that amount of $18,550.00 was for the whole building. Superintendent Brown stated it was just for the front because the whole building would be $200,000.00. Commissioner Weirauch moved to direct Superintendent Brown to proceed with tuck pointing the front of City Hall. Commissioner Miller seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Harper stated his item on the Agenda regarding the health plan was to cover an unfunded mandate from the State that retired Police Officers be included on the health insurance plan. He moved to direct the Treasurer, Deputy Treasurer and City Clerk to change the health care plan to include Police retirees with the same benefits and costs as IMRF retirees. Mayor McPeek stated he had spoken with Bill Ghent who had offered to explain and help with the insurance if Council wanted. Commissioner Harper stated the retirees have to apply before retiring. He stated the motion amended the plan in order to allow them to stay on the plan as retirees. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Mayor McPeek asked again for people to stop littering and to pick up litter if they see it. He stated there were 20 “Don’t be a litterbug” signs that Superintendent Brown is installing all over the City.

Mayor McPeek stated he was getting complaints about yard clippings being mowed into the street. He read from the Code Book that “No person shall deposit, place, store or situate any leaves, limbs, yard waste or trash, in, on or upon any City ditches, drainage ways, streets, street gutters, storm sewers or alleys not in on or upon any property owned or controlled by the City, including right-of-ways”. He noted violations could be a fine up to $500.00 and each day was a separate offense plus, if the City cleaned it up, the actuals costs of clean up could also be included in the fine. Commissioner Miller added that it also causes problems with blocking sewers and causes flooding.

Mayor McPeek stated trash trucks are using alleys for pickups because they have to. He stated he was going to contact the haulers and ask about getting more of their customers to have their trash bins on the street.

Mayor McPeek stated there would be no changes to the taxicab ordinance.

Citizen Lia Melton asked Attorney Bittle if there had been any liens placed on properties which did not have the mobile home fee paid. He answered that he did not place any liens.

Commissioner Miller gave information about the Southern Care event that was taking place from June 18 through June 27 at the Middle School to do free medical screenings and general exams, dental exams and extractions and eye screenings and glasses. There were no income or residency requirements. Mayor McPeek stated the event would only be in Harrisburg this year, not Marion or Carmi.

Citizen Carla Foster commended the Police for their quick response on Tuesday evening to an intruder in her home. She stated someone has to figure out a way to make Harrisburg safer. She stated there should be more Neighborhood Watches. Commissioner Montfort gave her some information about Neighborhood Watches. Mayor McPeek stated he and the Police were working on safety and there would be more drive-bys in her neighborhood.

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

Adjourned: 6:48 pm.

Reconvened: 7:38 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 Possible Litigation, Personnel or Collective Bargaining.

Mayor McPeek moved the meeting be adjourned. Commissioner Weirauch seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Adjourned: 7:39 pm.

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